Nearly/Newly Qualified Actuary in Belfast

About Us

Spence & Partners (Spence) provides pension actuarial, consulting, investment consulting and administration services that provide simply smarter solutions for trustees, employers, and members. We are excited about the future. The industry in which we operate offers a dynamic and challenging environment and our excellent reputation is contributing to the growth of our business from an expanding portfolio of clients. With our unique approach to the provision of services, we aspire to continue to extend our client base and deliver truly integrated solutions across our work through the use of our highly innovative software platform, Mantle.

We are defined by our ethos and by our goal:

• Our ethos is an individual and collective commitment achieved through carefully balancing responsibility with freedom and flexibility, all of which is underpinned by a willingness to work interdependently. When we get this balance right, it is how we do our best work.
• Our goal is to provide interesting, worthwhile, and healthy careers for our colleagues; we believe that this emphasis sets us apart from our competitors. We do not pigeonhole colleagues and aim to provide challenging and interesting work which will allow our staff to build rewarding careers. We will support you every step of the way.

Spence is part of the 3173 Group of companies, which also includes Dalriada Trustees Limited, one of the UK’s largest professional pension scheme trustee companies, and Mantle, which reimagines the traditional models of defined benefit pensions administration and actuarial valuation software. Joining us can open up opportunities for you to use your experience to add value across the Group.

We have clients throughout the UK, serviced from offices in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Leeds. More information about what it’s like to work at Spence can be found here.

About You

We recruit the best individuals with the potential to be the future influencers in our business. We are looking for individuals who are seeking their next challenge and want to continue to develop within a busy and successful organisation. These individuals should be intelligent, innovative and motivated to make an impact which could lead to further opportunities in our award winning organisation.

You should enjoy solving complex problems for your clients and have an actively developed understanding of the UK pensions industry and the areas affecting it. You will be well organised and proactive, calm under pressure and able to communicate well at all levels (both written and verbally). You will enjoy working in a challenging environment in which you can develop both personally and professionally. You should be able to demonstrate a conscientious approach to your work and exhibit exceptional attention to detail. You will be an individual who is great at working with people and knows how to interact in a professional environment and can deliver to the requirements of our high performing culture.

You should be making good progress through your professional exams, with a strong background of experience in a similar role/environment. You will be commercially astute and aware of issues relevant in the role of a Pensions Actuary, including investment matters, and able to deliver to the demands of the changing environment. This role will suit someone that is either close to completing the professional exams or recently qualified. A strong background of experience in a similar role and environment will be beneficial.

We are especially interested in individuals that can combine an excellent knowledge of technology and systems with consulting and client relationship skills.

Responsibilities & Criteria

Essential Criteria

• 2:1 or above in a relevant degree.
• Excellent experience in a similar role advising clients.
• Nearing or recently having attained Fellowship of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries status.
• Ability to demonstrate a track record of excellent client service and a broad knowledge of how UK pensions schemes and investments work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of proactive extra curricular learning and engagement in your chosen career path.
• Excellent knowledge of computerised systems, in particular Excel, and the ability to learn use of other software platforms.
• Strong teamworking skills and an ability to manage projects.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of and experience in GMPE equalisation calculations.
• Knowledge of and experience in Risk Transfer activities.
• Practical knowledge of the Pension Protection Fund.

Location: One of our offices in 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. As part of the pre-hire process the successful candidate will be subject to reference checking security vetting.

Spence & Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applying with a disability or long-term health condition? As part of our belief that we benefit from the differences among us we are committed to increasing the representation of disabled colleagues and want to remove any barriers or challenges that get in the way of candidates with a disability or long-term health condition from applying to work with us. If there is support or an adjustment that we can provide to enable you to be at your best during the recruitment and selection process, we encourage you to advise us in good time so that we may make suitable arrangements. We understand that being open with us may feel uncomfortable so please only share with us the information that you are comfortable to share, and rest assured that we will use this only to provide you with the right support. Any information you give us will be treated completely confidentially. To discuss this further please call 028 9041 2000 and ask to speak to a member of the HR team.

Due to the changing nature of our business the role profile will inevitably change. We therefore recognise that from time to time, you will be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities, as directed by the board.