Pension Plan Accountant

About Us:

Hymans Robertson is one of the UK’s leading independent pensions, investment and benefit consultancies; we employ over 750 staff in four UK offices (London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Glasgow). 

The firm operates as an independent partnership and prides itself on an innovative, client focused approach. Our clients include some of the UK's leading names and largest pension schemes, while our continued growth and success has been recognised by numerous industry awards, including Third Party Administrator of the Year at the 2016 UK Pensions Awards and PASA accreditation.

To maintain an efficient pensions accounting service to allocated clients.

• Ensure that pension fund Trustee Report & Accounts are prepared and signed-off, complying with statutory deadlines and deadlines specified within client agreements.

• Prepare quarterly financial statements, if relevant.

• Assist with cash flow forecasting and pension scheme budgeting, if relevant.

• Maintain ledgers for each client in order to prepare financial statements.

• Prepare annual pension scheme report and accounts in line with SORP.

• Liaise with Global Custodians to ensure investment portfolio accounting is delivered in line with SORP and Scheme accounting policies.

• Draft Trustees report for consultants to review.

• Implement changes in line with statutory legislation and Accounting Standards of Recommended Practice.

• Complete Inland Revenue Self-Assessment Forms for Trustees to sign.

• Complete and submit VAT returns (where relevant).

• Liaise with Partners, consultants and administrators regarding issues raised during preparation of the Trustee Report and Accounts raised by auditors.

• Liaise with auditors to resolve queries and to ensure completion of Report & Accounts within specified deadlines.

• Attend Trustee minutes to present report and accounts for signing.

• Liaise with other third party administrators & clients on handover of accounting records for new client installations.

• Verify and transmit electronic payments.

• Authorise and transmit BACS files generated by payroll team in respect of pensioner payrolls, applying variance checks within agreed tolerance ranges.

• Follow office procedures and maintain records as required.

• Observe service standards and seek clarification about these standards when in doubt.

• Adhere to the firm’s Information Security standards, policies and procedures

Additional duties

• Prepare financial information (including budgets, income and expenditure monitoring and analysis etc.) in respect of the Practice for internal use.

• Assist with fee quotes and tender responses for accounting services or ad-hoc accounting projects.

• Manage AAF 01/06 Internal Controls annual audit process.

• Administration consultancy support (e.g. auditor reviews, operational cost analysis/reviews)

• Assist with/manage ad-hoc projects.

Qualifications, Skills / Experience and Attributes:

• At least A-level (or equivalent). Maths at A level (or equivalent).

• Relevant professional qualification or relevant industry experience.

Skills / Experience:

• Strong numerical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• People management experience (where relevant)
• Working knowledge of pension scheme accounts. Must have recent experience of preparing annual pension scheme reports and accounts in line with SORP.
• Working knowledge of an accounting system / package.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Personal Attributes:

• A strong team player, with a motivational hands-on approach.

• Ability to use own initiative, plan and organise own time and workload so as to meet deadlines / prioritise work.

• Able to demonstrate speed and accuracy when performing tasks.

• Able to solve problems in a rational manner.

• Able to deal with clients, consultants, auditors and other stakeholders in a sensitive and diplomatic manner.

• Able to and enjoys taking ownership and responsibility for own workload.

• Demonstrates integrity and congruence when dealing with people.

Self-aware, tactful and emotionally mature, demonstrates a real interest in others and is authentic to people leadership (where relevant). 

Hymans Robertson is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and positively welcome applications from all sections of the community