Part Qualified

**Pensions Actuarial Consultant (LGPS/ Private Sector) - North West (hybrid or fully remote)**

Mercer is seeking a talented and ambitious part qualified or qualified Actuary to join our team in the North West. The successful applicant will be a support actuary to a number of private sector schemes with potential for work on the open-to-accrual Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This role presents a longer
- term career pathway to eventually be lead consultant/actuary, particularly within the LGPS sector where the funds are still open to accrual and there is currently no finite end game A unique opportunity for you to future-proof your career.

This role would be suitable for someone who is an Actuarial student who already has experience working with private sector clients and / or LGPS clients within an actuarial consultancy role. Where you have no prior LGPS experience, full training will be available to help transition your skills.

**The role**:
You will be working as part of a team to develop and deliver customised advice and solutions to both LGPS and private sector clients.

This is an opportunity to work on a wide range of clients, direct with Scheme Actuaries and other specialists, and on a range of client teams. We tailor the client mix to support and develop an individual’s skills now and into the future.

The majority of the base number crunching is carried out by specialist teams, which allows the consulting team to focus on solving our clients’ needs and adding value by developing innovative client solutions. We are looking for individuals who can bring that focus alongside an ability to think strategically, and who can provide advice to clients in a clear and concise manner.

**What can you expect?**
- Responsible for servicing private sector trustee relationships, including checking and reviewing of triennial valuations, annual actuarial reports, summary funding statements, factor reviews, transfer value processes and general updates on pensions regulation and legislation.
- In addition, you will have the opportunity to work in our specialist Local Government Unit supporting our LGPS Fund Actuaries in checking and reviewing of triennial LGPS valuation of employer results, ongoing funding monitoring, drafting of funding strategy statements, admission and termination calculations
- In addition, you will be responsible for reviewing and checking FRS/IAS accounting disclosures for private sector schemes and LGPS employers with the opportunity to expand these employer relationships to wider pension strategy work.
- Acts as a mentor for more junior members of the team often involving peer review and final sign-off for smaller scale clients and managing day to day workflow. This also includes the possibility of being a people manager of junior colleagues as a first step into management responsibility.
- Communicates with clients through participation in client meetings, both on Zoom/Teams and face-to-face where required. This will usually be in a support role to a more senior actuary although there will be scope to lead on smaller clients
- Assists Senior Consultants with day to day client contact and problem resolution of larger clients
- Strong technical actuarial skills used to consult with clients, and the ability to communicate with clients in a clear and succinct manner
- Checking and reviewing work, including reasonableness and ‘sense checking’ of colleagues’ (and your own) work
- Taking part in setting and negotiating fees, where appropriate, with senior colleagues
- The opportunity to be involved in both new business prospect activity and people management responsibilities

**What is in it for you**:

- We offer competitive salaries and a full suite of benefits including, 25 days holiday, competitive pension scheme, discretionary bonus, PMI, flexible benefits and much more
- We also support programmes including: health & welfare, tuition assistance, employee assistance program, career mobility, employee network groups and volunteer opportunities
- Flexible working environment with a mix of home/office
- based working or fully remote
- Excellent on the job training and support as well as full-study support for those undertaking the actuarial exams

**We will count on you to**:

- Have an awareness of current pension issues and how these impact clients, including key considerations and ability to talk about these and tailor your response to specific circumstances
- To be a strong communicator with strong analytical, numerical and critical thinking skills, including a good understanding of actuarial approaches for pensions
- To have a strong understanding of a range of ways in which UK pension schemes operate
- Learn new skills and be adaptable in a changing environment
- Have a proven ability to build relationships with colleagues and clients
- Excellent planning and organisational abilities, in order to prioritise and complete work

**What you will need to have**:

- Current