This role has a salary range of £47,142 - £51,175 per annum, working 36 hours per week.
Are you a qualified finance professional with a passion for public service, pensions and a flair for leadership? Join the Surrey Pension Team as a Finance Manager and play a key role in managing the financial operations of the Surrey Pension Fund - a £6 billion fund supporting over 130,000 members and 500 employers.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a small, dedicated team within the Surrey Pension Team, contributing to the delivery of our Finance Strategy and ensuring robust financial controls and reporting. You'll work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including auditors, actuaries, funding managers, and the Pension Fund Committee and Local Pension Board.
Rewards and Benefits
26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
A generous local government salary related pension
Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
2 paid volunteering days per year
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resourcesAbout the Team
The Surrey Pension Team is responsible for administering the Surrey Pension Fund, which is part of the national Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Surrey County Council acts as the administering authority, overseeing investment, funding, governance, and the day-to-day administration of the fund.
With a value of over £6 billion, the fund supports more than 130,000 members and around 500 participating employers, including councils, universities, colleges, academies, and private sector organisations delivering public services. The team manages the full pension lifecycle-from onboarding new members to processing retirements and dependents' benefits.
Our mission is to deliver a first-class customer experience while maintaining the long-term financial sustainability of the fund. We foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, working closely with stakeholders to ensure our services are efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of our members.
About the Role
In this role, you will take the lead in preparing the Pension Fund's annual accounts and Annual Report, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and in line with statutory requirements. You will be responsible for monitoring and managing the service's £7 million operating budget, as well as overseeing the Fund's cashflow and financial forecasts to support effective long-term planning.
You will play a key part in the day-to-day running of the Finance Team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance. Building and maintaining strong relationships with both internal colleagues and external stakeholders will be essential to ensure sound financial governance and collaborative working.
Additionally, you will champion digital innovation and drive forward process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and deliver a better experience for our customers.
Shortlisting criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
Professionally qualified (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIPFA), or in the process of gaining a qualification, with experience in financial or pensions management.
Skilled in analysing complex financial data and presenting insights to non-financial audiences.
A confident leader with experience managing teams and delivering high-quality services.
Knowledgeable about public sector finance, pensions regulations, and local authority accounting.
Proficient in financial systems, modelling techniques, and data analysis.As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:
Please outline your professional qualifications and experience in financial or pensions management. How have these prepared you to lead on the preparation of annual accounts and financial reporting in a public sector context?
Describe a time when you analysed complex financial data and presented your findings to a non-financial audience. What approach did you take to ensure clarity and impact?
Tell us about your experience managing a team within a finance function. How did you foster a culture of high performance and continuous improvement?
This role involves overseeing financial systems and modelling techniques. Can you provide an example of how you've used these tools to support long-term financial planning or improve operational efficiency?
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 31/08/2025 with interviews to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.
Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application formOur application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
Please feel free to visit our Surrey Pensions Fund website and connect with us on LinkedIn