Pensions Consultant in Manchester

3173 is a privately owned UK firm of pensions experts with clients throughout the UK, serviced from offices in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds. The 3173 Group of companies includes Dalriada Trustees Limited (Dalriada), one of the UK’s largest professional pension scheme trustee companies. Spence & Partners provides full pension actuarial, consulting, investment consulting and administration services that provide simply smarter solutions for trustees, employers and members.

We are looking to hire a Pensions Consultant who wants the opportunity to continue their career within an award-winning and growing organisation. To make an impact in this role, you will be a highly motivated individual who is looking to take increased responsibility in the management of a portfolio of Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, acting as a day-to-day contact for our clients and supporting the management of the delivery of services through our cross-function client teams. Delivery of client projects will also be key to the role.

Over time, you will also have the opportunity to positively contribute to our drive to win new business – writing tender responses and participating in pitch activity. We would also be looking for you to use your experience to help us drive continuous improvement in our processes in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Business.

Working in a flexible environment, you will be prepared to stay ahead of developments within the pensions industry, and the broader business environment, to support our Business in its commitment to excellent client service and our objectives for significant financial growth. You have the ability to share your technical knowledge efficiently and purposefully with clients and colleagues and understand the importance of building and maintaining relationships with clients, networking contacts and your colleagues.

This role will be attractive to an existing Pensions Consultant who wants to grow their experience or an individual with a background in DB pensions administration that would like to use their knowledge and experience and client management skills to develop as a Pensions Consultant. Proven client and project management skills, as well as evidence of the ability to build and manage relationships, will be key to your success in the role. Previous experience and knowledge of the PPF assessment process is also desirable.

The Pensions Consultant will be a key part of our professional team, which includes actuaries, investment consultants and administration colleagues, in providing strategic and compliance-based pension advice to trustee and corporate clients. The Pensions Consultant is responsible for a defined portfolio of clients, ensuring appropriate governance controls are followed, relationships are positively managed and scheme secretarial activities (where provided) are delivered effectively.

Core responsibilities include:

• Own and/or support in the management of a group of relationships with Trustees and Sponsors of DB pension schemes.
• Management of specific projects, e.g. GMP equalisation, ORAs.
• Oversee delivery of all aspects of pension scheme governance to ensure full compliance and no breaches.
• Act as day-to-day contact for clients and attend client meetings.
• Maintain services in line with the client contract and internal quality standards, manage the scheme business plan and agreed actions and maintain key governance documents.
• Where relevant, carry out scheme secretarial activity, including arranging meetings, setting agendas, compiling meeting packs.
• Lead and/or support on client issues, being solution focused and working closely with the client team as required.
• Monitor budgets and ensure defined financial metrics are achieved.

Business growth responsibilities include:

• Build a growing network of professional contacts at a regional level.
• Support in tender activity including pitches.
• Regularly contribute to our marketing collateral.
• Identify and share opportunities for product and service enhancements through client proposition and revenue generating opportunities.

Personal growth responsibilities include:

• Actively build skills and experience towards your own defined development goals.
• Keep abreast of all regulatory and governance changes.
• Attend training, both technical and other business skills as required.

Essential Criteria:

• Experienced DB pension industry background with minimum 3 years’ experience in similar role or managing clients in a DB pensions administration context.
• Able to demonstrate good technical understanding of pension legislation, regulations and other relevant guidance, codes of practice, including scheme management and compliance, best practice guides and a knowledge of defined benefit and defined contribution schemes.
• Evidence of client management responsibility and ability to progress with multiple strands of activity.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to articulate technical points into lay terms.
• Use of computerised systems e.g. Microsoft Office products; in particular Excel, Word and PowerPoint; and the ability to learn and utilise bespoke systems and procedures.

Desirable Criteria:

• Working towards or successfully completed as Associate or Fellow member of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI/FPMI) or considered equivalent post qualification.
• Track record of delivering in a client management role, including project management exposure.
• Experience of new business activity including new business pitches, networking and attending industry events.

Location: One of our offices in London, Manchester, Glasgow or Belfast.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week with additional hours as and when required.

All roles are subject to a six-month probationary period and all prospective employees are required to complete an Access NI check.

Spence & Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.