Pensions Manager

XPS Group; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

Healthcare plans

25 days holiday

Pension matching

Life assurance

Retailer discounts

Flexible benefits

Volunteer days

Job summary

XPS Group in Reading is seeking a Senior Pensions Manager to lead defined benefits administration for a diverse client portfolio. The role focuses on delivering accurate pension services, managing relationships with trustees and corporate clients, and driving continuous improvements across governance, billing, and project delivery.

You will oversee strategic initiatives, contribute to business development, and mentor team members while ensuring compliance with regulatory changes and quality

Qualifications

• Experience in Defined Benefit pension schemes.
• Proven supervisory or leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of pensions legislation and regulatory framework.
• Excellent client-facing and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assisting or leading the provision of pensions administration services for the assigned client portfolio.
• Overseeing day-to-day management of client relationships with trustees and corporate clients.
• Participating in marketing initiatives, pitches and events; seek opportunities to generate income from existing client portfolio.
• Providing expert pension advice and consulting on pensions queries; stay updated on industry developments.
• Managing annual and ad-hoc projects such as renewals, benefit statements and scheme returns.
• Signing out ad-hoc and standard letters in response to customer queries.
• Overseeing admin billing; ensuring time records, invoices and payments are processed on time.
• Leading governance tracking measures and reporting to senior management.
• Managing workflow, allocation, and resourcing for the designated team; conduct regular progress meetings.

Skills

Pensions admin

Leadership

Project management

Numerical skills

MS Office

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

About XPS Group

XPS Pensions Group is no ordinary company. We've earned numerous awards and accolades, making us an industry leader in Pensions Consultancy. As the largest pure pensions consultancy in the UK, we are a team of approximately 2000 employees spread across 15 locations nationwide. Listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market, we pride ourselves on our ability to think and act differently, offering expert advice to over 1600 pension schemes and administering pensions for over 1,000,000 members.

Pensions Manager – Defined Benefits

Location: Reading
Grade: Senior Consultant
Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Job ID: REQ003705

About the Team

Our teams of pension administrators provide services to a wide range of trust-based company pension schemes, including defined benefit, defined contribution, career average revalued earnings, and hybrid schemes. Our range of pensions administration services include: scheme administration, communication, scam identification, payroll services, pension scheme accounting, de‑risking projects, technical consultancy.

Our administrative approach is scheme‑based; one team is responsible for every aspect of each client’s service, enabling us to build the best possible relationships and provide the clarity of focus each scheme deserves. Ultimately, pension schemes are there for their members; we place just as much emphasis on delivering excellent customer service as we do on technical proficiency and quality control.

Working closely with the Deputy Managers as prime day‑to‑day contact for a given portfolio of XPS Administration clients to ensure provision of high‑quality pension administration and consultancy services. In addition, you will be expected to participate in strategic business changes i.e. critical success factors, implement decisions made by the Board and Senior Management and understand the issues that affect the performance of the Company.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting or, where appropriate, leading the provision of pensions administration services for the assigned XPS Administration client portfolio.
• Overseeing day‑to‑day management of client relationships with trustees and corporate clients, and participating in trustee and client meetings where applicable. Taking a proactive stance to gain an extensive knowledge of assigned client portfolio to ensure client confidence, credibility and trust.
• Actively participating in XPS Administration’s marketing initiatives, new business activities, attending new business pitches and company events. Seeking opportunities to generate additional income from existing client portfolio.
• Providing expert advice solutions to pensions queries and pension consultative advice; keeping abreast of technical and legislative developments within the pensions industry.
• Overseeing the project management of annual and ad‑hoc projects such as renewals, benefit statements, pension increases, scheme returns, and trustees’ reports and accounts. Ensuring projects are fully monitored and completed in line with customer and legislation requirements.
• Involvement in scrutinising the client work of other less experienced pensions administration team members. Signing out of ad‑hoc and standard letters in response to customer queries.
• Taking responsibility for all aspects of admin billing, in conjunction with Operations Manager and/or Client Manager. Ensuring all recorded admin time is billed or accrued by the monthly deadline, all chargeable work is correctly recorded on the time recording system and billed as soon as possible, and all bills are issued and payment received on time.
• Disseminating information to team members on service delivery objectives and targets for assigned client portfolio. Presenting technical matters at team meetings.
• Leading non‑client activities, conducting internal audits, being alert to potential improvements in pensions administration processes, quality improvement and implementing changes. Ensuring Governance tracking measures (for example central spreadsheets, error logs etc.) are updated promptly.
• Assuming responsibility for total workflow management for the designated team, including workload allocation, prioritisation and ensuring delivery in line with client expectations, legal timescales and service level agreements (SLAs). Holding regular workflow meetings with senior team members to manage progress and resolve any issues.
• Identifying team objectives or other necessary changes in line with business needs and actively implementing appropriate course of action.
• Positively contributing to regular management meetings, implementing any recommendations or decisions made in terms of working practices, resourcing, efficiencies and dissemination of communications to more junior staff.
• Formal staff‑management responsibilities including conducting appraisals, setting individual and team objectives, handling HR, performance management issues and recruitment related activities as and where required.
• Formal responsibilities for mentoring, training, coaching and developing pensions administration team members. Ensuring adherence to company policies and working procedures.
• Forging strong working relationships with other departments/teams both internal and external to the Company in order to provide a total service to our clients (e.g. Pensions Accounts, Payroll, Administration Consulting and Business Support).
• Ensuring the accurate updating on the time recording system for both chargeable and non‑chargeable activities, enabling team and self to meet required utilisation and recovery targets, and providing encouragement to the team to meet targets and objectives. Reporting to senior management by exception.
• Due to the changing nature of the business, the job holder may from time to time be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within their capabilities.

Your Profile

Essential

• Able to demonstrate an expert knowledge of pensions administration activities and apply this knowledge to any scheme.
• Previous pensions administration experience of Defined Benefit schemes including leavers, retirements, deaths, transfers, monthly processing and investment, benefit statements, scheme renewal and pension increases. This role is likely to appeal to individuals with significant experience although not exclusive as all applications will be considered on an individual basis.
• Thorough knowledge of pensions legislation framework and demonstrable ability to remain informed of changes to the framework.
• Previous supervisory, leadership and management experience including performance monitoring, appraisals, recruitment etc.
• Third‑party pensions administration experience preferred, although strong all‑round experience within an in‑house pensions department, which is not purely process driven will be considered.
• Previous presentational experience is desirable to assist with client pitches, trustee meetings and account development activities.
• Able to demonstrate a numerical aptitude evidenced by work related experience or academic achievements as listed below.
• Previous project management experience would be required to perform pension administration project‑based work.
• IT proficient, in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint.

Desirable

• Marketing and new business activities.
• Developing business contacts/relationships.

What We Offer

Enjoy a competitive salary, annual discretionary bonus, and 25 days’ holiday with buy/sell flexibility. Benefits include pension matching, healthcare plans, life assurance, and retailer discounts. We support our team with a flexible benefits scheme, employee assistance, and digital GP service. Participating in volunteering events is encouraged with paid volunteer days available. Referral bonuses are offered for introducing suitable candidates to XPS.

Equal Opportunity Statement

XPS Group is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome applications from all candidates, irrespective of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or belief. As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure accessible and supportive work settings for all employees.

Eligibility

Any employment offer made will be conditional upon you satisfying DBS Disclosure checks, Employment or educational references, Satisfactory credit checks and eligibility to work in the UK before an offer can be made. XPS Group is not able to provide sponsorship to employees.