Pension and Benefits Advisor

Our client, a leading international Law firm, require a Pensions and Benefits Advisor to join their team.

The Team

The HR Reward, Pensions, Wellbeing and Global Mobility team comprises 1 Manager and 3 Advisors (Senior Reward and Benefits Advisor, Pensions & Benefits Advisor and Global Mobility Advisor). The team works closely with the HR Generalists, the Recruitment Team, Employee Relations, HR Systems and Diversity and Inclusion.

The Role

The Pensions and Benefits Advisor will work closely with the Head of Reward, Wellbeing and Global Mobility Advisor and the two other Advisors to provide specialist support to the business.  The Pension and Benefits Advisor reports into and is supervised by the Head of Reward, Wellbeing and Global Mobility.

Key responsibilities include:

Pensions

• Secretary to the Trustees for the final salary pension scheme.
• Preparation of documents for the scheme audit.
• Attending trustee meetings and collating and distributing paperwork to attendees.
• Assisting with providing data for triennial valuation.
• Responsible for preparation and finalising of Report and Accounts working alongside Finance.
• Liaising with members, investment managers and advisors on all aspects of the scheme.
• Main contact for Group Personal Pension scheme for both member and provider queries.
• Communicate changes in legislation and co-ordinate signature of necessary supporting legal documentation including managing the Member Nominated Trustee process.
• Liaise between Payroll and other companies to ensure reports are accurate and received in a timely fashion.
• Responsible for producing and updating process documents.

Benefits

• Assist with meeting payroll deadlines, notifying the payroll team of benefits and pension deductions.
• Work with the HR Service Delivery team to manage the process for all new joiners and leavers, ensure all providers and systems are updated in a timely manner.
• Responsible for updating induction information for benefits and pension, ensuring forms, brochures are kept updated with changes at scheme renewals and throughout scheme year. 
• Managing HR admin for all benefit records.
• Managing updates to the Flexible Benefits system for benefits within remit and dealing with employee questions and requests.
• Managing Flexible Benefits systems at payroll cutoff and close to ensure payroll reports are received in a timely manner.
• Provide benefit presentations, new joiner inductions and surgeries to employees and trainee solicitors.
• Managing death in service scheme claims, liaising with Trustees as appropriate to gain approval for payment.
• Working with our private GP service and Occ Health to retain relationship and best practice.
• Responsible for the day to day running of other NRF benefit schemes such as the Car Scheme, Cycle scheme, EAP and season ticket renewals.
• Manage Benefits Admin mail box as necessary in conjunction with Service Delivery team.

Ad Hoc / Projects

• Undertake ad-hoc project work, liaising with HR teams in our International offices and coordinating with HR generalist teams as required.
• Produce ad-hoc reports as and when required for team and for client group when requested.
• Assist with developing the Health and Wellbeing initiative, coordinating events and creating campaigns on relevant topics.

Skills and Experience Required

• Ideally Legal or Professional Services experience.
• Strong IT skills including Excel, Word, Outlook and ideally an HR database.
• Experience of a Flexible Benefit system, in particular Darwin (Thomsons) is desirable.
• Accuracy and strong attention to detail.
• Strong numeric skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritise and juggle tasks.
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment with demanding internal clients.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively.
• Strong GCSE’s and A-levels (or equivalent) (A-C). Ideally a degree in an HR related subject.
• Must present a professional, friendly and client focused attitude and approach at all times.
• Confident and flexible approach to taking on new tasks and projects.
• Flexible in relation to hours prepared to work late where business requirements dictate.