Jobs

Local Authority Pensions Team Leader urgently required for a full time permanent role based in West London. Applicant must have Local Goverment Pension Scheme (LGPS) experience.

Role Purpose

To support the Pensions Manager in the day to day operation of the Retained Pension Client Service, which includes monitoring the pension administrator's performance against set criteria.

To manage and lead the Pension Advisors in a range of administrative duties in relation to the pension client function, including the provision and checking of information to support the accurate maintenance of scheme member records, and to monitor and assist employers in fulfilling their obligations to the pension fund.

To provide support to the Pensions Manager as required.

Role Duties

Develop and maintain a sound knowledge of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations, Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS), Discretionary Payments Regulations, the State Pension Scheme, and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and The Pensions Regulator requirements in respect of pensions.

Assist the Pensions Manager in maintaining statistical data to monitor the performance of the pension administrator, which includes records of payments to and from the Pensions Fund and the accuracy of LGPS deductions from scheme members' pay as calculated by employers.

Oversee and coordinate the customer service function for inhouse pension service delivered by the pension advisors.

Liaise with scheme employers to ensure that they meet their responsibilities in respect of the accurate and timely provision of all necessary pension information to the administering authority.

Manage the process of providing details to the pension administrator of LGPS starters, leavers, contractual hours changes, absence and all other relevant changes which impact on pension entitlements, and to monitor the pension administrator to ensure accurate record maintenance.

Coordinate and manage the calculation and check that pensionable remuneration has been correctly determined for deferred retirement benefits, actual retirement benefits, interfund adjustments and any other transfer values or benefits.

Coordinate and manage the process of preparing payment vouchers for authorisation of retirement grants, contribution refunds, transfers, and death grants to generate timely payments.

Manage the process of ensuring the timely payment of third-party supplier invoices including for the administrators.

Manage the pension advisors in calculating and checking redundancy payments where required. In the case of early retirements, ensuring pension advisors provide the relevant data to the pensions administrator to enable them to calculate pension benefits and costs to the employer, and liaise with any other parties as necessary to support the accurate and timely provision of this information.

Manage the process of advising the pensions administrator of pay to be used in the calculation of child related absence, sickness, strike and leave of absence, and to perform / check any calculations as required.

Manage the process of ensuring that any new employers or admitted bodies are on boarded into the Fund in accurately and in a timely manner.

Manage control, monitor and reconcile the LGPS employee and employer contributions for employing and admitted bodies, schools and academies with external payroll providers, and resolve any discrepancies.

Manage ensuring that employers and their payroll administrators are correctly administrating AVC deductions, and that necessary information is provided to AVC schemes and members where required in a timely and accurate way.

Assist the Pensions Manager in managing records to provide accurate data for the purposes of system control, monitoring of performance indicators and benchmarking.

Manage and monitor the retrieval of archived records to provide information or resolve issues from members, contractors, employees, ex-employees, employers, pensions and financial providers, government agencies and any other third parties as necessary.

Manage the checking of pensions payroll data for new pensioners, deaths, beneficiaries, and adjustments to pension, and resolve any discrepancies.

Own and manage the provision of training / guidance as necessary to payroll administrators in relation to the administration of the LGPS by scheme employers and their agents.

Assist the Pension Manager in managing any ill health pension applications in a timely organised manner.

Manage the pension advisor's day to day to ensure they work to minimise complaints and resolve these in a timely and satisfactory manner.

Coach and develop the Pension Advisors if their roles.

Complete pensions-related statutory returns and surveys as required.

Update and maintain the pension Fund website and internal pensions information as required.

Attend regular service provider meetings and any other meetings as required.

Be proactive with your own learning and development and keeping up to date with pension legislation.

Liaise with and provide information to employees and staff within other departments of the Council and external organisations on pension matters. Develop strong working relationships with the administrators, employers, HR colleagues, senior management

Deputise for the Pensions Manager in their absence

Any other duties which may be delegated by the Pensions Manager.

Essential:

Pensions administration experience Desirable:

Minimum of 3 years of experience of LGPS administration or DB administration.

Member of the PMI or IPPM.

Please apply with your updated CV ensuring that any gaps in employment are explained.

At this point, may we take this opportunity to thank you for the interest you have shown in this role. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not always possible to respond to everyone. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 7 days, your application for this vacancy may not have been shortlist by the client.