Lawyers

The Pensions Ombudsman; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government body dealing with pensions is looking for a legal professional to provide support and legal advice on complex cases. The ideal candidate will support staff, draft determinations, and advise on policy matters while ensuring compliance with regulations. The role offers a starting salary of £69,398 per annum pro rata, along with numerous benefits such as generous annual leave, employee discounts, and a culture of reward with performance bonuses.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

27.5 to 32.5 days annual leave

Discretionary staff reward scheme

Learning and development programme

24/7 employee assistance programme

Discounted health benefits

Access to social activities

Sabbatical after qualifying period

Annual performance bonus

Eye test and flu jab reimbursement

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in pensions, financial services litigation, disputes resolution, regulatory law, criminal law, or public law can be advantageous.
• Right to work in the UK and prepared to be security cleared to Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Responsibilities

• Support staff to exercise functions according to legislation.
• Provide legal advice on complex cases based on sound legal analysis.
• Draft determinations for review by the Pensions Ombudsman.
• Assist with drafting correspondence for various stakeholders.
• Monitor and mitigate risks in investigations.

Job description

We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and welcome applications from under-represented groups. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging.

Who are we?

As a totally independent body, not part of the pensions industry or government, we investigate and make decisions when someone has been unable to resolve a complaint about how their pension has been managed. Our service is free, but we have legal powers to make decisions that are final, binding, and enforceable in court.

Purpose of the role

• Support staff including the Pensions Ombudsman, Executive Committee and Corporate Board to exercise functions in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and practices.
• Provide legal advice on complex cases ensuring decisions are based on sound legal analysis and consistent with statutory powers.
• Support colleagues on legal, procedural and regulatory issues arising on matters under investigation such as sufficiency of evidence and merits of opposing arguments.
• Draft determinations for the Pensions Ombudsman's or Deputy Pension Ombudsman's review.
• Assist with reviewing and drafting correspondence for staff, including communication to Members of Parliament and regulatory bodies.
• Act as a sounding board for colleagues and assist in identifying, monitoring and mitigating risks (reputational, regulatory and litigation).

Policy and Litigation

• Assist on a range of policy matters, including consultation papers, legislative changes, agreements with other stakeholders, casework processes and compliance issues.
• Handle appeals, reviewing claim forms and supporting documentation, advising on merits and strategy, liaising with the Court and parties, and attending hearings where required.
• Represent the Pensions Ombudsman at external stakeholder and networking events.

Other

• Keep professional and technical knowledge up to date with current changes.
• Exceed service level agreements, maintain high standards of customer care.
• Keep databases and information recording systems up to date.
• Contribute to and assist further the priorities and objectives of the Legal Team and the Pensions Ombudsman.
• Undertake such other duties as may be required.

Experience

Experience within one of the following areas would be an advantage: pensions, financial services litigation, disputes resolution, regulatory law, criminal law or public law.

Requirements

• Right to work in the UK and prepared to be security cleared to Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Salary and benefits

As well as a starting salary of £69,398 per annum pro rata, we offer:

• Several pension options as part of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, including defined benefits.
• 27.5 days annual leave increasing to 32.5 depending on length of service plus the option to buy and sell annual leave.
• Discretionary staff reward scheme.
• Comprehensive support for growth with learning and development programme.
• 24/7 free confidential employee assistance programme.
• Discounted health benefits and employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers.
• Access to Staff Networks and social activities.
• Sabbatical after qualifying period.
• A culture of reward with annual performance bonus.
• Eye test and flu jab reimbursements.
• Access to Cycle to work scheme.