Pensions Administrator in St Helens

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We are urgently seeking a Pensions Administrator with excellent customer service skills to support our busy Pensions team. Reporting to the Pensions Team Leader, your job is to accurately prepare and update the NHS Pension/NEST records/payments via ESR and POL in accordance with NHS Pension regulations, The Pension Regulator legislation, internal procedures and statutory obligations. Training will be provided. Attention to detail is essential as is providing excellent customer service, first time every time. You will have excellent communication skills both verbal and written. A working knowledge of Microsoft software, particularly Excel together with the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will ensure accurate information is provided to NHS Pensions/NEST, and other workplace pension schemes promptly and courteously resolving any queries with some supervision in complex areas.
• Ensure pension contributions are correctly processed within strict and tight specified deadlines under pressure.
• Maintain pension-related records for payments or deductions and process complex manual calculations as required.
• Process opt-out and refund documentation related to NHS Pensions accurately and within strict deadlines.
• Interpret National (AfC), M&D and local Terms and Conditions of Service surrounding pensionable pay and refer any unknown or ambiguous areas and discuss with Pension Officer.
• Assist the Pension Officer with the monthly/weekly Auto Enrolment duties.
• Provide information to the Pension Officer/Pension Team Manager as required enabling the reconciliation of the pension records.
• Ensure pension information is clearly explained to employees and enquiries from employees are handled courteously and confidentially within agreed Departmental standards/response times.
• Maintain confidentiality and security of information at all times.
• Identify discrepancies, unusual features or queries at any point in the process and either resolve or refer to the appropriate officer for action.
• Ensure all documentation is filed in accordance with departmental procedures and that stored material is in good condition and readily retrievable to respond to queries and for audit purposes.
• Participate in pension record processing ensuring timescales are met, the Trust’s policies and procedures are followed, and all information is accurate and up-to-date.
• Complete pension record processing within the necessary timescales and in accordance with internal/external pension procedures.
• Be fully conversant with the effective utilisation of the NHS Pensions Online system, including data entry, system navigation and report generation.
• Validate all output from the monthly pension interface process to ensure all employees’ records have been updated.
• Process appropriate reports, schedules and documents and, if appropriate, print and distribute each payroll period.
• Undertake presentations at Trust inductions providing basic NHS Pension information.
• Interpretation of AfC/Trust terms and conditions of employment relating to pensions.
• Undertake ongoing Data Cleanse activities in respect of NHS Pensions.

Administrative responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other individuals of the Directorate, other officers of the Trust, colleagues from the NHS Executive, NHS Pensions and officers from other agencies to ensure the delivery of a professional service focused on achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Effectively liaise with agencies and statutory bodies on all matters relating to the pension functions.
• Respond promptly and courteously to all correspondence and enquiries from individuals, statutory bodies and requests for information from NHS Pensions/NEST, or other appropriate organisations.
• Participate effectively and promptly in the provision and analysis of accurate financial, statistical and management information.
• Advise managers and staff on local and national regulations, completion of pension documentation and employee pension membership.
• Provide information, excluding financial advice, to employees on all matters related to pension contributions and the NHS Pension Scheme, accurately, promptly and courteously.

Training:

• Maintain own compliance with the Trust’s mandatory and statutory training requirements.
• Demonstrate activities in own area to new staff to support induction training.
• Develop skills and competencies through training and development activities, ensuring that progress is maintained and future needs identified and actioned.

Person specification:

Qualifications:

• Educated to GCSE level and/or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent experience in similar administrator role.
• NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration and/or equivalent qualification and/or work experience in an administrative role.
• ECDL Qualification and/or equivalent level of qualifications and/or experience.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Knowledge of payroll & pension procedures.
• Experience of using an electronic payroll system.
• Experience of working in a customer service environment.
• Knowledge of legislation applicable to payroll & pension Auto Enrolment.
• Knowledge of NHS payroll & pension procedures and legislation.
• Experience of processing NHS Pension forms.

Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to provide accurate advice regarding pension processes.
• Able to manage own workload and priorities to ensure payroll & pension deadlines are met.
• Accurate data input requiring attention to detail and accuracy.
• Computer literate including the use of Microsoft Office applications of Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Able to work on own initiative, with minimum supervision, and able to problem solve using own judgement.
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Confident to handle queries from all levels of staff.
• Resilient under pressure and able to work at pace to meet stretching deadlines.

Other:

• Eager to learn and develop skills and knowledge.
• Good team player and can demonstrate ability to work as an effective team member and work alone.
• Adaptable to change.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form. We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form. The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting; no personal information about you, including your name or personal details, is shared with the recruiting manager.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be necessary to check for any previous convictions. Applicants will be required to pay for the DBS check if applicable.

Flexible Working:

We actively support flexible working patterns. All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, with no limit on the number of requests.

Benefits:

We offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Staff health and wellbeing programme is available. Staff recognition through Employee of the Month.

Additional Information:

Before applying, review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours: We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE.