Overview

Heather Sinclair-Smelley is an Employee Benefits Consultant and a member of the firm’s Employee Benefit Group. She has experience helping clients with the oversight, management, planning, and compliance of employee benefit plans and activities. Additionally, she regularly consults with plan sponsors regarding plan amendment requests and translates request instructions to amendment processors. Heather is an expert in understanding ERISA compliance department processes, procedures, and standards: as well as quality control review for nondiscrimination testing. She is also adept at filing IRS Forms such as the 5500 returns.

Proactive

Heather is an accomplished, goal-driven, and dependable business professional with proven success as an ERISA Compliance Consultant. She is a team player with excellent communication skills who works well under pressure to meet goals and deadlines while performing multiple tasks effectively. She provides solid customer service to ORBA clients, providing a high level of service and knowledge. Heather has a proven ability to multitask while completing assignments in a timely manner and in a fast-paced environment.

Outside of the Office

Heather loves to spend time outdoors with her family. She lives on the Gulf Coast so a few of her favorite activities are walking at the bird sanctuary in the Marsh to view all the wildlife and visiting the beach.

Certifications & Licenses

• Qualified 401(k) Administrator
• Qualified Pension Administrator
• Qualified 401(k) Consultant

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Retirement Association

Education

• B.S., Business Administration, University of South Alabama

Blogs

Are Your Employee Benefit Plans in Compliance?

This blog is a general overview of the requirements of employee benefit plans.  What are employee benefits? An employee benefit is any perk or additional benefit provided to employees in addition to their base salaries. This could include retirement benefits, health benefits, life insurance, paid time off and more. The benefit may be mandatory or […]

SECURE 2.0 Brings Changes to Retirement Plans and Planning

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act was signed into law in late 2022. Although some provisions are being phased in over time, the law includes many significant changes that take effect in 2023 and 2024. Below are some that may influence your or your employees’ retirement planning. Changes Now in […]

Client Alerts

State Law May Require Paid Leave, Retirement Benefits

Surveys have long indicated that paid leave and retirement plans are among the most coveted of employee benefits, and their value has only increased as employers continue to face a tight labor market. Increasingly, though, some employers have a reason beyond recruitment and retention to offer such benefits—they now are legally required to do so under state law.

News

ORBA Welcomes New Benefits Consultant, Heather Sinclair-Smelley, to the Firm

ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is pleased to announce that Heather Sinclair-Smelley has joined the firm as its new Employee Benefits Consultant and a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits Group.