Assistant Director - Resources in Barnsley

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in this role. We are proud of the track record that South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) has built up over a long period. As we progress, we are seeking to build on this, whilst preserving the long-term stability of our pension fund.

We are looking forward to recruiting a new Assistant Director - Resources who will further develop our thinking and help us realise our ambitions. SYPA is a special organisation – it is both a local authority and a pension fund and is currently unique within the Local Government Pension Scheme as the only democratically accountable single purpose pension organisation in the UK. As a local government body, we have a public sector ethos and place a great deal of importance on our organisational Values and Behaviours – which are all about being honest and accountable, professional, progressive, and empowering.

We pride ourselves not only on being a team who can roll our sleeves up and get things done, but also on doing so within a truly supportive and collegiate culture which I believe makes SYPA a fantastic place to work. We serve over 180,000 scheme members and around 565 employers, managing a pension fund of over £11 billion. Our achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, which reflect the dedication and innovative spirit of our team.

This is an important leadership role with statutory responsibility as Chief Finance Officer. You’ll be responsible for the Resources department at the centre of the organisation – you will oversee the Authority’s financial strategy and operations, its governance and democratic support functions as well as our ICT and wide range of corporate services. As such, this role is key to ensuring that the organisation is well equipped to meet its challenges and deliver on its ambitions.

You’ll join a team that consistently rises to the challenge, collaborating internally and externally to achieve continuous improvement, and supported by a committed Pensions Authority that backs its ambitions with real investment. We’re seeking a driven and knowledgeable leader who can demonstrate their skills and experience of strategic business and medium-term financial planning, organisational management, and governance frameworks.

As the Chief Finance Officer, you will of course be CCAB qualified and able to demonstrate up-to-date CPD, with at least 3 years professional experience post-qualification. With a public sector background, you’ll understand our regulatory context and current issues. Strong interpersonal and people management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders are essential. You’ll build effective relationships with elected members, colleagues and independent advisers, while inspiring your team to innovate, manage change and drive efficiency and effectiveness – making best use of technology.

It’s a truly exciting time to join SYPA. With a solid foundation in place and a clear vision for the future, we’re ready to embrace the changes ahead and continue making a real difference for our members and the wider community.

Our Barnsley office provides a state-of-the-art working environment, we have free on-site parking and are located within 10 minutes’ walk of both the train and bus stations, which makes us easily accessible. At SYPA we are big on your professional development, you’ll have a learning and development plan, and we’ll support you to keep your CPD updated. Perhaps most importantly you will be welcomed by talented teams.

If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to help lead the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application.