Pensions Administration Manager

at  XPS Pensions Group

REF: 002738

XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. At XPS, our vision is to create a vibrant place to work where difference is recognised as a strength and where talented people can flourish and achieve their highest potential.
Our Pensions Administration business continues to grow and we are now looking for an experienced Pensions Administration Manager to join our vibrant Bristol office with hybrid working. This is a new and exciting role where it would best suit someone from a similar Pensions Manager role with extensive experience and knowledge of DB pension schemes, pension legislation and managing a portfolio of clients.
A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis. We undertake pensions administration for over one million members and provide advisory services to schemes and corporate sponsors in respect of schemes of all sizes, including 88 with assets over £1bn. We also provide wider ranging support to insurance companies in the life and bulk annuities sector.
Our people drive our success and as an XPS employee you can bring your whole self to work - Everyone is treated equally and with respect. We will provide you with the support and training you need to grow and be at your very best. It’s about inclusion and diversity, ensuring all our people feel included, that they belong to XPS and that they’re happy. Above all, it’s about ensuring everyone has a voice and feels valued. Because they are.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

• Right to Work confirmation
• DBS Disclosure check
• Employment or educational references covering five years
• Satisfactory credit check

As a Administration Manager with XPS you will:

• 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 participation in trustee and client meetings where applicable. T
• Active participation 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 pensions 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.
• Mentoring less experienced colleagues in the team.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responsible for total workflow management of the team.
• 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 areas such as; conducting appraisals, setting individual and team objectives, handling HR, performance management issues and recruitment related activities as and where required.
• 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 team to meet targets and objectives. Reporting to senior management by exception

As a Administration Manager with XPS you will:

• 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 participation in trustee and client meetings where applicable. T
• Active participation 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 pensions 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.
• Mentoring less experienced colleagues in the team.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responsible for total workflow management of the team.
• 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 areas such as; conducting appraisals, setting individual and team objectives, handling HR, performance management issues and recruitment related activities as and where required.
• 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 team to meet targets and objectives. Reporting to senior management by exception.