Pension Finance and Risk Manager
Posted 6 hours 20 minutes ago by John Lewis Partnership
The Partnership's Pension Scheme is a vital part of our commitment to our Partners' futures. Operating as a separate legal entity with circa 207,000 members and £5.5bn in assets, the Scheme requires expert financial oversight and robust risk management to ensure we deliver on our promises. As the Pension Finance and Risk Manager, you will sit within the Trustee Services team, providing a comprehensive financial and management accounting service to the Trustee Board. You will be the technical lead for the Scheme's annual accounts, the half yearly reporting process, and the overarching risk framework. This is a high impact role where you will manage the operational aspects of our investments-overseeing the Custodian and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer-while acting as a key liaison between the Scheme and the Partnership's Finance and Tax teams.
Salary: up to £105,000 pa
Contract type: Fixed Term/ Secondment (6 months)
Working pattern: We support a blended working approach, balancing time between home and our head offices. We are open to discussing flexible working patterns that meet the needs of the Trustee Board and the team in Head Office, other Partnership locations, and scheme adviser sites (normally in London), with the remainder of the time working from home.
Location: Head Office in Pimlico, London
Key Responsibilities- Financial Reporting & Budgeting: Leading the annual budget process, cost monitoring, and overseeing the production of the Scheme's annual accounts. You will coordinate audits and ensure half yearly reporting for pension assets is delivered accurately to the Sponsor.
- Risk Framework Management: Leading the risk process for the Administration, Audit and Risk Committee. This includes being the lead for the risk management framework, monitoring risk, reviewing the risk register, preparing committee papers, managing data breach assessments and other risk events.
- Investment Operations: Overseeing the Custodian relationship, including account administration, investment accounting and reporting. You will provide oversight of operations performed by the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer.
- Vendor & Advisor Management: Conducting ongoing due diligence and compliance checks on third party suppliers (e.g., reviewing SOC reports and ISO certificates) to ensure the highest standards of service.
- Tax & Compliance: Managing tax requirements and liaison with tax advisers, including VAT reviews and Accounting for Tax, and investment compliance (e.g., FATCA and KYC).
- Trustee Liaison: Driving Trustee priorities by attending and preparing high quality papers for the main Trustee Board and other sub committees and driving the agenda and preparation for the Administration, Audit and Risk Committee.
- Professional Qualification: CIMA / ACCA or equivalent accounting qualification.
- Financial Expertise: Significant experience (4-6 years post qualification) in financial accounting and reporting within a complex environment.
- Analytical Vision: The ability to simplify complex financial data into actionable insights for the Trustee Board.
- Vendor Management: A proven track record of managing professional advisers and third party service providers.
- Communication: Exceptional verbal and written skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate at a senior level.
- Pensions Knowledge: Previous experience working within or for a Pension Scheme (DB and DC).
- Investment Operations: Familiarity with investment accounting, custody services or OCIO models.
- Small Team Dynamics: Experience working effectively within a small, highly professional specialist team.
- Continuous Improvement: A focus on evolving financial processes and achieving industry leading standards.