The Vacancy
Our Third Party Administration (TPA) department is a dynamic administration team with a varied portfolio of clients. They play a key part in providing our clients and members with a market-leading service on Defined Benefits (DB), Defined Contribution (DC) and CARE pension arrangements.
We currently have an exciting opportunity to join this department as a TPA Accounts Team Leader, within our Client Finance team in our Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow or London Office.
What will your role look like?
In this role, you will play an active and engaged part in leading, guiding, and managing the TPA Accounting Team, creating a collaborative and high-performing environment where your team can thrive. You’ll take responsibility for ensuring the consistent delivery of a reliable, efficient, and client-focused pensions accounting service, tailored to meet the unique needs and expectations of your allocated clients. On a daily basis, you’ll proactively identify opportunities to improve service quality, streamline processes, and promote best practices that align with regulatory standards and organisational goals. Your leadership will be key in driving continuous improvement and maintaining excellence across all aspects of the team’s work.
Though this is a varied role, your key tasks will include:
1. Carries out performance management, CDRs, ongoing performance reviews and supports development of the TPA Accounting team members.
2. Works with the Treasury and Payroll Team Leaders to maintain consistency with staff development.
3. Ensures that pension fund Trustee Report & Accounts are prepared and signed-off, complying with statutory deadlines and deadlines specified within client agreements.
4. Prepares quarterly financial statements, if relevant.
5. Assists with cash flow forecasting and pension scheme budgeting, if relevant.
6. Maintains nominal and investment ledgers for each client in order to prepare financial statements.
7. Where relevant, liaises with Global Custodians to ensure that investment portfolio accounting is delivered in line with SORP and scheme accounting policies.
8. Submits approved BACS files generated by payroll team in respect of pensioner payrolls, applying variance checks within agreed tolerance ranges.
9. Implements changes in line with business requirements, statutory legislation and Accounting Standards of Recommended Practice.
10. Provides technical guidance and training for team members and seen as an expert on pensions accounting within the team.
11. Liaises with Partners, consultants and administrators regarding issues raised during preparation of the Trustee Report and Accounts raised by auditors.
12. Liaises with auditors to resolve queries and to ensure completion of Report & Accounts within specified deadlines.
To enjoy and succeed in this role, you will have:
13. A-level (or equivalent). Maths at A level (or equivalent).
14. Relevant professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, ACA) or relevant industry experience.
15. Demonstrates commercial awareness, work allocation and monitoring of Account team financial performance.
16. Previous experience of people leadership and management.
17. Strong working knowledge of pension scheme accounts.
18. Working knowledge of an accounting system / package.
19. Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel
20. Adaptability to lead change in a high paced environment.
21. Able to deal with clients, consultants, auditors and other stakeholders in a sensitive and diplomatic manner.
22. A strong team player, with a motivational hands-on approach.
We would also encourage applications from candidates who perhaps do not possess all the attributes and experience listed above but are competent with the majority and would be able to quickly develop the additional skills and experience required in post with our full support.
A more detailed list of requirements for this position is available within the role profile – which is available on request.
In addition to a competitive salary and access to our profit share scheme, we offer:
23. A flexible selection of employee benefits, so you can choose a package that best matches your lifestyle and needs.
24. A collaborative and encouraging work environment where your thinking and ideas are encouraged.
25. On site mental health and wellbeing assistance.
26. A commitment to helping you develop both personally and professionally, with mentoring opportunities and access to our award-winning learning portal, Aspire.
27. Regular social activities, in addition to three days paid volunteering leave each year and a day’s leave to celebrate your birthday.
28. Hybrid working so you can enjoy the positive wellbeing of working from home as well as the benefits of meeting colleagues in our sociable, modern office environments – with the expectation of two ‘in-office’ days per week.
29. A flexible working window, allowing colleagues the freedom to work flexibly between the hours of 7am and 7pm.
Please note, we recruit on a rolling basis so early applications are recommended to avoid disappointment.