Overview
The Pensions Specialist role is integral to the delivery of our Reward and Benefits proposition, through the administration and development of our pension schemes and supporting information.
The Pensions Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the company pension schemes, ensuring that pension contributions are correctly calculated and processed through the payroll each payday, whilst also continually developing processes and seeking innovative ways to enhance pension education around the business.
This is a standalone role that sits alongside 5 other roles within the Reward and Benefits Team.
Responsibilities
Day to Day Pensions Administration
1. Deliver the end-to-end pensions administration, ensuring that contributions are correctly calculated in respect of each scheme and the relevant pay day.
2. See that any in-month changes are processed correctly and on time,. maternity, long-term sick, pay changes, opt-in or out, requests to increase / decrease contributions.
3. Update our HR & Payroll system with the relevant information and ensure it is accurate at all times.
4. See that any non-standard arrangements are administered according to their individual needs.
5. Monitor and respond to pension-related queries from colleagues, seeing that any frequently asked questions are collated and stock responses are captured and shared accordingly.
6. Work seamlessly with our HR, Payroll & Finance Teams, ensuring that all communications are clear and timely.
7. Monitor communications from all pension providers and take appropriate action where required.
8. Submission of the pension contributions for each scheme to the relevant pension provider and raising payment requests, in line with the scheme provider’s timescales.
Pro-active Management of Pension Activity
9. Identify the need for change and lead on the development and delivery of new processes, continually looking for ways to streamline and optimise the processes in place.
10. Develop and maintain all correspondence templates, record templates, policies and process notes, continuously looking to improve them and making sure that any changes are made. • Proactively seek out best practice and evidence to support ideas for continual development of the reward and benefit proposition, keeping up to date with market trends, with a particular focus on pensions.
11. Manage the payroll calendar and proactively deliver the required activity, including but not limited to leading on the year end processes, cyclical autoenrollment (CARD) process, AE Re-certification and Annual ONS reporting, as required.
12. Work in collaboration with the Systems Administrator on the maintenance of pensions functionality in the HR & Payroll system.
13. Continuously seek opportunities to improve service delivery and demonstrate first class customer service.
Embedding Pensions within our Reward & Benefits Strategy
14. Enhance colleague understanding and develop awareness of the pensions benefit within the context of our overall Reward and Benefits strategy.
15. Liaise with third parties as required, to explore different ways and resources to support our ambition to enhance knowledge of pensions.
Ad-Hoc
16. Provide ad-hoc support to the administration of the wider company benefits as required.
17. Data analysis as required.
18. Any other duties as reasonably required.
Skills & Experience
Essential
19. An underpinning pensions-related qualification,. Certificate / Diploma in Pensions Administration, or already working towards.
20. A deep understanding of Pensions including Statutory Regulations, the Workplace Pension Reform and different scheme types.
21. Experienced in the design and delivery of all aspects of pension administration and the associated statutory requirements.
22. Demonstrable experience of streamlining processes to reach the desired outcomes.
23. Experience working with different combinations of terms and conditions / complex data sets.
24. Examples of working with multiple pension schemes, including auto-enrolment / postponement and salary sacrifice, across multiple payrolls / pay dates.
25. Exceptional data skills, ideally with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
26. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written and comfortable working with all levels of stakeholder.
27. Naturally curious and analytical. Highly organised, meticulous with a strong attention to detail and drive for accuracy.
28. Tenacious, resilient and a self-starter. Able to act on own initiative, with little supervision, but also enjoys working in a team environment.
29. Enjoys investigations and providing recommendations on appropriate resolutions.
30. Highly personable with a passion for delivering great customer service.
Highly Desirable
31. Accredited with the Pensions Management Institute.
32. Knowledge / experience of Resource Link is a strong advantage.
33. Knowledge of NEST and Scottish Widows Pension Schemes
Benefits
Be Rewarded:
34. Earn Extra Rewards: Unlock bonuses and incentives to enhance your income.
35. Secure Your Future: Build a nest egg with monthly pension contribution, helping you prepare for the future.
36. Family Support: Access enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay to help you prepare for new additions to your family.
37. Refer and Earn: Cash-in on our 'Refer a Friend' programme – we're always looking for exceptional individuals like you!
38. Peace of Mind: Benefit from a death in service benefit, though we hope you'll never need it.
39. Save Smart: Enjoy discounts and cashback offers from a diverse range of high-street and online retailers, saving on everyday essentials and indulgences.
Get Recognised:
40. Celebrate Longevity: Join our long-service recognition programme, honouring the dedication of our loyal team members throughout their careers.
41. Peer and Manager Acknowledgment: Recognise and be recognised for your achievements, earning points redeemable with over 700 global retailers.
42. Life's Milestones: Receive a gift to celebrate the birth of a baby, adoptions, and weddings, along with an extra day off for your wedding day.
Feel Valued:
43. Always Accessible Healthcare: Benefit from a 24/7 virtual GP service for you and your family, ensuring prompt health answers that fit your schedule.
44. Prioritise Mental Wellbeing: Utilise an independent service to identify and receive mental health support, including face-to-face counselling and self-help resources.
45. Financial Wellbeing: Optimise your budget with our financial wellbeing package, offering real-time earnings tracking and early access to earned pay to help support you with unexpected bills.
46. Savings Made Easy: Set up salary-based savings and earn a 5% boost through our savings scheme.
47. Personalised Financial Guidance: Access one-on-one support from an independent Financial Coach.
48. Comprehensive Assistance: Confidentially address life challenges through our Employee Assistance Programme, covering childcare, family matters, relationships, addiction, legal issues, financial concerns and more.
49. Holistic Wellbeing Tools: Explore a wide range of resources for physical, mental, nutritional, and financial wellbeing through our Wellbeing App.
50. Eye Care Benefits: Enjoy complimentary eye tests and contributions towards single lens prescriptions for VDU users.