Pensions Manager – Payroll, Payments and Projects

LB RICHMOND UPON THAMES & LB WANDSWORTH; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in London seeks an experienced professional to lead a major pensioner payroll transformation project. You will oversee payroll administration for over 30,000 LGPS pensioner members, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. The ideal candidate has experience with payroll procedures and systems like Heywood Altair, alongside strong interpersonal skills. This role offers generous benefits including 40 days annual leave and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

40 days annual leave

Flexible working

Generous pension plan

Qualifications

• Understanding & working experience of payroll procedures and defined benefit schemes.
• Experience of Heywood Altair or equivalent system.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Payroll implementation/testing experience.

Responsibilities

• Drive the successful implementation of a new pensioner payroll and payments system.
• Manage ongoing payroll operations and pensioner services.
• Lead annual service-wide projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Champion innovation through new technologies and process improvements.
• Provide expert guidance to colleagues and stakeholders.

Skills

Understanding of payroll procedures

Experience of Heywood Altair or equivalent system

Excellent interpersonal skills

Payroll implementation/testing experience

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Access)

Tools

Business Objects

Power BI

SharePoint/O365

Job description

Overview

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the Pensions Shared Service, helping to deliver innovation and service excellence to pension provision. Take the lead on a major transformation project - bringing pensioner payroll under direct control of the Pensions Shared Service and separating it from our partner Councils' systems. Once implemented, you will manage payroll administration for over 30,000 LGPS pensioner members, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and outstanding service.

Responsibilities

• Drive the successful implementation of a new pensioner payroll and payments system
• Manage ongoing payroll operations and pensioner services
• Lead annual service-wide projects, ensuring alignment with our business objectives
• Champion innovation through new technologies and process improvements
• Provide expert guidance to colleagues, senior leaders, and external stakeholders

Qualifications

• Understanding & working experience of payroll procedures and defined benefit schemes and a working knowledge of relevant legislation including HMRC;
• Experience of Heywood Altair or equivalent system;
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, in order to engage with senior officers and stakeholders, senior management teams and the service users;
• Payroll implementation/testing experience;
• Use of leading business analysis and change tools such as: Microsoft Office (specifically Excel and Access) - Data interrogation software e.g. Business Objects, Power BI, etc - SharePoint/O365

About the Pensions Shared Service

The Pensions Shared Service is based in Wandsworth Town Hall and runs the administration of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for five London boroughs: Camden, Merton, Richmond, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth.

Diversity, recruitment & benefits

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We also offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.