Pensions Management Graduate

About Us

We are pension consultants, administrators, actuaries, pension scheme trustees, IT software developers, and central support services professionals. We have more than 180 colleagues in seven locations around the UK (Belfast, Glasgow, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester).

Our graduate development programmes offer the opportunity to build a career in the pensions industry through our two main companies, Spence & Partners Limited (Spence) and Dalriada Trustees Limited (Dalriada).

About You

As a Graduate, you will work with our team to create a personal development plan to support your development in the company and the industry. A structured training plan will help you grow your knowledge and drive your career. As part of your training, you will be exposed to various aspects of pensions management, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to become a credible and effective Pensions Management professional.

In support of our Pensions Management teams, you will contribute to a wide range of work within the pensions sector, incorporating technical support to the Trustees and Sponsoring Employers of pension schemes. This provides the opportunity to enhance your technical abilities and develop core technical pensions management competencies on a daily basis whilst working in a challenging environment as part of a rapidly growing, innovative pension consulting firm. You will liaise with colleagues throughout our office locations and work on clients from a diverse range of industries.

As a Pensions Management Graduate, you will:

1. Help provide a client service that is proactive, timely, and fully focused on the needs of the client and maintains the excellent reputation established by our impressive team.
2. Be encouraged to use your creativity and critical thinking to come up with tailor-made solutions to unique problems.
3. Demonstrate excellent communication skills through regular interaction with clients.
4. Be trained on the use of our bespoke in-house software, Mantle, to consider and develop appropriate solutions that meet the needs of our clients.
5. Carry out a range of projects from winding up schemes and calculating member pension benefits.
6. Draft reports and presentations to clients in support of their decision-making in managing their pension scheme arrangements.
7. Act as key contact to members and clients, answering a range of queries over the phone and via written communication, becoming effective and confident in providing clear and accurate information to members and beneficiaries.
8. Perform in accordance with financial targets and standards; time recording, budget monitoring, billing, and all other aspects of financial management.
9. Work with and support expert and senior colleagues developing skills and knowledge across our range of services by delivering on client needs.

Responsibilities & Criteria

Essential Criteria

1. An honours degree at 2:1 level or above in a relevant subject.
2. At least 5 GCSEs to include Mathematics and English at Grade A or above.
3. Excellent IT Skills and fully competent in Microsoft packages, e.g., Word and Excel, with an aptitude for learning other systems.
4. Experience of working proactively and using your own initiative to complete tasks.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
6. Excellent organisational skills.
7. Ability to display a keen interest in the industry and environment in which we operate.

Desirable Criteria

1. Work Experience or Placement in a Professional Services environment.

Behavioural Competencies for the Role

Organised, Inspiring Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Impacting & Influencing, Client Engagement, Collaborative Working, Problem Solving, Planned Approach, Professional Approach.

Flexible Benefits

• Excellent Remuneration Package.
• Flexible Annual Leave.
• Flexible Working (Onsite, Hybrid, Remote).
• Matched Pension Contribution.
• Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Health cash plan, Dental Cover including Employee Assistance Programme.
• Annual Health Screening.
• Car Leasing Scheme.
• Reserved Parking (Belfast & Manchester).
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Annual Season Ticket.
• Centrally located modern offices equipped with shower facilities.
• Great Coffee, Daily snacks, fresh fruit, and weekly company lunches.
• Social Events, Games, and away days.
• Charity Payroll Giving.

Applying with a disability or long-term health condition?

As part of our belief that we benefit from the differences among us, we are committed to increasing the representation of disabled colleagues and want to remove any barriers or challenges that get in the way of candidates with a disability or long-term health condition from applying to work with us. As part of this commitment, we guarantee to automatically interview anyone with a disability who meets the minimum criteria.

If there is support or an adjustment that we can provide to enable you to be at your best during the recruitment and selection process, we encourage you to advise us in good time so that we may make suitable arrangements. We understand that being open with us may feel uncomfortable, so please only share with us the information that you are comfortable sharing, and rest assured that we will use this only to provide you with the right support. Any information you give us will be treated completely confidentially. To discuss this further, please call 028 9041 2000 and ask to speak to a member of the People & Culture team.