Pensions Operations Analyst

Portfolio HR & Reward; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services firm in Chester is looking for a Pensions Operations Analyst to manage service delivery across UK pension plans. Candidates with a pensions qualification and experience in complex schemes will excel. The role requires managing queries, preparing files, and supporting trustee meetings, all within a hybrid setting. The daily rate is between £500 and £700, and it will start in January 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Experience managing both defined benefit and defined contribution sections.
• Excellent technical and analytic skills related to UK pensions.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee and member queries via a central mailbox.
• Prepare monthly contributions files for the UK pension plan.
• Analyze and report for quarterly pension trustee meetings.

Skills

Knowledge of UK Pensions Plans

Analytical skills

Experience with complex Pension Schemes

Education

Relevant pensions qualification (APMI/FPMI)

Job description

PENSIONS OPERATIONS ANALYST

Hybrid - 3 days in-office | Chester

£500 - £700 PER DAY

We are working with a bank in Chester who are currently recruiting for a Pensions Operations Analyst to join their team. You will be joining a growing organisation. The Pensions Operations Analyst will report to the Head of EMEA Pension and Benefits and the Benefits Service Delivery Lead.

Team & Focus

This role sits within the BSD Team, who focus on service delivery across the Bank's EMEA Pensions & Benefits Team, which comprises specialists that focus on:

• UK & Ireland benefits
• UK & Ireland pensions
• EMEA pensions & benefits (exc. UK, Ireland)
• Canada pension and benefits

The BSD team currently has a team of 3 contractors, and this role will add to this strength whilst providing a specific focus on UK Pensions. The rest of the BSD team are based at 2KES in London. The role will work closely with the UK and Ireland pensions team who are also based in London and Chester.

Role Description

Work within a small team of 4 to provide benefit service delivery across the EMEA Pensions and Benefits. The role will be focussed on service delivery across the Bank's UK and Ireland pension arrangements. These include UK DB and DC Pension Plan (with around £4bn in assets) as well as our DC Plan in Ireland and a legacy Channel Islands arrangement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing employee and member queries via a central mailbox, including triaging as appropriate to the relevant areas or teams.
• Preparing the monthly contributions files for the UK pension plan and running control checks on monthly payroll files.
• Preparing annual updates needed for the UK pension plan, including Plan Salary calculations and moving members between (service related) categories of core benefit.
• Managing the transfer of HR files with third party administrators and managing both internal and external queries.
• Analysis and reporting for quarterly pension trustee meetings.
• Support with invoicing and expenses of third-party suppliers.
• Support with testing, reporting associated with annual flexible benefits enrolment and benefit renewals.
• Annual pensions benefit statement testing.
• Support the secretariat of the various bank pension arrangements, for example with meeting pack creation, uploading the Board packs into online portal. Proactively supporting colleagues with getting the most from the systems and improving the overall user experience whilst ensuring high levels of robustness and efficiency.

Experience & Skills Required

Having a relevant pensions qualification (e.g. APMI/FPMI) is preferred but not essential. Candidates should have:

• Previously worked on complex Pension Schemes with both defined benefit and defined contribution sections.
• Experience managing UK Pensions Plans either within an operations role, administration function, consulting firm or in-house role.
• Familiarity with Trustee boards, how they operate and the requirements governing Trustee operation.
• Excellent technical and analytic skills with respect to UK pensions and alternative scheme designs; experience with schemes that have underpinnings, GMPs, hybrid arrangements.

Details

• Pay Day Rate £500.00 - £700.00 per day
• Start: January 2026
• Hybrid: 3 days per week based in Chester.

Interested or know someone who might be? Get in touch today to learn more!