Staff

As Chief Executive Officer, Paul is responsible for all of SamCERA’s operations including benefit calculations and education, actuarial analysis, legal issues, financial and investment functions and information technology. He reports directly to the Board of Retirement.

Gladys Smith manages SamCERA’s benefits, communications, finance, and information technology areas. The AEO is also responsible for planning to meet the future needs of the association and its members.

The Retirement Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for the legal oversight and functionality of the San Mateo County Employees’ Retirement Association (SamCERA), which administers retirement, disability, and death benefits to employees of the County; provide legal advice and representation to SamCERA and the Board of Retirement; and act as a liaison with the County Counsel and other outside counsel.

The Retirement Executive Secretary is responsible for performing varied, complex, and confidential secretarial and office administrative support tasks in support of SamCERA’s elected and Board of Supervisor-appointed officials and other County officers and associated management, supervisory and professional staff.

The Retirement Communication Specialist is responsible for planning, preparing, organizing, coordinating, and implementing the external and internal communication activities of SamCERA’s communication program.

The Retirement Benefits Manager is responsible for managing the benefits staff and the educational information SamCERA provides to members.

The Senior Retirement Analyst (Member Services) provides Active Member Services, including member education, retirement estimates, payroll reconciliation, incoming reciprocity and requests for the purchase of service.

The Senior Retirement Analyst (Retiree Services) provides Retired Member Services, including disability applicant counseling, counseling for service retirement applicants, retirement payroll changes, direct deposit changes, retiree address changes and tax withholding changes. The Senior Retirement Analyst also provides the same services for SamCERA’s Beneficiaries and Survivors.

The Retirement Analyst (Member Services) Active Member Services, including retirement estimates, requests for the purchase of service and incoming/outgoing reciprocity.

The Retirement Analyst (Retiree Services) provides Retired Member Services, including counseling for service retirement applicants, retirement payroll changes, direct deposit changes, retiree address changes and tax withholding changes. The Retirement Analyst also provides the same services for SamCERA’s Beneficiaries and Survivors.

The Retirement Support Specialist is responsible for making certain you receive prompt and attentive service from SamCERA. When you need our services, the Retirement Support Specialist will assist you or direct you the appropriate SamCERA staff. The Retirement Support Specialist will also help you obtain forms and publications.

The Retirement Support Specialist is responsible for making certain you receive prompt and attentive service from SamCERA. When you need our services, the Retirement Support Specialist will assist you or direct you the appropriate SamCERA staff. The Retirement Support Specialist will also help you obtain forms and publications.

The Finance Officer is responsible for managing the daily operation of the Finance Division, coordinating interim and annual audits, compiling annual financial reports, preparing the annual budget, implementing new accounting and financial reporting standards, analyzing financial and budgeting activities, reviewing internal controls, and overseeing the accounting system.

The Senior Accountant is responsible for SamCERA’s pension and financial accounting. Their general accounting duties include producing SamCERA’s financial statements.

The Senior Accountant is responsible for collections, disbursements, recordkeeping, reconciliations, month-end closing, financial analyses, and any other projects related to operations and financial reporting.

The Retirement Accountant II is responsible for: processing accounts payable, cash receipts, and journal entries; assisting in month-end close for administrative, investment, and information technology transactions; acting as a backup for benefit payroll activities such as reconciling and processing the monthly retiree payroll, member withdrawals, and payroll related taxes; and assisting in accounting for investment and pension benefit transactions.

The Retirement Accountant is responsible for reconciling and processing the monthly retiree payroll, member withdrawals, and payroll related taxes. She assists in pension accounting with benefits overpayments, member contributions not taken, service purchases reconciliation and other areas as assigned. She reviews the disbursements processed by the Accounting Technician and acts as backup for that position.

The Retirement Technology Officer of SamCERA directs the organization’s technology strategy with an eye towards innovation, simplicity, and efficiency. They work closely with the senior executive team to align these efforts with SamCERA’s strategic goals.

The Network & Applications Engineer is responsible for helping improve, support, and maintain back-end technologies used by SamCERA including VMware, Windows server technologies, storage & backup technologies, and various other software and technologies used by SamCERA.

The Pension System & Web Engineer is responsible for helping improve, support, and maintain the Pension Administration Software System, the SamCERA.gov website, and various other software and technologies used by SamCERA.

The Chief Investment Officer is responsible for our Investment program. He devotes significant effort to looking after your Retirement Fund investments.

The Investment Analyst II performs duties in the day-to-day functioning of SamCERA’s investment program.

The Investment Analyst performs duties in the day-to-day functioning of SamCERA’s investment program.