EMEA Pensions Manager - Director AVP

EMEA Pensions Manager - Director (AVP)
London
3253446
Led by the EMEA Head of Benefits, the EMEA Benefits Team is responsible for the management, monitoring and development of the Benefit Programmes in EMEA, of which the pension offering is a key constituent. The Team exercises oversight of all benefit plans in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is assisted by an outsourced service centre responsible for the administration of the Programmes.
A Pensions Manager to become a core member of the EMEA Benefits Team, working closely with the Head of Pensions to drive the Firm's and the Trustees' pension priorities, manage plan changes and governance across the main group pension plan, AVC plan, offshore and number of legacy plans with total assets in excess of £2.5bn.
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services.
As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and strong team ethic. We can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.
What will you be doing?
To be successful in this position, candidate will have strong pensions and investment experience, and be familiar with industry best practice and the latest legislative developments, preferably across both DB and DC practice areas. Past experience of managing in-house schemes would be beneficial. Pensions qualification (part- or fully-qualified FIA/ PMI) would be advantageous but not essential.
Meeting support:
• Work with Secretary and external advisors to prepare Trustee agendas/packs (minimum 18 scheduled meetings per year)
• Prepare and present updates and proposals at Trustee meetings
• Review and challenge advice submitted
• Work with Head of Pensions to prepare and present updates to the Morgan Stanley UK Limited Board
Documentation:
• Be familiar with and manage updates to Trust Documentation such as Trust Deed and Rules
• Ensure Trustee and Plans documents, such as policies or process documents, are well-organised and up-to-date
Vendor management:
• Act as day-to-day contact for key third-party relationships
• Monitor performance, provide feedback and strive for continuous improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve processes
• Troubleshoot vendor-related issues
Client/ Employee management:
• Respond to escalated/ complex employee queries
• Provide pension SME support to HR business partners
Plans/ project management:
• Responsible for day-to-day plans and project management
• Ensure the Plans and Trustees fulfil regulatory and compliance duties e.g. Scheme Return, GDPR etc
• Oversee plans' risk registers
• Manage projects from time to time as required e.g. triennial valuation, auto-enrolment, vendor reviews, fund changes, annual audit, MNT selection
Communications:
• Draft and issue member/ employee communications
• Ensure employee-facing materials (such as booklets, intranet sites) are up-to-date
Accounting/ ICAAP:
• Work with Plan Actuary on annual IAS19/ GAAP and ICAAP submissions
Wider benefits:
• Manage the provision of death benefits
• Support the delivery of the Flexible Benefits Annual Enrolment project
• Support with ad hoc projects and tasks as requested by management team
Current and upcoming projects:
• Governance review and General Code compliance
• Dashboard readiness
• GMP equalisation
• Triennial valuation (effective date December 2024)
• Decumulation pathways (2025+)
What we're looking for:
• Proven pension experience with strong investment background
• DC experience essential, familiarity with DB/ offshore/ EMEA pensions is beneficial but not essential
• Strong pensions experience, preferably within the Financial Services industry or similar.
• Good understanding of the current and prospective UK pensions issues and associated legislation.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic organisation and be able to work independently at pace.
Key skills:
• Excellent project manager
• Service/client orientated
• Strong analytical and data skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Strong commercial skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Team player - must be willing to pitch-in" and assist where necessary
• Common sense approach and proactive
• Innovative and a desire for continuous improvement
• Risk benefit experience helpful - life insurance etc
• Ability to think on their feet
• Ability to manage their own workload and prioritise what they do - ability to manage a large number of workstreams is essential
• Experience of working with a range of pension stakeholders (trustee, sponsor, advisors, administrators etc)
• Flexible and enthusiastic - somebody who is looking for a challenge with a can-do approach.
• Must have excellent attention to detail
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel, Word and Powerpoint
Flexible work statement:
Interested in flexible working opportunities? Morgan Stanley empowers employees to have greater freedom of choice through flexible working arrangements. Speak to our recruitment team to find out more.
Internal Applicants:
Internal mobility can be a way to grow your career and realize your professional potential. Typically, you must be in your position for at least 18 months and performing satisfactorily before applying for another job at the Firm. Internal applicants can find out more regarding career navigation, mobility guidelines and policy on our employee portal by clicking here .
Equal opportunities statement:
Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunities employer. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximize their full potential. Our skilled and creative workforce is comprised of individuals drawn from a broad cross section of the global communities in which we operate and who reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion is evident through our constant focus on recruiting, developing, and advancing individuals based on their skills and talents.