Pensions Finance Manager

Brightwell; Chesterfield; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension contributions 15-17%

Life Insurance 8x salary

Family friendly policies up to 26 wks

Health assessments

Health cash plan

Professional study support

Employee Assistance Programme and Well

free Wellhub wellness network platform

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Brightwell is seeking a Pensions Finance Manager to lead the Pensions Finance team across multiple Pension Risk Transfer schemes. You will drive performance, improve processes, and support the integration of new client requirements.

You will manage payroll, reconciliations, and reporting while maintaining strong financial controls and relations with auditors and clients. Excellent collaborating, analytical, and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Pensions Finance team alongside the Pensions Finance Manager (Trust).
• Oversee the delivery of finance operations across multiple Pension Risk Transfer schemes, ensuring compliant and efficient processes.
• Manage the preparation, control, and reconciliation of pension scheme accounts with robust financial controls.
• Produce client financial reports and provide regular management information to support decision-making.
• Oversee payrolls, lump-sum payments, bank account administration and other pension-related transactions.
• Build strong relationships with client Finance and Treasury teams, auditors, and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and address findings to maintain governance standards.
• Contribute to client onboarding, business continuity planning, and process improvement when deputising for the Trust manager.

Skills

Excel

Word

Financial reporting

Auditing

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Stakeholder management

Education

AAT qualification

CIMA (part-qualified)

ACCA (part-qualified)

Job description

Join Our Team as a Pensions Finance Manager

An exciting opportunity has come available for a Pensions Finance Manager PRT 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.