Senior Pensions Consultant

A leading financial services business is now looking to recruit a Senior Pensions Consultant to join them and take on a critical role supporting their UK Pension Plans and manage their legacy DB Plan (closed to future accrual) and their main UK Retirement Plan (a combined DB and DC Plan). Reporting into the EMEA Head of Pensions & Benefits, you'll join a highly skilled and stable team that consistently win awards within the Pensions & Benefits arena. This role is particularly critical due to the scale and depth of the pension's asset base (multi £billion).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Partner with the Trustee Board to ensure the plans are effectively governed and managed in accordance with UK Pensions legislation (Pensions Act 2021).
2. Facilitate and manage pension-related projects, such as investment de-risking, pension insurance, GMP equalisation and rectification, DC design, and investment projects.
3. Advise on the development of the future pension strategy.
4. Manage relationships with advisors to the Trustee and the business, including consulting actuaries, legal advisors, and pension plan administrators.
5. Review and monitor the Plan Funding Strategy and liaise with finance to ensure appropriate accounting disclosures are in place.
6. Support all aspects of the scheme lifecycle with advisors, including statutory disclosures on behalf of the business.
7. Determine annual plan salary, validate contribution payments, and manage the annual Benefit Statement process and salary sacrifice programs.

As a result, the business is looking to meet candidates with extensive experience of managing UK Pensions Plans, either as a pensions consultant/actuary within a consulting firm or working in-house. A relevant pensions qualification (e.g. APMI / FPMI or have passed/close to qualifying as an actuary) is essential, as is a good understanding of and the application of US GAAP and IAS19 pensions accounting standards. Experience in the operation and management of Trustee boards, ensuring they operate within a governance framework, coupled with excellent technical skills and a broad interest and understanding of the legislative, governance, and tax environment affecting pension plans in the UK, is also required.

In addition to the above starting salary, there is a substantial annual bonus and benefits package. In the first instance, please contact Peter Francis at Frazer Jones.