Whether member-facing or in a supporting role behind the scenes, LACERA’s 15 specialized divisions provide a range of professional services to ensure we meet our mission.
Administrative Services
The Administrative Services Division provides the operational infrastructure that supports other divisions in administering LACERA programs and services. Overseen by the Division Manager, its staff members work in two distinct sections: business management, and budget development and document processing.
Benefits
The Benefits Division maintains retirement plan accounts and processes retirement plan transactions in compliance with the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, Board of Retirement Regulations, and organizational policies. Overseen by the Division Manager, its staff members work in the Account Integrity Services, Process Management, Core Benefit Services, and Special Benefits Services sections.
Communications
The Communications Division provides a complete range of creative services to produce essential retirement information for LACERA members and staff, including printed materials (newsletters, brochures, and annual reports), website design and content management, and video production and editing. Overseen by the Chief of Communications, its staff members include creative coordinators, writers, media artists, and web content specialists.
Disability Litigation
The Disability Litigation Office provides LACERA with legal representation for disability retirement and service-connected survivors’ benefit appeals, and seeks to achieve impartial justice based on the facts and the law. Overseen by the Disability Litigation Chief Counsel, its staff members include senior staff counsel and senior management secretaries.
Disability Retirement
The Disability Retirement Services Division is responsible for investigating, evaluating, and making recommendations to the Board of Retirement for adjudicating disability retirement applications submitted by active, retired, and deferred members of LACERA. Overseen by the Division Manager, its staff members work in the Intake Unit, Specialized Processing Unit, Appeals, Quality Assurance/Records Management, and Investigative Units.
Executive Office
The Executive Office, overseen by the Chief Executive Officer, directs and coordinates the efforts of all divisions to realize LACERA’s mission as articulated through the strategic goals and policies adopted by the Boards of Retirement and Board of Investments. Staff members also organize and coordinate Board meetings and activities.
Financial and Accounting Services
The Financial and Accounting Services Division provides sound guardianship of LACERA’s assets, funds member payroll, and organization-wide financial transactions, and ensures compliance with regulatory and statutory financial reporting mandates. Overseen by the Chief Financial Officer, its staff members work in the General Accounting, Reporting and Compliance, and Investment Accounting sections.
Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) provides a full range of HR services in the areas of employee recruitment and selection, professional development, performance, payroll and benefits, labor negotiations, workplace investigations, labor/employment law compliance, and more. Overseen by the Human Resources Director, its staff members work in three sections: Employee and Organizational Development, Return-to-Work/Payroll, and Talent Acquisition and Management.
Internal Audit Services
The purpose of Internal Audit is to provide independent and objective assurance services, and consulting services designed to add value and improve LACERA’s operations. The mission of Internal Audit is to enhance and protect LACERA’s organizational values by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice, and insight. Internal Audit helps the organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes.
Investments
Overseen by the Chief Investment Officer, the Investments Office develops and recommends prudent investment policies and risk management strategies to achieve LACERA’s return objectives—as established by the Board of Investments—and implements and monitors Board-approved programs and policies.
Legal Services
The Legal Services Office provides comprehensive legal services to LACERA and its Boards and staff. Overseen by the Chief Counsel, its staff members work in Benefits, Disability, Investments, Litigation, and Legislative Affairs sections.
Member Services
The Member Services Division provides benefits information and processes transactions for members, beneficiaries, and survivors, through various means of communication. Overseen by the Division Manager, its staff members work in Quality Control, the Member Services Center, Outreach, the Call Center, and Correspondence sections.
Quality Assurance
The Quality Assurance Division is an employee development, auditing, and training unit that monitors, measures, evaluates, and verifies the accuracy of retirement benefits processing, calculation, and administration work performed by other divisions. Overseen by the Quality Assurance Chief, its staff members work in three teams.
Retiree Healthcare
The Retiree Healthcare Division is responsible for administering the Retiree Healthcare Benefits Program for retired members and their eligible dependents. Overseen by the Retiree Healthcare Director, staff members work in Operations, Audit/Financial, and Call Center sections.
Systems
The Systems Division provides technology products and services for all LACERA divisions, from base infrastructure to end-user applications. Overseen by the Chief, Information Technology, staff members work in one of three teams: Business Solutions, Infrastructure, or Project Management Office (PMO).