Senior Pensions Administrator

Spence; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Spence in Manchester is seeking a Senior Pensions Administrator to lead day-to-day DB pension administration, ensuring accuracy and timely benefits for members and trustees.

You will review colleagues’ work, mentor junior staff, and contribute to proposals and client pitches while maintaining high service standards in a fast-moving environment.

The role offers stability in a specialist pensions team and the opportunity to develop expertise across defined benefit schemes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Defined Benefit pension administration.
• Broad knowledge of UK pensions legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
• Strong ability to review and check work of junior colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with members and trustees.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day running of Defined Benefit schemes.
• Be point of contact for scheme members, trustees, advisers.
• Perform and check complex benefit calculations (ill-health, divorce, or non-standard cases).
• Review and authorise junior colleagues' work; provide mentoring.
• Ensure tasks are accurate, on time, within service standards.
• Contribute to scheme exercises like wind-ups, GMP reconciliations, member communications.
• Work proactively, independently; resolve queries and identify improvements.
• Support business development with technical input for proposals or pitches.

Skills

DB pension administration

Pensions legislation

Benefit calculations

Communication skills

Mentoring

Independent working

Job description

Senior Pensions Administrator

Department: Pensions Delivery - MOJ

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Manchester

Description

About You

At Spence, we’re continuing to grow, and you’ll play an important role in that journey. As well as developing your own expertise and career, you’ll help us build long-term client relationships, contribute to winning new business, and shape the future of our pensions services. All within a collaborative team where your knowledge is valued and your impact is recognised.

Are you an experienced pensions professional looking for your next challenge? We’re looking for a Senior Pensions Administrator to take a key role in delivering exceptional service on behalf of trustees and scheme members. This is a role where your technical expertise, attention to detail, and ability to support others will really shine.

As part of our team, you’ll be trusted to manage and oversee the day-to-day running of Defined Benefit (DB) schemes, ensuring that members receive accurate and timely benefits, and trustees can rely on robust and compliant administration. You’ll also play a vital role in supporting colleagues — reviewing their work, sharing your knowledge, and helping to develop the next generation of pensions administrators.

Key Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the day-to-day running of Defined Benefit schemes.
• Act as a point of contact for scheme members, trustees, and advisers.
• Perform and check more complex benefit calculations (e.g. ill-health, divorce, or non-standard cases).
• Review and authorise the work of junior colleagues, providing mentoring and guidance.
• Ensure tasks are completed accurately, on time, and within service standards.
• Contribute to scheme exercises such as wind‑ups, GMP reconcilations, and member communications.
• Work proactively and independently, resolving queries and identifying improvements.
• Support business development by contributing technical input for proposals or attending client pitches alongside senior colleagues.

Key Criteria (Essential)

• Strong experience in DB pension administration.
• Broad technical knowledge of UK pensions legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.
• Strong understanding of scheme rules and benefit calculations, including non‑standard/complex cases.
• Ability to check and review the work of junior colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to liaise confidently with members, trustees, and third parties.
• Experience managing day‑to‑day scheme tasks and ensuring service levels are met.
• Ability to work proactively, independently, and in a fast‑moving environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience attending trustee or client meetings.
• Ability to mentor and support less experienced colleagues.
• Strong organisational skills, able to coordinate multiple tasks effectively
• Involvement in supporting new business proposals or pitches.