VacancyTitle: Pensions Administration Consultant

The Vacancy

Our Third Party Administration (TPA) department is a dynamic administration team with a varied portfolio of clients. The team plays a key role in delivering a market-leading service to clients and members across Defined Benefit (DB), Defined Contribution (DC) and CARE pension arrangements.

An exciting opportunity is available to join this department as an Administration Consultant within the Data Journey team, based in Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow.

What will the role involve?

The Administration Consultant will lead the delivery of a range of client-focused administration projects, ensuring regulatory requirements and client expectations are fully met. The role involves working closely with internal teams, trustees and insurers, offering exposure to a broad and varied portfolio of project work.

This position includes ownership of projects such as data rectification, risk transfer activity and GMP equalisation implementation, managing delivery from planning through to completion. The role plays a key part in ensuring work is completed accurately, efficiently and within agreed timelines.

Key responsibilities include:

Client project delivery:

• Delivering administration projects across a portfolio of clients, including: Risk transfer arrangements (data provision, cleansing and transition work) GMP projects (reconciliation, rectification and equalisation implementation) Data gap analysis, benefit audits and subsequent rectification activity
• Ensuring accuracy, consistency and high standards of quality assurance
• Managing delivery schedules, prioritising work and coordinating resources in collaboration with the Project Management team
• Setting project timelines and tracking progress
• Acting as a key point of contact for a portfolio of clients
• Providing clear updates on project progress to internal stakeholders and at trustee meetings

Commercial and project oversight:

• Monitoring commercial performance, including drafting fee scopes and overseeing billing
• Delivering high-quality, technically robust pensions administration project work
• Leading on complex or non-standard cases
• Overseeing review processes in line with best practice guidance
• Reporting on project progress, risks and issues
• Identifying and implementing continuous improvements to processes and workflows

Team and wider contributions:

• Supporting the development of colleagues through guidance and technical expertise
• Providing people management support where required, encouraging development and progression
• Supporting recruitment and onboarding activities
• Maintaining accurate time recording and achieving chargeability targets
• Undertaking occasional travel to UK offices where required

What’s required to succeed in this role?

• Extensive experience in defined benefit pensions administration
• Strong technical understanding of pensions, including benefit calculations and structures
• Knowledge of risk transfer projects and GMP equalisation (desirable)
• Experience leading client work and collaborating with internal teams, actuarial colleagues and external stakeholders
• Up-to-date knowledge of DB pensions legislation and regulatory requirements
• Experience managing projects with a collaborative and consultative approach
• Good understanding of governance principles

Ideally, candidates will have started studying towards a professional qualification such as Associate Membership of the Pensions Management Institute, or be interested in doing so. However, applications are also welcome from those with relevant UK pensions experience who can demonstrate a strong understanding of the market.

Applications are welcomed from individuals who may not meet all of the criteria but demonstrate the potential to develop the required skills with support. Additional relevant experience or knowledge not listed is also encouraged.

What’s on offer?

In addition to a competitive salary and access to a profit share scheme, the following benefits are available:

• A flexible benefits package tailored to individual lifestyle and needs
• A collaborative and supportive working environment where ideas are encouraged
• On-site mental health and wellbeing support
• Ongoing personal and professional development, including mentoring and access to the Aspire learning portal
• Regular social activities, three days of paid volunteering leave each year, and a day’s leave to celebrate a birthday
• Hybrid working, combining remote working with time in modern office environments

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged to avoid disappointment.