Benefits Specialist (Pensions)

Basic qualifications: 

• BSc / Degree (or equivalent)
• Demonstrable expertise in Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Pensions
• Ability to partner and build relationships with vendors and internal GSK departments (Payroll, Legal, HR)
• Working knowledge of TotalReward principles, regulations and policies and ability to integrate with broader HR policies and objectives.
• Good written and oral communications, with the ability to convey information clearly and concisely.  Includes experience of delivering presentations / Q&A sessions.
• Good experience/knowledge of vendor management and ability to monitor, challenge and question service provision.
• Attention to detail and good excel skills 
• Project management skills and ability to work with little supervision 
• Ability to interpret data and analyse complex benefit information and draw recommendations.
• Ability to partner and build relationships with vendors and internal GSK departments
• Influencing and negotiating skills
• Experience or understanding of vendor selection process.

Preferred qualifications: 

Preferably has (or is working towards) a recognised benefit qualification, such as APMI/QPA/CIPD

Details: 

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. We research and develop a broad range of innovative products in three primary areas of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. We have a significant global presence with commercial operations in more than 160 markets and a network of 84 manufacturing sites in 36 countries. Our purpose is to help more people around the world do more, feel better and live longer.

To find out more about Working at GSK, click here. 

The purpose of the Benefits Specialist (Pensions) is to support the Benefits Manager (Pensions & Savings) in providing a full management and delivery of Pensions administration in the UK. 

This role is responsible for providing a service to employees that needs to meet GSK’s various internal stakeholders such as legal, IT, Risk needs; as well as comply with the regulatory environment. Non compliance carries reputational and financial penalties.  

The benefits/pensions professional needs to be able to exercise mathematics at a competency level to perform calculations involving formulas, Taxation and National Insurance. Also the benefit professional needs to be able explain technical details in easy to understand language and exercise project management.

This role takes 3 tier calls from employees and HR customers of UK Benefits, and is responsible for the timely and accurate provision of service and policy.

The role plays a key role with vendor management and need to have appropriate skills/ experience to effectively manage in a complex and changing environment.

Main areas of job responsibility are:-
• Pension administration is outsourced to third party providers and the role requires management of the day to day operational relationship with benefit vendors, being the first point of contact for provider queries and ensuring efficient resolution of those queries or escalation where appropriate.
• Reviewing notes of provider meetings and following up on actions.
• Responsibility for reviewing and resolving data and reporting issues with the providers. Ability to interpret and analyse data using spreadsheets and reports from the GSK HR systems to resolve data queries. 
• Partner with other functions as required to ensure ongoing compliance with systems requirements.
• Maintain the regular monthly pension plan processes to ensure compliance in line with agreed service levels.
• Monitor benefit providers SLA’s under the direction of Manager and assist with contract reviews.  
• Deputise in the absence Benefits Manager.
• Lead and deliver regular annual projects as directed e.g. bonus sacrifice into pensions, accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Lead and deliver adhoc projects are required for example improvement initiatives such as the introduction of regular contributions to the SIPP, accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Responsible for maintaining the technical accuracy of all benefit owned documentation ensuring procedures are accurately documented and updated to reflect changes to policies.
• Provide information and guidance on Benefit Programmes policy and procedures
• Make recommendations to policy changes as required.
• Responsible for resolution of issues and queries in a timely manner within SLAs from employees/HR/business on benefits under remit.
• The role will be also required to take daily cases from the HR Service Center through the Remedy Case Management tool.    
• Present/facilitate to an internal audience on all aspects of TotalReward. Write presentations on TotalReward to suit different style and needs of the audience
• Understand, Interpret and educate employees and HR on TotalReward benefits and principles including plans not under remit.
• Proactively taking responsibility for ensuring that the TotalReward website is accurately maintained with pensions information and that any required changes are made in an efficient and timely manner.
• Responsibility, as required by the Pensions & Savings Manager, for processing Trustee recommendation received from the administrators, including checking for accuracy and compliance with pension plan rules, ensuring the recommendations are appropriately worded, seeking Trustee consent and monitoring progress of the review and consent process before passing the cases to the administrators for processing.
• Responsibility for accurately completing quarterly discretionary decisions registers to be presented at the quarterly trustee meetings.
• Completion of monthly provider comm cell data by the 10th of the following month.
• Ability to write formal papers and/or recommendations containing a full outline of an issue, possible methods of resolution and suitable recommendations.
• Conduct problem solving exercises and after action reviews where service delivery issues occur to ensure that the root cause of the issue is identified and appropriate mitigations are put in place going forward.
• Responsibility for ensuring that the annual TotalReward statements accurately reflect pensions information.
• Working collaboratively with the Benefits Specialist (Shares) as appropriate.
• Responsible for overseeing the complaints and corrective actions log with the pensions administrators, under the direction of the Pensions & Savings Manager,  to ensure accurate and timely documentation of complaints and corrective actions
• Responsible for review of the quarterly risk reports to the Trustee boards, under the direction of the Pensions & Savings Manager,  to ensure that they accurately reflect both the risks that have arisen and the corrective action taken to date
• Ensuring compliance with pensions requirements for Project Diamond requirements.
• Ensuring compliance with SPII data privacy requirements and compliance against audit findings.
• Responsible for managing root cause and risk treatment plans relating to Pensions risks highlighted on the UK Benefits risk register.
• Responsibility for co-ordination and completion of Data Privacy questionnaires and remedial work in conjunction for Pensions providers.

We are passionate about what we do and have created an environment where everyone feels valued, is able to develop, contribute to our mission and be proud of what we achieve.  We want people who share our values and believe in our mission.  Our investment in training, development and learning opportunities will empower you to be the best you can be, and we’ll make sure you have a stimulating and wide-ranging role that will enable you develop your expertise as you create value for us.

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE – 23rd October 2016

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert. 

When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

If requiring an adjustment for a disability, once selected for interview you may contact ukdiversity.recruitment@gsk.com

*LI-GSK

Contact information: 

You may apply for this position online by selecting the Apply now button.