Pension scheme manager

Pension scheme manager job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Typical responsibilities of the job include:

• liaising with employees
• working closely with human resources staff
• recruiting, training and/or supervising a pensions administration team
• developing pension policies and new pension schemes
• making sure that pension schemes are effective and meet agreed quality, performance and customer care standards
• resolving complex or controversial individual pensions claims
• producing paper based and/or computerised information for scheme members
• making recommendations to clients and board directors
• improving schemes in response to feedback from members
• attending meetings with fund managers, actuaries, solicitors and consultants
• ensuring compliance with current statutory legislation and regulations
• writing annual/financial reports; managing IT-based pension administration systems
• keeping up to date with amendments to pension legislation and regulations.

Typical employers of pension scheme managers

• large companies which manage their own pension schemes
• public sector pension providers
• life assurance firms
• consultancies.

Opportunities attract moderate competition. Vacancies are advertised in local and national newspapers including the Financial Times, and in a number of specialist publications such as Pensions Management and Pensions World.

Qualifications and training required

A business-related or numerate qualification is preferable to most employers. The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) offers an accredited professional qualification that pension scheme managers are required to complete once in employment. Previous relevant experience is not usually required, although some employers do offer summer vacation work experience placements.

Key skills for pension scheme managers

• excellent communication skills
• interpersonal skills
• organisational skills
• analytical skills
• leadership skills
• numerical skills
• IT skills.