Job Summary
The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department. Our mission is to improve the stewardship of public sector finances by supporting effective decision-making and robust financial reporting through analysis, modelling and advice.
One of the teams within GAD is the Public Service Pension Schemes team. We work with a wide range of public service clients and provide high quality consultancy services that serve some of the largest pension schemes in the country.
Job description
We are looking to recruit a senior pensions consultant to help our clients navigate a range of challenges including:
- How to ensure that benefits payable to members are accurate.
- How to implement and communicate revised benefits for scheme members resulting from legal judgements.
- How to improve the quality and completeness of membership data.
- How to prepare for the launch of pensions dashboards, a significant step change in the way pension scheme members and administrators interact with each other.
- How to improve scheme governance.
- How to ensure the pension scheme change exercises such as provider or system transition and transformation projects are being delivered effectively and in line with expectations.
As a Senior Pensions Consultant you will be responsible for providing high quality advice to Government Departments, or other GAD clients, relating to the administration of member benefits. You will be a key member of the Public Service Pensions team, working to support a wide range of Government policies.
This role will involve significant levels of interaction with pension scheme administrators and sponsoring departments. There may also be opportunities for secondments to other Government departments. As such, strong communication and collaboration skills are required.
You will also use your detailed knowledge of pensions administration to support actuarial colleagues, operating as a subject matter expert on administration issues, and identifying opportunities to add value and support clients.
Person Specification
1. To provide high quality pensions advice to the sponsors and administrators of public service pension schemes.
2. To take the lead in working with colleagues across GAD teams to ensure administration support is appropriately scoped, resourced and delivered in an efficient and timely manner, with a focus on providing value for money for our clients.
3. To proactively monitor current issues affecting pensions administration, seeking to identify areas where GAD can provide support with administration challenges.
4. To lead in the identification and development of new areas of support for our clients.
5. To maintain and develop relationships with existing or potential clients.
6. To develop technical client content relating to pensions administration and scheme governance.
7. To regularly update Public Services Pension Scheme colleagues, wider teams throughout GAD and senior stakeholders on pensions administration issues and progress.
8. To act as a role model in the learning and development of other pensions administration consultancy colleagues through the support and ongoing development of junior staff.
9. To take a lead in the management and delivery of ongoing and new projects.
10. To check and review the work of junior colleagues where appropriate in line with our internal check and peer review processes.
11. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of pensions, particularly public service pensions, and distill this information for clients and colleagues.
These job descriptions are a broad reflection of the required duties. They are not exhaustive and changes will be made based on GAD’s needs at the discretion of the relevant Functional Lead.
Behaviors
We'll assess you against these behaviors during the selection process:- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:- Proven knowledge of defined benefit occupational pension schemes, including administrative functions and scheme governance
- Knowledge of public service pension provision
- Pensions qualification (PMI or similar
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £64,272, Government Actuary's Department contributes £18,619 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
- 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- 5 days of paid volunteering leave
- Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
- Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
- Occupational sick pay
- Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
- Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
- The opportunity to join a trade union.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
- Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
- Complimentary BUPA health check for permanent staff.
Things you need to know
Interview location: In office at either - London, E14 4PU / Edinburgh EH8 8FT
