Pensions Officer

Job overview

To provide an effective, efficient, and timely Pensions Service, for all internal and external clients.

To be responsible for the accurate completion of Pensions associated work as required by the Pensions Department.  The responsibility covers all aspects of Pensions including the processing of Pension related correspondence in line with relative Terms and Conditions whilst adhering to statutory regulations in respect of the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions (SFI’s) and Pensions Procedures.

To provide information to internal and external agencies whilst maintaining confidentiality and not breaching the Data Protection Act and GDPR.

Main duties of the job

To plan workload ensuring accurate provision of Pension services.

To attain a higher level of knowledge of statutory legislation in relation to the NHS Pension and Local Schemes.

Knowledge of MHO and Special Class Status.

To apply NHS Pension and Local Scheme regulations.

Processing of retirements.

The provision of Ill Health Retirements and Death in Service Applications.

To respond to enquiries relating to Pensions.

To produce and analyse Pensions Data using Pensions Online , ESR and Excel.

To check computer generated reports to analyse Pension data.

To provide assistance with cover, to all manner of Pension staff to ensure standards are maintained and all targets/deadlines achieved.

To carry out, complex calculations to resolve any under/overpayments and to adhere to the relevant procedures surrounding payment recovery and advances.

To liaise with, and respond to, correspondence from statutory bodies and other external agencies, ensuring that the information supplied is accurate and timely and within the boundaries of the GDPR.

To comply with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions, Pension Department procedures, audit requirements and quality standards and to adhere to the requirements of GDPR.

To participate in the work of the Pensions Team as a whole, along with the Finance Directorate, to ensure the delivery of a high quality, customer focused service to the Trust and its various clients promoting the Department by providing professional advice to the customer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To plan, organise and prepare workload to ensure accurate production of Pension related correspondence.
• To attain a higher level of knowledge of statutory legislation in relation to the NHS Pension Scheme and Local Pension Scheme.
• Knowledge of MHO and Special Class Status, with a specific emphasis on MHO Status
• To apply NHS Pension and Local Pension Scheme regulations ensuring that contribution rates are correctly applied and that contributions balance to pensionable pay.
• The end-to-end processing of retirements, including sub awards.
• The provision of Ill Health Retirements and Death in Service Applications.
• To respond to either written or verbal enquiries relating to Pensions, with emphasis on providing a customer focused and professional service to the employees of the Trust.
• To produce and analyse Pensions Data using the Pensions Online System, ESR and Excel Spreadsheets.
• On output to check computer generated reports to analyse Pension data.
• To provide assistance with cover, to all manner of Pension staff to ensure Departmental standards are maintained and all targets/deadlines are achieved
• To carry out, complex calculations to resolve any under or overpayments and to adhere to the relevant departmental procedures surrounding payment recovery and advances.
• To liaise with, and respond to, correspondence from statutory bodies and other external agencies on all matters relating to Pensions, ensuring that the information supplied is accurate and timely and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act.
• To comply with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions, Pension Department procedures, audit requirements and quality standards and to adhere to the requirements of the Data Protection Act and GDPR, particularly in the requirement to maintain the confidentiality of the individuals pay details.
• To participate in the work of the Pensions Department as a whole, along with the Finance Directorate, to ensure the delivery of a high quality, customer focused service to the Trust and its various clients promoting the Department by providing professional advice to the customer

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa. Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa