Our client in Chelmsford is recruiting for an Administration Manager with current experience in all aspects of Defined Benefits (DB) administration. This role is a 12-month maternity contract.

Main duties and responsibilities

You will be involved in a wide range of administration, management tasks. As administration manager you will have prime accountability for the service delivery in terms of quality of member and client service and ensuring commercial considerations are also applied.

Leading the provision of pension administration services for the assigned Administration clients.
Overseeing day to day management of client relationships with trustees and corporate clients, and participation 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. Reacting to clients' needs in a positive manner, but maintaining the commercial interests of the business.
Overseeing the management of annual and ad-hoc projects such as renewals, benefit statements, pension increases, trustees' reports and accounts. Ensuring projects are fully monitored and completed in line with customer and legislation requirements.
Involvement in the scrutinising of 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 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.
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.
Formal responsibilities for mentoring, training, coaching and developing of 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 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.
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.

Job Requirements

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, renewals and pension increases.
This role is likely to appeal to individuals with c. 6-7 years + 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 particular Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint