Pensions Team Leader

Job Description

4Recruitment Services are seeking an experienced Pensions Team Leader to work for a council based in West London.

The purpose of the role will be:

• To support the Pensions Manager in managing 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 direct employers in fulfilling their obligations to the pension fund.
• To bring your expert Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) experience to enhance and shape this new team to deliver a comprehensive and compliant service for the clients Pension Fund.

  
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:  

• Assessment of complex cases, carrying out home visits where necessary
• Managing of Appeal cases and attending Panels and Court Hearings as necessary
• Responsibility for Quality checking work carried out by Assessment Officers
• Provide support where necessary to Access Harrow
• Ensure quality and performance targets for the services are met.
• Ensure that in excess of £1.5 Million Overpaid benefit each year is recovered
• Provide advice and guidance to up to 14 Highly skilled Financial Assessment Officers and Assistants with regard to complex Finance Assessments ensuring consistency of advice across the Service
• Maintain your expert 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 analysing 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.
• 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.
• Manage and check calculations and ensure that pensionable remuneration are accurately for deferred retirement benefits, actual retirement benefits, interfund adjustments and any other transfer values or benefits.
• 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. 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 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 pension advisors in relation to the administration of the LGPS.

  
A full JD is available on request.

ESSENTIAL  REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Minimum of 3 years DB pensions administration experience ideally with LGPS administration
• An up-to-date working knowledge of the LGPS and the calculation of scheme member benefits.
• An excellent understanding of the obligations of employers and the Administering Authority in the management of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• An excellent understanding of the different LGPS schemes (pre-2008, 2008 and 2014) and how they affect the calculation of scheme member benefits.
• Experience of supervising a team with a Pensions Admin environment

What we offer:

• 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area
• 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme
• Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on 0800 988 6307 or email  gpadmin@4recruitmentservices.com.