Wind Up Actuarial Consultant

ZipRecruiter; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Wind Up Consultant to guide clients through their pension scheme wind-up journeys. This pivotal role involves collaborating with Trustee Boards and Sponsoring Employers, ensuring effective project management, and delivering high-quality advice. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in pensions consulting, strong analytical skills, and a proven track record in client-facing roles. You will lead strategic initiatives, mentor junior staff, and contribute to the firm's growth while navigating the complexities of UK pension schemes. Join a dynamic team where your expertise will make a difference!

Qualifications

• Experience in consulting with pension schemes in Trustee Executive or actuarial roles.
• Strong understanding of pensions management and client-facing roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead wind-up projects and liaise with trustees and stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality advice and manage junior team members.
• Participate in business development and client training.

Skills

Client Management

Pensions Consulting

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Leadership

Education

Professional Qualification in Pensions

Honours Degree

A’ Level or Equivalent

Job description

Job Description

As a wind up consultant, your role will include leading your clients through their wind-up journey working with both Trustee Boards and Sponsoring Employers of UK defined benefit pension schemes.

You would be a key member of the Pension Scheme Wind Up Team bringing together key stakeholders and advisers. Your focus will be on delivery of advice to clients; building relationships with key decision makers to help with managing projects, and coaching and managing less experienced members of the teams.

The ideal candidate will have experience of consulting with pension schemes either in Trustee Executive, actuarial or scheme management roles. You will need to have a significant understanding of the pensions management space with a track record of client facing roles and some experience in new business and wider pensions consulting would be desirable. You will work closely with others involved in this area of pensions wind up and receive support from a wider team for each scheme.

Key responsibilities will include:

Client delivery:

• Leading on a number of wind up projects including being the direct contact for the trustees/working party and liaising with other relevant stakeholders
• Providing oversight and direction when both planning for and carrying out scheme wind up projects
• Leading (or supporting) on strategic and technical aspects related to wind ups, e.g. comparing scheme factors to insurer factors, carrying out winding up lump sum exercises, inputting into funding reserves and providing surplus balance sheets
• Prospecting for future wind up cases and helping them plan for their end game
• Helping to develop the Scheme wind ups proposition, build relationships within the team and share ideas
• Delivering training to clients
• Consult with client contacts to agree budgets and deadlines for work, ensuring necessary service agreements are in place.
• Encourage effective communication within client teams to support the delivery of work and understanding of client commercials.
• Prepare client invoices within the internal deadlines and subject to internal procedures.

Practice Development:

Proactively contribute to the development of the firm through a combination of:

• Delivering high quality advice working within a client team. Working collaboratively as part of the team in the preparation of advice including reviewing/checking calculations undertaken by more junior team members, and peer review of client work for other colleagues
• Understanding client needs to provide solutions and develop client accounts
• Undertaking project work or acting as champion for new service initiatives
• Pitching for new business and supporting business development opportunities
• Participating in the management, mentoring and training of more junior staff
• Active participation in internal forums to provide input to the strategic direction of the firm; and
• Contributing to the technical knowledge of the practice via continuing professional development and peer review of colleagues’ work

Working Practices:

• Develop internal and external networks
• Provide leadership, role modelling and mentoring to all members of the client team, including helping to proactively identify and uncover client development opportunities and/or potential threats and weaknesses
• Managing the delivery of their core services efficiently and in line with agreed utilisation and recovery objectives
• Present work in a clear and understandable manner to clients and colleagues as required
• Ensure all work is undertaken in a rigorous and methodical manner consistent with professional and internal requirements and that comprehensive audit trails are maintained
• Adhere to the firm’s Information Security standards, policies and procedures
• Manage all work on nominated clients to ensure that work is done in a timely, efficient way and within budget including maintaining project plans
• Keep up-to-date with developments in pensions law and practice
• Participate as requested in preparing technical papers for internal and external publications

Skills and Qualifications Required:

Qualifications:

• Ideally, a professional qualification (or part-qualification) in pensions (e.g. APMI, AFPC or IFoA)
• Ideally holds an Honours Degree
• Educated to at least A’ level/Scottish Higher level or with demonstrable equivalent experience

Technical skills:

• Have some broader experience in areas such as corporate transactions, risk transfer, liability management exercises, pensions aspects of sale agreements, or dealing with the practical aspects of bulk transfers
• Have an understanding of related employee benefits issues in order to advise clients on strategy and liaise effectively with other disciplines within the Firm
• Experience of operating successfully in a previous consultancy role or else have experience of leading and advising UK pension funds within a complex pensions environment in a Trustee Executive or Pension Scheme Management role
• Technical competence and solid understanding of the legislative framework for UK pension schemes including disclosure requirements and statutory reporting requirements
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to deal with ambiguity and rapid change
• Strong influencing skills and ability to positively and sensitively work with senior stakeholders