Senior Pensions Administrator

**Contractual hours**

36.25

**Basis**

Full time

**Job category/type**
- XPS Administration

**Date posted**

16/10/2024

**Job reference**

REQ002601

**Senior Pensions Administrator**:
**Middlesbrough**

**Hybrid**

**Full Time**

**Permanent**

**Consultant Level**

**XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. At XPS, our vision is to create a vibrant place to work where difference is recognised as a strength and where talented people can flourish and achieve **their highest potential**.**

Our Pensions Administration business continues to grow and we are now looking for an experienced Senior Pensions Administrator to join our vibrant Middlesbrough office with hybrid working. This is an exciting role and would most likely suit someone e in a similar role where they have where they have gained knowledge and experience of defined benefit pensions schemes, client work and perform complex calculations.

A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis. We undertake pensions administration for over one million members and provide advisory services to schemes and corporate sponsors in respect of schemes of all sizes, including 88 with assets over £1bn. We also provide wider ranging support to insurance companies in the life and bulk annuities sector.

Our people drive our success and as an XPS employee you can bring your whole self to work - Everyone is treated equally and with respect. We will provide you with the support and training you need to grow and be at your very best. It’s about inclusion and diversity, ensuring all our people feel included, that they belong to XPS and that they’re happy. Above all, it’s about ensuring everyone has a voice and feels valued. Because they are.

**The Team**

Our award-winning pensions administration business puts scheme members at the heart of everything we do. Our services include scheme administration, first-time outsourcing, member communications and scam protection.

**The Role**
As a Senior Pensions Administrator with XPS you will:

Adhere to best practice procedures in all aspects of pensions administration related tasks as defined by the Company.
- Maintaining a client focused approach, able to develop trusting and credible partnerships with clients both face to face and via the telephone.
- Overseeing the management of monthly and annual processes on the team. Ensuring processes are fully monitored and completed in line with customer and legislation requirements.
- Monitoring accuracy, performance, and SLAs for the team, including activity and client performances, and taking action to ensure targets are met
- Ensuring standard documentation is scheme specific and incorporating them into existing procedures.
- Where appropriate participating in client meetings.
- Handling complex pensions queries.
- Sign out non-standard letters in response to client and member queries.
- Updating relevant pension administration databases and systems.
- Performing manual benefits calculations.
- Helping identify any training needs across the team and assisting with developing and mentoring team members.
- Supporting, motivating and coaching colleagues to the benefit of the team and wider Company.
- Managing ad hoc projects and exercises.
- Acting as a key member of the pensions administration team, providing support to the assigned team leader.
- Monitoring, delegating and co-ordinating workflow, reporting regularly to team leader on progress and issue management.
- Seeking ways of innovating and improving quality, service delivery and efficiencies in processes and procedures.
- Providing expert advice solutions to pensions queries and pensions consultative advice; keeping abreast of technical and legislative developments within the pensions industry, and providing technical support to more junior staff
- Working closely with other departments/teams both internal and external to the Company in order to provide a total service to our clients. E.g. Pensions Accounts, Payroll, Administration Support.
- Ensuring the accurate updating of time recording system (OpenAir) for both chargeable and non-chargeable activities and meeting required utilisation targets.

**Your profile**

**Essential Criteria**
- Previous pensions administration experience of Defined Benefit (DB) schemes including leavers, final salary, retirements, deaths, transfers in and transfers out.
- Public Sector pension schemes would be highly desirable.
- Experience of current pensions legislation and framework.
- Perform complex calculations and checking work of junior colleagues.
- IT proficient, in particular Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook.
- Maths and English GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent.
- Confident communicator and problem solver.
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic approach