Job Description

Details

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Reference number

421060

Salary

64,272 - 77,188
External applicants will start on the pay band minimum for the role appointed to, unless they can prove they have exceptional skills in line with the requirements of the role. Internal applicants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 5% of existing salary. Standard pay rules apply for existing civil servants.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Pensions and Provisioning

Type of role

Administration / Corporate Support

Analytical

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU / Edinburgh Government Hub Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh EH8 8FT

About the job

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Job summary

The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department. Our mission is to improve the stewardship of public sector finances by supporting effective decision-making and robust financial reporting through analysis, modelling and advice.


Pensions Administration Consulting is a newly established and growing specialist team within GAD. We partner with a diverse range of public service clients, providing expert consultancy on strategic administration projects for some of the UK's largest pension schemes.

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Pensions Consultant with substantial experience in pensions administration. This high-impact role will focus on developing and delivering innovative consulting services, driving business growth, and building strong, enduring relationships with key clients and stakeholders across the sector.


Key challenges you will help clients address include:

Ensuring member benefits are paid correctly, and on time. Improving the quality and completeness of scheme data. Preparing for the launch of pensions dashboards, transforming member and administrator interactions. Enhancing scheme governance and operational effectiveness. Supporting members' understanding of their pensions and enhancing the service they receive. Delivering change projects, such as provider transitions or system transformations, efficiently and effectively.

As a Senior Pensions Consultant, you will:

Provide high-quality advice to government departments and other GAD clients on the administration of member benefits. Identify and develop new consulting opportunities, working with colleagues to shape and promote service offerings. Lead client engagements, nurturing relationships to understand needs and deliver tailored solutions. Act as a subject matter expert, supporting actuarial colleagues on complex administration and governance issues. Collaborate with scheme administrators, sponsoring departments, and external stakeholders to achieve optimal member outcomes.

We welcome applicants with a strong track record in pensions administration, strategic consultancy, and business development, who are keen to shape the future of public sector pensions administration.


We are seeking an experienced pensions professional who can make an immediate impact, taking a lead role in partnering with clients and colleagues to scope, design, and deliver project outputs that address complex technical pension challenges. You will be instrumental in identifying, developing, and championing new consulting offerings, driving business growth and expanding the range of support we provide to clients. This will require a strong collaborative approach, commercial awareness, and the ability to take ownership of project workstreams and client relationships.


You will also contribute to policy development and departmental decision-making, working closely with scheme administrators to design and implement processes and materials that enhance service delivery for members. In addition, you will play a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of GAD's work to clients, supporting our mission to improve public sector pensions administration.

Person specification

1. To provide high quality pensions advice to the sponsors and administrators of public service pension schemes.


2. To lead in the identification and development of new areas of support for our clients.


3. To take a lead in the management and delivery of ongoing and new projects.


4. To maintain and develop relationships with new, existing or potential clients.


5. To develop and utilise public and private sector networks to increase our understanding of issues affecting the pensions industry and use those learnings to help develop solutions for our clients.


6. To proactively monitor current issues affecting pensions administration, seeking to identify areas where GAD can provide support with administration challenges.


7. To take the lead in working with colleagues across GAD teams to ensure administration consultancy support is appropriately scoped, resourced and delivered in an efficient and timely manner, with a focus on providing added value to our clients and value for money.


8. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of pensions, particularly public service pensions, and distill this information for clients and colleagues.


9. To regularly update public service pension scheme colleagues, wider teams throughout GAD and senior stakeholders on pensions administration issues and progress.


10. To act as a role model in the learning and development of other pensions administration consultancy colleagues through the support and ongoing development of junior staff.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Delivering at Pace Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Changing and Improving Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:


Proven knowledge of defined benefit occupational pension schemes, including administrative functions and scheme governance. (Essential) Experience of working in pensions administration or a wider function of the occupational pensions industry. (Essential) Knowledge of public service pension provision. (Desirable) Pensions qualification (PMI or similar). (Desirable)

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 64,272, Government Actuary's Department contributes 18,619 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:



Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work. 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff) A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% 5 days of paid volunteering leave Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year. Occupational sick pay Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice. The opportunity to join a trade union. A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity. Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes. Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice. Complimentary BUPA health check for permanent staff.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

A

CV

setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. A

Personal statement

of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview.

Application deadline

: 1200 hrs on 1 September 2025

Shortlisting

: w/c 1 September 2025

Interviews

: w/c 15 September 2025

Interview location

: In office (Either London, E14 4PU or Edinburgh, EH8 8FT)


Please apply via our recruitment portal below.



As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please

do not email

your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.


Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the . Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. Behaviours will be assessed at interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).



A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Recruitment Team Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary's Department's recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/ If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner's Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.


https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-actuarys-department