Pensions Specialist

Reed Specialist Recruitment are proud to be representing a huge government services firm, who need a Pension Specialist to join their existing team.

The successful candidate will have a solid history of working within pensions, strong analytical skills and excellent technical pensions knowledge, particularly within the public services sector.

The vacancy comes with the following benefit package -

• Generous base salary up to £40,000 depending on experience
• 6% employer matched pension contributions
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Death in Service 
• Flexible working including two days a week working from home

Your day to day duties would include -

• Supporting pension policy in relation to all pension arrangements that the firm participate in
• Arranging access to public sector schemes through admission agreements & determinations under New Fair Deal or Best Value Directive
• Advising best practice for operation of passthroughs, deficit protection and similar policy to be applied across the business
• Assisting and providing information to auditors acting on behalf of the company or the SPLAS trustee.
• Advising bid teams on potential pension provision in order to meet bid requirements, including potential liabilities and some cost modelling based on current membership across similar demographics.
• Support core activities of the Pensions function such as pensions meetings, agendas, minutes etc, for company-related committees such as the PPC or UKPPC. Attend regular and ad hoc meetings with pension scheme representatives, such as Governance reviews with Legal & General.
• Providing SME input and sign off to all pension impacting system and/or process changes, such as new pension elements, accumulators and some RTI matters.
• Delivery of all pension-related documentation and communications produced by the company – as directed by the Head of Pensions Policy & Strategy
• Participating in discussions and governance around the operation of salary sacrifice schemes for pension schemes
• To remain abreast of pensions legal developments and ensure that these are incorporated in process and practice or if liaison with internal legal teams or counsel required
• To provide SME advice on risk associated with existing pension schemes and any bid/rebid/M&A activity

The successful applicant will posses the following -

• • Previous experience in a specialist pension role
  • Experience of pensions in the context of bidding, TUPE transfers and M&A activity including disposals
  • Knowledge of Auto Enrolment
  • Ideally experience of dealing with the Govt Actuary’s Dept and the public sector in the context of pensions aspects of bidding, and transfers from and to public sector schemes desirable, such as PCSPS, Railways, NHSPS etc
  • Core IT skills essential, particularly MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – establishing relationships both internally and externally at all levels
  • Highly organised - able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively within required deadlines
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Self-motivated and able to enjoy working independently and as part of a small, close-knit team
  • A professional qualification relevant to pensions, and continued membership of the professional body would be highly desirable (APMI or EPMI).

To apply for this role, please click the link or email me directly at