Group Defined Benefit Pensions Manager

Informa Plc; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international business is seeking a Group Defined Benefit Pensions Manager in London to define and deliver the pensions strategy across various schemes. Responsibilities include liaising with trustees, managing the pension budget, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in pension management and the Pensions Act. This role offers flexibility and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

25 days annual leave

Private medical cover

Career development opportunities

ShareMatch scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in defined benefit pension schemes.
• Ability to liaise effectively with external advisors.
• Understanding of the Pensions Act 2021.

Responsibilities

• Determine and deliver pensions strategy across the Group's schemes.
• Manage pension scheme liaison with trustees and advisors.
• Oversee finance and accounts of pension cost centre.

Skills

Pensions Management

Budget Management

Compliance Knowledge

Education

Associate of the Pensions Management Institute

Job description

Company Description

This role is based in London, UK Office

At Informa, no two days and no two people are the same, and you'll find the freedom, opportunity and support of a fantastic community to make a real impact.

We’re an international business that connects specialists with knowledge, helping them to learn more, know more and do more through live and on demand events, digital and data-driven services and academic research.

We are home to over 10,000 colleagues across 30 countries and are a member of the UK’s FTSE 100 group of leading public companies. We’re thrilled to have earned the #3 spot in Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025 UK list, a recognition based solely on reviews by those who know us best - our current and previous colleagues.

In Global Support, we provide expert guidance and hands-on support to the Informa Group and Informa’s many business teams. Across tech, finance, legal, corporate development, HR, communications, operations and many other areas, we work collaboratively and flexibly to help our brands serve their customers and help the company succeed.

Job Description

As our Group Defined Benefit Pensions Manager, you will help determine and deliver the company's pensions strategy across all the Group's defined benefit pension work schemes. You will work closely with the Group's advisors on all aspects of the strategy, as well as ad-hoc projects. You will provide periodic updates such as quarterly dashboards, as well as help manage adviser reviews and appointments.

Defined Benefit Pension Scheme Liaison

• Close liaison with UBMPS Administration Manager & Scheme Secretary to stay up to date on all aspects of the UBMPS including attendance at the Investment Sub Committee.
• Employer representative/liaison with IFSS and T&FGPS trustees and advisers, including: attending trustee meetings, holding regular meetings with scheme Actuaries, – Administrators and Scheme Secretary (First Actuarial)
• Close liaison with AON as full services provider to the (US) Penton Defined Benefit Pension scheme including attendance at the Investment Committee.

Finance and Accounts

• Managing the Pensions cost centre budget and forecast.
• Co-ordinating and approving advisers, administration and, Regulator cost proposals, Purchase Orders, invoices, accruals
• Managing all aspects of cost recharges in respect of all schemes and associated cost centres.
• Corporate Year End and Half Year Accounts preparation and analysis: Working closely with Group Accounts and the Company’s Pensions advisor to agree all input assumption; challenge, understand and explain accounting outputs; and, answer and co-ordinate questions from Group Finance and the Auditors.

Other

• Ensure the Informa Plc website remains up to date and relevant including development of functionality for ex-colleagues to find their pension contacts
• M&A: Review relevant M&A Due Diligence as projects arise, plan and execute any due diligence and integration.
• Ensure the Group, at all times, remains compliant with the Pensions Act 2021 which includes ensuring due consideration is given to corporate activity such as Capital Structure actions and M&A, working closely with external lawyers and insolvency specialists as required.
• Oversight of two small legacy German DB pension plans which are primarily managed by an external local actuarial & accountancy firm, providing occasional co-ordination and monitoring of documentation between the external adviser and Informa’s accounting Shared Service Centre and Payroll.
• Working closely with the Group Legal team and external advisors regarding KeyWest pension redress: Managing to completion a UBM IFA business compliance project
• Oversight of annual pension increases for a one-man legacy Unfunded Unapproved Retirements Benefits Scheme
• Managing occasional settlement referrals from the Trustee for the UBM Employer Funded Unapproved Retirement Benefit Scheme. Co-ordinate with Payroll so that PAYE, EE NI, ER NI is calculated and processed through payroll

Qualifications

• Associate of the Pensions Management Institute or, similar
• Formal qualification requirements can be mitigated depending on the level of experience a candidate has.

Additional Information

We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to say at LifeAt.Informa.com

Our benefits include:

• Freedom & flexibility: colleagues rate us highly for the flexibility and trust they receive and most of us balance time in the office with time working remotely
• Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
• Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
• Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
• Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
• A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover
• A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world

We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application. At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information. See how Informa handles your personal data when you apply for a job here