Pensions Advisory Consultant - DC Advisory

Job description

Summary of Role Purpose

KPMG’s Pensions Advisory team is an exciting initiative to re-establish the pensions team and grow revenue at pace.

We are looking for a talented and experienced Consultant to join our team. You will be responsible for will work closely with the team in this service line, which will involve providing:

• Statutory auto-enrolment compliance and implementation
• Advice relating to DC scheme strategy and structure, across DC trust based occupational pension schemes and Workplace Personal Pension schemes, which could be Group Personal Pension (GPP), a Stakeholder Pension (SHP), or a Group Self-Invested Personal Pension (Group SIPP)
• DC member engagement and education
• DC investment
• DC governance, including setting up DC governance committees
• Wider benefit and reward strategy
• Financial coaching and well being
• Advice on good governance and compliance
• Advice on wider benefits
• Thought leadership on future of DC structures and links to wider reward

Description of the Role

• Day to day contact with clients on key pensions engagements
• Contributing to developing streamlined and efficient procedures, whilst maintaining an absolute focus on quality.
• Developing financial management, delivering work to budgets and timely billing and supporting debt collection.
• Delivering technical DC work in line with the actuarial standards (where applicable) and, in line with KPMG quality procedures. 
• Intrinsic member of engagement team, conducting calculations, analysing data and proposing conclusions, and seeking coaching and mentoring support.
• Seeking support and, ensuring that you are having rich development conversations that supports your growth and career progression.

Role Dimensions, Technical core competencies required for the role

The relevant competencies for this role are:

• Technical knowledge: Understands relevant technical DC concepts, accounting and financial reporting standards, pension regulations and literature. Exhibits and stays current on appropriate industry and specialised knowledge, and leverages KPMG methodologies. Has working understanding of wider employee benefits.
• Technology skills: Uses firm-approved tools and innovative technology solutions to increase quality, productivity and data insights.
• Professional scepticism: Applies professional scepticism, objectivity and independence to pensions advisory and accounting work.
• Documentation: Completes documentation and audit trails demonstrating an unwavering focus on quality and in line with the actuarial standards (where applicable).

People & Culture

• Embrace and embed our culture ambition of high challenge, high support which is grounded in Our Values.
• Operate with a curious and sceptical mindset ensuring that this is embedded in your everyday work.
• Actively lead and embed a coaching culture to get the best out of others in an environment where everyone in the team feels empowered to speak up or challenge where appropriate.
• Be accountable, professional and act in the public interest, working for the benefit of shareholders of audited entities and wider society.
• Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose and fun.

The Person, Experience and Knowledge Requirements  

• Relevant experience working in pensions advisory at Junior Consultant level, at either an employee benefit consultancy or other Big 4 firm. (E)
• Technical knowledge of defined contribution schemes, auto-enrolment legislation and compliance, DC provider landscape, and understanding of the wider UK pensions landscape, and the issues facing our stakeholders. (E)
• Knowledge of DC pros and cons of differing structures e.g. GPP, SHP, Group SIPPs. (E)
• Experience of delivering provider selection and provider transition. (D)
• Experience of advising Trustees/corporates on DC scheme design, investment fund ranges, suitable default funds, charging structures (D)
• Basic working knowledge of wider employee benefits (D).
• Prove track record of developing and delivering DC member communications (D)
• IT literate with sound knowledge and experience of MS Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint and Word). (E)

Behavioural Attributes and Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate complex matters in a clear and compelling manner.
• Highly effective stakeholder management and relationship building skills; credible and confident with stakeholders at all levels. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills; able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Self-driven and resilient; able to thrive in a high-pressure environment.
• Effective problem solver; makes pragmatic and logical decisions, drawing on own and others’ technical expertise to provide high quality solutions.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills; able to analyse and interpret complex technical statistical information, with a focus on quality, attention to details and accuracy in calculations.
• Effective team working skills; works collaboratively with others towards shared goals.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with a mathematical / financial nature (D)
• Part qualified actuary having passed some FIA exams (or equivalent). (D)

E – Essential, D – Desirable