Senior Pension Consultant

Venor; Halifax; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Venor, in partnership with the HRM Pension Plan, seeks a Senior Pension Consultant to join the Plan Member Services team. You will oversee processing of member transactions, provide guidance to members and staff, and ensure data accuracy in a regulated environment.

The role focuses on supervising and training the Plan Member Services team, maintaining pension records, and communicating with plan members, employers and external partners. A strong attention to detail is essential.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Mathematics or Business Administration/Commerce.
• 12+ years of defined benefit pension administration experience.
• CEBS or PPAC certification preferred.
• Excellent mathematical and communication skills.
• Ability to work with plan members and stakeholders under a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain current pension administration knowledge and industry developments.
• Assist supervising the Plan Member Services team, including training and evaluations.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies, plan sponsors, administrators, lawyers, actuaries, auditors and others.
• Maintain member pension records, workflows, self-service tools, calculations and controls.
• Review and authorize benefit payments, pension estimates and related transactions.
• Ensure documentation flow and compliance with service standards.
• Prepare pension administration spreadsheets and plan member group presentations.
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Support annual data collection with Participating Employers and data validation.
• Conduct audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of payments and records.
• Provide excellent customer service and respond to escalated member requests.

Skills

Mathematics

Communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Self-motivation

Education

Mathematics or Business Administration/Commerce degree

CEBS or PPAC certification preferred

Tools

Outlook

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Access

Job description

Venor is proud to partner with the Halifax Regional Municipality Pension Plan (HRM Pension Plan) in their search for a Senior Pension Consultant to join their Plan Member Services team.

The HRM Pension Plan is a busy, growing office responsible for the effective operation of a $3.3+ billion pension fund serving approximately 15,000 plan members. The Plan is a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan with an optional defined contribution component. Reporting to management, the Senior Pension Consultant will work with the Plan Member Services team to provide high-quality pension administration service.

As a Senior Pension Consultant on the Plan Member Services team, your primary responsibility will be to assist the management team, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of all member transactions, such as retirement, termination, death, pension estimates, reciprocal transfers and service purchases; annual year end processing, and overall database management. You will also be responsible for communicating with plan members and beneficiaries on their pension entitlements and providing guidance and training to internal staff.

As the ideal candidate, you have experience in pension administration and can quickly prioritize your day. You are interested in working directly with plan members in a professional and highly regulated industry. You are self-motivated, highly organized, and possess a strong attention to detail. As part of a 24-person office, you must be able to work efficiently and collaboratively in a team environment with minimal supervision and be willing to support other team members as needed. This position requires confidentiality, excellent communication skills and the ability to work with many stakeholders including Pension Office staff, members of the Pension Committee, service providers, plan members, and Participating Employers. Honesty, integrity and the ability to keep confidential information private are essential requirements for this role.

What You’ll be Doing

• Maintain current, thorough knowledge of pension administration best practices, the applicable legislative environment, technology and industry developments
• Assist with supervising the internal Plan Member Services team, including training, development and performance evaluations
• Liaise with regulatory bodies, other pension plan sponsors and administrators, external lawyers, consultants, actuaries, auditors and other relevant parties
• Maintain member pension records, workflow management systems, member self-service and pension calculation tools, procedures, internal standards and controls
• Review calculations, payments, correspondence and database updates for terminations, retirements, death benefits, pension estimates, reciprocal transfers and past service purchases; process and authorize benefit payments
• Ensure the effective flow of documentation for pension-related events, and staff compliance with service standards for member transactions
• Maintain and create pension administration spreadsheets, and prepare presentations to plan member groups about the Plan
• Identify inefficiencies in pension administration processes and recommend improvements
• Assist with the annual year-end data collection process with Participating Employers, annual data review/validation, and preparation/review of Employee Statements
• Perform regular audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of benefit payments and pension records
• Provide excellent customer service by responding to escalated plan member requests and questions in a satisfactory and timely manner
• Communicate and meet with plan members, former members and beneficiaries regarding benefit entitlements and processes, and document member calls to support internal audit requirements
• Assist with the preparation of member communications, forms, statements and website information
• Communicate and meet with the Plan’s Participating Employers and external suppliers, including the third-party pension administrator and custodian
• Perform other projects as assigned

What We’re Looking For

• Post-secondary education in Mathematics or Business Administration/Commerce, plus 12+ years of applicable work experience in a defined benefit pension administration environment (a suitable combination of education and experience will be considered)
• Certification or enrolment in the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) program and/or a Pension Plan Administration Certificate (PPAC) is preferred
• Excellent mathematical skills
• Understanding of actuarial principles, pension and tax legislation, plan provisions and documents
• Understanding of industry standard pension administration procedures, processes, and terminology
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to deal effectively with all stakeholders
• Strong customer service skills, positive attitude, and good listening skills
• Ability to simplify complicated topics for plan members and employers
• Excellent time management skills, able to meet or exceed service standards
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Demonstrated problem solving and analytical thinking
• Proficiency and expertise in current computer technology and related software (Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word; experience with MS PowerPoint and MS Access would be an asset)

At Venor and HRM Pension Plan, we embrace a culture of belonging in the workplace. No matter who you are, where you’re from, how you think, what you believe in, or who you love, we welcome your application. We all come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, bringing in unique perspectives and experiences. We encourage applications from 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), women, newcomers to Canada, and people with disabilities. If you require any accommodation in the application and interview process, please let us know (including different materials or otherwise).