Vacancy Information
This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst continuing to be two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions.
Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions.
Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowance and hours.
Division / Department - People Services
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Grade - Surrey Police Grade G / Sussex Police Grade 10
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £30,486 - £36,026 / Sussex Police £30,375 - £33,348
Politically Restricted -
Unsocial Hours Allowance -
Location - Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role
Reporting to the Pensions Technical Lead, the role of the Pensions Officer is to provide professional and legislation compliant information along with further technical research and guidance as required. They are to provide first line customer service to officers and staff across Surrey and Sussex Police.
They will need to prepare and manipulate pension’s data, including data validation and reporting.
Annual review and performance monitoring associated with the Admin Strategy and Service Level Agreements, including participating in review meetings.
Key Responsibilities
Maintain a detailed knowledge of relevant Pension scheme rules and benefits so that force staff and officers have a point of contact to discuss their pension queries and the options available to them in respect of their pension benefits.
Oversee (but not directly manage) the processing of pension related information to and from the schemes and other third parties which is performed by members of the Payroll Office. Ensure procedural documentation is maintained and that the Payroll Office team are trained to ensure that membership records are accurate and information provided to the schemes is appropriate and timely. Maximise the development of electronic data transmission processes as required by the schemes to provide information in the required format.
Provide excellent customer service to all staff and officers including any third parties. Receive, investigate and respond to difficult and sensitive problems and complaints in a professional and sensitive manner escalating to the Pensions Technical Lead where necessary. Identify and report findings to the Finance Technical and Pensions Lead, and take necessary corrective action.
Improve and maintain staff and officer awareness of the pension schemes and annual tasks such as pension savings statements/annual benefit statements and facilitate any training/sessions as necessary
Review and improve Pension policies and procedures including collaboration with the payroll teams, aligning these across Sussex and Surrey Police where possible.
Ensuring all pension information and records are maintained in accordance with statutory requirements. Supporting internal and external audits relating to pensions when required.
Keep up to date with all pension legislation to ensure compliance with guidance issued by the pension’s regulator and to ensure best practice.
Represent the Force at various LGPS, PPS and other meetings. Liaising and networking with pension professionals at other institutions.
Provide administration support to the Police Pensions Board and assist the Chair with facilitating and attending board meetings; to include the setting of agendas, preparation of board packs, preparation and peer review of meeting minutes and any action points arising from those meetings including updating risk registers and various other papers required by the board.
Assist with the preparation and submission of pension returns to all schemes; including pension forms, quarterly reports and annual returns.
Train relevant employees in pension matters so that they are able to respond to general queries and assist in the administrative processes involved.
Assist and support the Pensions Technical Lead with on-going issues and projects. Deputise for the Pensions Technical Lead when required to do so
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post. Some travel may be required.
Skills & Experience
CIPP Diploma in Payroll or Pensions Management OR A Payroll or Pension related qualification
OR Qualified by experience.
Substantial experience in a pension environment, and an understanding of the principles, practices, and techniques of pension
Experience of Defined Benefit and CARE pension scheme legislation.
Experience of working with a sophisticated integrated HR/Payroll Systems. Preferably SAP
Experience of effectively organising a busy workload with sometimes conflicting priorities, to meet deadlines.
Experience of working as part of a small team
Experience in providing advice and guidance to senior managers on pension related matters
Experience of process improvements and developing new ideas and solutions to deliver a consistent high quality functional service
Able to compile and analyse statistical information with excellent planning and organising skills.
Ability to understand and mitigate the financial implications of the inappropriate use of Regulations, Policies and procedures.
Ability to critically analyse, evaluate and develop existing processes and systems in order to maximise the operational effectiveness, including suggesting improvements
Demonstrable good written and verbal communication skills and excellent customer service skills.
Be dynamic and proactive, able to challenge with a track record of being able to drive issues through to resolution.
Excellent prioritisation and delegation skills to effectively manage the high volume of workflows often under tight time pressures.
Proficient in the use of payroll software (preferably EPayfact) and Microsoft office, especially Excel.
Some travel will be required between Sussex HQ Lewes and Surrey HQ Guildford, and Equiniti in London / Crawley.
Further Information
Please contact Joanna Langley at Joanna.langley@surrey.pnn.police.uk
This vacancy could be based at Headquarters, Guildford or Headquarters, Lewes. Please note that in 2024 Surrey Police Headquarters is due to move to Leatherhead.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police work together in collaboration for this role, however they remain two different employers, with differing pay scales, allowances and terms and conditions including hours of employment.
If you are an internal candidate and are conditionally offered the role your attendance record and any reasonable adjustments already in place will be discussed with yourself and your current line manager. If you are successful in your application, you may be required to resign and transfer your employment, taking on the Terms & Conditions and pay scales of the Lead Force (if this is not your existing Home Force).
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.
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