Pensions and Investments Manager

Overview

Are you a strategic leader passionate about pensions and investments? We are looking for an experienced professional to lead our service and ensure high-quality outcomes. If this sounds like you, join us as Head of Pensions and Investments to help shape the future of our pension fund.

Why join us?

The government's focus on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) signifies an exciting period of transformation within the sector. Buckinghamshire is strategically positioned to effectively implement and optimise any proposed changes, presenting a leadership opportunity to contribute significantly towards service excellence in an area of substantial importance to our stakeholders.

This role encompasses a diverse array of responsibilities that are challenging to replicate elsewhere, including overseeing pension investment strategy, monitoring and analysis, preparing and delivering the Pension Fund accounts and annual report, ensuring adherence to legislative and regulatory changes, and identifying opportunities for innovation and technological advancements to enhance the services provided to our scheme members, employers, Pension Fund Committee, and Pension Board.

In addition to valuable personal development prospects, this role offers a variety of benefits such as membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme, a favourable work-life balance, generous annual leave allowance, and discounts on various services and restaurants.

Salary up to £86,094 per annum dependant on experience.

About us

At Buckinghamshire Pension Fund, we are committed to providing exceptional service to our scheme members and employers. Our team works collaboratively to manage and deliver an excellent service and despite this we continually strive for improvements, valuing innovation and a proactive approach to make the service the best it possibly can be and become one of the best pensions administration teams in the LGPS.

“The shared vision of the Pensions & Investment team is to provide excellent customer service for fund members, and the enthusiasm to strive towards targets helps create a positive working environment and helps the team regularly exceed expectations. I am proud to work as part of a dynamic and supportive team” – a member of the Pensions Administration team.

About the role

As the Head of Pensions & Investments, you will provide strategic leadership to our Pensions and Investments service. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the planning, development, delivery, control, and management of the Pensions & Investments service
• Designing, developing, and performance managing the service to maximise quality, efficiency, and continuity
• Liaising with key partners, including the Pension Pool , Fund investment adviser, Committee independent advisor, Fund actuary, and other LGPS Pools and Funds
• Developing and overseeing the implementation of policy, systems, contracts, processes, performance criteria, standards, governance frameworks, and procedures
• Providing expert professional advice, interpretation, information, support, and challenge to various stakeholders
• Implementing a comprehensive risk management program and business continuity plan
• Managing key relationships with delivery partners, providers, suppliers, and customers
• Establishing and embedding a culture of continuous improvement throughout the service area
• Planning and managing major projects and service area programs, securing resources, and assigning clear accountabilities
• Ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations, codes, guidelines, standards, and best practices

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this position and the person specification criteria.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will need significant relevant experience in managing a professional expertise area in a large local government organisation. You should have extensive knowledge and understanding of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), including its requirements, systems, policies, practices, procedures, legislation, and major issues. A proven track record of effectively managing significant budgets and delivering services within agreed resources is essential. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills are required, with the ability to communicate complex issues effectively to a wide range of audiences.

You should have proven leadership ability, with evidence of developing a multi-disciplinary team approach, managing staff, inspiring confidence, encouraging, motivating, and influencing others. Enthusiasm, drive, commitment, and energy demonstrated in achieving goals, with resilience and positivity despite setbacks, are crucial for this role.

Other information

There are hybrid working arrangements in place for the team with regular face to face opportunities for the whole team to get together.

Closing date: 26^th June

Interview date: 3^rd/4^th July

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact:  Mark Preston, Assistant Chief Finance Officer (Pensions & Projects). E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01296 383107

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Resources cover a wide range of specialisms, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT and Business Operations. Our main focus is supporting the other directorates to provide the best possible service to our residents. To do that, we have to make sure we have the right people in the right roles across the organisation. From our finance teams, working strategically to ensure the best value from public money; to HR keeping our employees healthy and happy, each service is vital in making sure Buckinghamshire Council has what it needs to run effectively and efficiently.

As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/