Meraki Talent are working with a global investment bank, who are looking to appoint an experienced VP within UK Pensions & Governance.
Purpose of the Role
To develop, implement and provide robust governance oversight of employee retirement plans and benefits programmes, and to act as a trusted adviser in resolving related issues across the bank.
Key Accountabilities
* Lead the development, implementation and ongoing delivery of retirement plans and benefits programmes, aligned to the bank’s people strategy and supported by appropriate technology.
* Resolve escalated retirement and benefits issues raised by colleagues and people leaders, either directly, via HR operational teams, or through oversight of third-party providers.
* Ensure retirement and benefits programmes operate in full compliance with internal governance frameworks and all relevant external legislation and regulation, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of regulatory and legislative developments.
* Design and deliver communication and engagement activity to educate employees and managers on available retirement and benefit options, including pensions, health insurance and wider benefits.
* Conduct market research to inform retirement and benefits strategy, administration models and compliance approaches.
* Identify, appoint and manage external vendors and stakeholders responsible for administration and service delivery, providing expert advice and guidance to employees and people leaders where required.
* Provide governance and oversight of all cost elements associated with retirement and benefits provision, ensuring accurate forecasting, budget management, spend approval and monitoring of funding requirements.
Vice President Expectations
* Contribute to, and where appropriate set, strategy; define requirements; and make recommendations for change.
* Plan and manage resources, budgets, policies and processes, driving continuous improvement and escalating policy or procedural breaches where necessary.
Where the role includes people leadership responsibilities:
* Define roles and responsibilities, plan for future capability and operational needs, coach and manage performance, and contribute to pay and reward decisions.
* Lead specialist teams to deliver both strategic and tactical priorities, balancing short- and long-term objectives while meeting budget and delivery commitments.
* Demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviours that enable colleagues to thrive and consistently perform to a high standard, aligned to the bank’s leadership expectations.
Where the role is an individual contributor:
* Act as a recognised subject matter expert, setting technical direction and leading complex, multi-year initiatives.
* Guide and coach less experienced specialists, identify when additional expertise is required, and provide insight impacting long-term profitability, organisational risk and strategic decision-making.
Governance, Risk and Collaboration
* Advise senior stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and executive management, on functional and cross-functional impacts and alignment.
* Identify, assess and mitigate risks in support of the bank’s control and governance agenda.
* Demonstrate clear accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls within the scope of responsibility.
* Apply a strong understanding of the bank’s broader operating model to support the achievement of business objectives.
* Collaborate closely with aligned support functions to remain informed of business activity and strategic priorities.
* Develop solutions through sophisticated analysis, evaluating complex alternatives and applying interpretative thinking.
* Incorporate extensive research into problem-solving approaches to deliver innovative and effective outcomes.
* Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, using influencing and negotiation skills to achieve key business objectives.
To Be Successful in This Role
* Extensive experience managing risk frameworks for large UK occupational pension schemes.
* Strong working knowledge of UK pensions legislation and regulatory codes, including the Pensions Regulator’s General Code and Own Risk Assessment requirements.
* Proven experience advising trustee boards and executive teams, with excellent communication and governance capabilities.
* Demonstrated ability to identify and manage complex and emerging risks, including cyber security and data protection within pensions environments.