Pension Finance Project Lead

Royal Mail Group; Manchester; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading postal service provider is seeking a Finance Subject Matter Expert for the RMPP De-Risking Programme. This role involves managing finance-related projects, coaching a team, and ensuring compliance with finance processes. The successful candidate will need a strong background in pensions and stakeholder engagement. The position is mostly remote with occasional travel to Sheffield and London, and offers competitive benefits including a bonus and enhanced parental leave.

Benefits

Competitive salary

10% annual bonus pot potential

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

24/7 access to wellbeing services

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing Trustee accounts through a buy-in/buy-out process.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting requirements and internal audit processes.
• Experience delivering to tight deadlines and adapting flexibly to meet stakeholder needs.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Finance Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the RMPP De-Risking Programme.
• Coach and mentor a team of Finance Administrators.
• Support the Team Leader in reviewing and approving monthly financial statements.

Skills

Strong influencing and stakeholder engagement skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Proven planning and organisational capabilities

Education

English Language and Mathematics at GCSE/A Level

Professional finance qualification (minimum AAT Level 4)

Professional pensions qualification (e.g., Certificate/Advanced Diploma in Pension Administration)

Job description

Job reference 327917 Pension Finance Project LeadCompetitive salary, 10% annual bonus pot potential, 25days annua annual leave plus bank holidays, and a company pension scheme with highly competitive contribution rates

Location: Fully remote with travel to Sheffield & London for meetings

You may be eligible for a Welcome Bonus of up to £1,500*

Join Our Team as a Finance Subject Matter Expert - RMPP De-Risking Programme

Are you an experienced finance professional with a strong background in pensions, project delivery, and stakeholder engagement? We're looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable individual to take on a key role within the Pensions Service Centre, supporting the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) De-Risking Programme.

As the Finance Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will play a pivotal part in ensuring the successful delivery of finance-related project work, supporting strategic decision-making, and guiding a team of Finance Administrators. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-profile programme, collaborating with internal teams and external insurers, while helping shape the future of pension finance at Royal Mail.

About the role

• Act as the Finance Subject Matter Expert (SME) within PSC for the RMPP De-Risking Programme, delivering agreed finance-related project tasks and contributing to project reporting, meetings, and discussions with the insurer as required.
• Coach and mentor a team of three Finance Administrators, supporting their development and ensuring the effective delivery of assigned outputs.
• Support the Team Leader in reviewing and approving monthly financial statements, reconciliations, payments, and reports to ensure the accurate and timely reporting of financial information.
• Assist the Team Leader in planning and managing workloads effectively, in line with Royal Mail Group's contractual obligations and service level agreements.
• Collaborate with Finance, Payroll, and Pensions Administrators to ensure the successful completion of internal and external audits.

• Ensure compliance with relevant finance and pensions processes, providing technical guidance and support to both the Finance team and the wider pensions function.

About You

• Proven experience managing Trustee accounts through a buy-in/buy-out process, including true-ups, insurer reconciliation, and cash flow reporting. Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience engaging with insurers to advise on financial aspects of a de-risking programme on behalf of a Scheme Administrator.
• Desirable - Understanding of defined benefit schemes, including the financial requirements and Pensioner Payroll processes for schemes with insured pensions, bought-in or bought-out benefits.
• Desirable - Experience working within project teams, delivering in line with agreed project plans, contributing to project reporting and meetings, and proactively identifying, owning, and managing financial risks.
• Demonstrable experience as a professional finance practitioner, with strong knowledge of:
  • Financial reporting requirements
  • Internal and external audit processes
  • Payroll operations and HMRC rules and regulations
• Strong influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels, both within and outside of Royal Mail Group.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and present it in a clear and accessible manner.
• Proven planning and organisational capabilities, including experience delivering to tight deadlines and adapting flexibly to meet stakeholder and customer needs.

Qualifications:

• English Language and Mathematics at GCSE/A Level
• Professional finance qualification (minimum AAT Level 4)
• Desirable - Professional pensions qualification (e.g., Certificate/Advanced Diploma in Pension Administration, PMI Award in Pensions Essentials, QPA)

Extra Benefits

Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
Discounts and offers - there are more than 800 offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills*.
Supportive and generous company sick pay
Your Wellbeing -you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life. From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice. It's free, and it's for everyone.
*Available only to perm employees

Next Steps

The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions.

Trust is the foundation of Royal Mail.We aim to be transparent about the qualities we seek and what a career with us entails, building trust from the start of your journey with us. Your interview is the first step, and we want you to shine. To help you prepare, we'll provide your interview questions in advance, so you can have your best examples ready. At Royal Mail Group, we value trust and our people.

We understand that candidates may not meet all the criteria for the role. If your experience is different, but you have relevant skills we'd love to hear from you.

Royal Mail Group is committed to inclusion and representing the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals. As a proud Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we especially encourage applications from the Armed Forces community, including cadet instructors and spouses/partners.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to support you during the hiring process, please discuss these with your recruiter when contacted.

We are Forces family friendly and a Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

For more information on Royal Mail Group and our values please click here: https://www.internationaldistributionsservices.com/en/about-us/

Closing Date: Monday 27th October. Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.

*payments are made in instalments and subject to terms and conditions.

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