Pensions Finance Manager

Brightwell; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension contributions

Life insurance

Family-friendly policies

Health assessments

Health cash plan

Study support

EAP and Wellhub

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Brightwell is seeking a Pensions Finance Manager in Chesterfield to lead the Pensions Finance team and oversee accounting for Pension Risk Transfer schemes. You will drive performance, align processes with client and regulatory requirements, and support onboarding of new clients.

The role focuses on robust financial controls, accurate reporting, and continuous improvement, with duties including audits, payroll processing, and stakeholder engagement. Hybrid work and career development are offered.

Qualifications

• AAT qualification or part-qualified in CIMA/ACCA.
• Minimum four years' experience in a finance or accounting environment.
• Strong knowledge of journals, reconciliations, and management or statutory accounts.
• Experience supporting audits and working with internal/external auditors.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and Word.
• Excellent communication, organisational, numeracy and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Pensions Finance team alongside the Pensions Finance Manager (Trust).
• Oversee finance operations across multiple Pension Risk Transfer schemes.
• Manage preparation, control and reconciliation of pension scheme accounts.
• Produce client financial reports and management information.
• Oversee payrolls, lump-sum payments, and related transactions.
• Build relationships with client finance teams, auditors and stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activity and governance.
• Support new client onboarding and process improvement initiatives.

Skills

AAT

CIMA

ACCA

Attention to detail

Communication

Organisational skills

Customer focus

Education

AAT qualification

CIMA/ACCA (part-qualified)

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Join Our Team as a Pensions Finance Manager

Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire

An exciting opportunity has come available for a Pensions Finance Manager to lead and develop the Pensions Finance team, ensuring the effective delivery of pension-related accounting processes across the Pension Risk Transfer business.

This is a key leadership role, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, driving team performance, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement. You will play an important part in shaping longer-term strategy, supporting the integration of new client requirements, and ensuring financial processes remain efficient, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and develop the Pensions Finance team alongside the Pensions Finance Manager (Trust), supporting team performance, resource planning, and ongoing development.
• Oversee the delivery of finance operations across multiple Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) schemes, identifying opportunities to improve processes and ensure compliance with evolving client and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the preparation, control, and reconciliation of pension scheme accounts, maintaining robust financial controls and accurate reporting.
• Produce client financial reports, analyse operational and financial performance data, and provide regular management information and statistics to support decision-making.
• Oversee the accurate processing of payrolls, lump-sum payments, bank account administration, and other pension-related financial transactions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with client Finance and Treasury teams, third-party providers, auditors, and key stakeholders to ensure high levels of service and control.
• Coordinate and support internal and external audit activity, ensuring timely completion of audits, maintaining strong governance standards, and addressing findings effectively.
• Contribute to new client onboarding, business continuity planning, and process improvement initiatives, while providing technical financial expertise and deputising for the Pensions Finance Manager (Trust) when required.

This role would suit someone who:

• Holds an AAT qualification or is part-qualified in CIMA, ACCA, or a similar professional accounting qualification.
• Has at least four years' experience within a finance or accounting environment.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of accounting processes, including journals, reconciliations, and the production of management or statutory accounts.
• Has experience working with internal and external auditors, supporting audits and maintaining effective financial controls.
• Is highly proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, with the ability to analyse and present financial information effectively.
• Possesses a solid understanding of office and financial administration processes.
• Has a customer-focused approach, with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Brings excellent communication, organisational, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively

Why Brightwell?

As a Brightwell colleague, you will enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work practices, professional development, career development, and a great benefits package including:

• 25 days holiday (increasing to 30 with service) plus bank holidays.
• A pension with 15-17% employer contributions (depending on age).
• 8 x salary Life Insurance.
• Generous family friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks full pay (maternity, adoption and paternity leave)
• Free health assessments.
• Health cash plan.
• Professional study support.
• Employee Assistance Programme and free Wellhub wellness network platform access.
• Free on-site parking.

Building an inclusive work environment:

Brightwell is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive culture, ensuring that behaviours, working practices, and policies promote fair treatment and access to development opportunities for every colleague. We value the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and want Brightwell to be a place where all colleagues can thrive, feel that they belong, are valued, and contribute to our success. This is underpinned by Brightwell’s RISE corporate values: Responsible, Impactful, Supportive & Expert.