We are looking for an exceptional Head of Fund to lead the Cheshire Pension Fund, providing strategic direction on all aspects of the Fund’s activities and act as the Fund’s LGPS Senior Officer. Cheshire Pension Fund is a large organisation, employing 60 staff, with assets of £6.5bn invested externally to meet the pensions of over 110,000 members across 330 employers.
Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.
About the role
You will be responsible for providing dynamic and effective leadership, management and continuous improvement of the Cheshire Pension Fund. You will need to drive forward the Fund’s ambitious change project to transform the services it provides to members and employers.
You will be central to delivering a quality, customer focused and responsive service in four key areas: Pension Operations, Governance, Stakeholder Relations and Compliance, and Finance and Investments.
You will manage relationships with a broad range of key stakeholders including the Fund’s jointly owned asset management company, LGPS Central Ltd. The role oversees all areas of activity undertaken by the Fund including benefits administration, investments and funding strategy, stakeholder management and reporting, communications, project delivery, and governance.
This is an agile post which means you will primarily work from a home base with visits to Council offices and other venues as required across the borough, regionally and wider where required. Regular in-person meetings with stakeholder and partners are held in Cheshire and across the Midlands.
What we are looking for
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Membership of one of the professional bodies which constitute the CCAB (e.g. CIPFA) or equivalent pensions qualification.
- A proven track record of successful and consistent achievement in leadership at a senior management level, in a finance role with a local authority or similar
- Substantial evidence of political awareness and experience of successful management in a senior position at the political/management interface
- Experience and demonstrable success in the generation and management of innovation and change
- Knowledge of LGPS regulations and associated national guidance and developments.
- Significant experience and knowledge of effectively managing Finance functions in a local government authority.
The full Job Role Profile requirements is attached with this advert.
If you have expert knowledge of the LGPS and experience of managing and developing a pension fund, we would love to hear from you.
Recruitment Timetable
- Closing date 5 May 2024
- Longlisting by panel w/c 6 May 2024
- Technical (first) interview via MS Teams w/c 20 May 2024
- Shortlisting by panel by 27 May 2024
- Assessment day and panel interview w/c 11 June 2024
We also offer:
- Access to learning and development opportunities
- A generous annual leave entitlement starting at 26 days pro rata (plus bank holidays) increasing with length of service to 31 days and the ability to purchase additional leave.
- Access to the generous benefits the Local Government Pension Scheme offers.
- Rewards and Recognition
- An Employee Assistance Programme, which offers free 24/7 confidential assistance, practical information, and emotional support.
No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!
Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment.
Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £12 per hour for all contracted hours.
