About the job

Job summary

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department.  Our mission is to improve the stewardship of public sector finances by supporting effective decision-making and robust financial reporting through analysis, modelling and advice.

One of the teams within GAD is the Public Service Pension Schemes team.  We work with a wide range of public service clients and provide high quality consultancy services that serve some of the largest pension schemes in the country.

Job description

We are looking to recruit a senior pensions administrator to help our clients navigate a range of challenges including:

 

• How to ensure that benefits payable to members are accurate.
• How to implement and communicate revised benefits for scheme members resulting from legal judgements.
• How to improve the quality and completeness of membership data.
• How to prepare for the launch of pensions dashboards, a significant step change in the way pension scheme members and administrators interact with each other.

As a Pensions Consultant (Administration) you will be responsible for providing high quality advice to Government Departments, or other GAD clients, relating to the administration of member benefits. You will be a key member of the Public Service Pensions team, working to support a wide range of Government policies.

This role will involve significant levels of interaction with pension scheme administrators and sponsoring departments. There may also be opportunities for secondments to other Government departments. As such, strong communication and collaboration skills are required.

You will also use your detailed knowledge of pensions administration to support actuarial colleagues, operating as a subject matter expert on administration issues, and identifying opportunities to add value and support clients.

Person specification

1.    To provide high quality pensions advice to the sponsor and administrators of Public Service Pension Schemes.

2.    To maintain and build on existing client relationships.

3.    To assist in developing technical client content relating to pensions administration and scheme governance.

4.    To work with colleagues across GAD teams to ensure work is appropriately scoped and delivered in an efficient and timely manner, with a focus on providing value for money for our clients.

5.    To provide a consistently high level of service with all work to be undertaken in accordance with GAD standards and professional requirements. This includes:
•    providing/supporting appropriate quality advice (oral or written) to agreed timescales and within budget;
•    complying with peer review procedures;
•    adapting to changing client needs and balancing conflicting priorities;
•    complying with all relevant guidance.

6.    Agile working within other GAD teams from time to time during key periods.

7.    To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of pensions, particularly public service pensions, and distill this information for clients and colleagues.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,385, Government Actuary's Department contributes £13,333 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Technical skills.

Application deadline: 1200 hrs on 19 July 2024
Shortlisting: W/C 19 July 2024
Interviews: Between 30 July 2024 - 01 August 2024
Interview location: In office at either - London, E14 4PU /  Edinburgh EH8 8FT
Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. Behaviours will be assessed at interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.