Apprentice Pensions Officer

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

The closing date is 06 May 2024

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen in the Pensions Department for an enthusiastic, motivated individual to join our team as an Apprentice Pensions Officer.

Main duties of the job

You will be expected to develop the skills to assist staff and managers with queries and contribute to the delivery of an efficient, effective and customer-focused service.

You will be required to work both independently and as part of a team.

This is a part time post of 30 hours a week. A proportion of this time will be spent undertaking an apprenticeship course.

About us

The apprenticeship is expected to last for 2 years during which time you will be provided with the training and support needed to progress to a Band 4 Pensions Officer.

Date posted

19 April 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17,602.90 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

156-5945651-A

Job locations

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To have and maintain a good working knowledge of ESR Payroll system.

To have and maintain a good working knowledge of NHS Pension Scheme regulations, keeping up to date with changes as and when they occur.

To understand NEST and its function regarding Auto-Enrolment obligations

To be able to interpret all functional Agenda for Change and Medical & Dental conditions of service (plus other local and historical national terms & conditions) and their effect on NHS Pension Scheme regulations.

To have a basic understanding of statutory deductions such as PAYE, National Insurance, Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Pay.

To be responsible for the accurate maintenance of all pension records for the 5 Cornwall Health Organisations, ensuring timely submission of information to the NHS Pensions Agency and correct status and eligibility for all NHS staff. This includes the analysis and correction of errors identified on the NHS Pensions Agencys online system.

To liaise with staff and managers at all levels to maintain standards and ensure the continued effectiveness of the section.

Deal with Pension-related queries from staff and managers, including manual pension and AVC calculations ensuring accuracy and accurate interpretation of NHS Pension Scheme regulations.

Ensure pension contributions are correctly processed within strict and tight specified deadlines under pressure.

Maintain pension-related records for payments or deductions and where appropriate process complex manual calculations based on the above.

Process opt-out and refund documentation related to NHS Pensions accurately and within strict deadlines.

To understand the rules that relate to Auto-Enrolment and participate in the monthly/weekly Auto Enrolment duties.

Validate all output from the monthly pension interface process to ensure all employees records have been updated.

Undertake on-going Data Cleanse activities in respect of NHS Pensions.

To carry out complex calculations required for retirement benefit purposes, providing information to staff when required.

Calculate the pensionable pay figures in respect of pension applications, for the Pensions Team Leader to submit to the NHS Pensions Agency

Deputise for the Senior Pensions Officer.

Deal efficiently and sympathetically with requests, queries and complaints from staff and other departments. Ability to be persuasive, motivational, and able to reassure and empathise with staff.

To assist in the development of the most efficient and effective use of resources and the planning and implementation of new ways of working

Ensure that Trust policies and procedures are adhered to.

Assist in the professional development of staff within your team.

Undertaking mandatory training as required by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.

To achieve the Level 3 in the Workplace Pensions Administrator Apprenticeship within the specified time frame. Attend all of the training sessions for the programme, whenever necessary. Undertake any necessary work at home during the length of the course.

Undertake any other duties as may be required by the Pensions/Payroll Services Manager including participation in presentations and workshops.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To have and maintain a good working knowledge of ESR Payroll system.

To have and maintain a good working knowledge of NHS Pension Scheme regulations, keeping up to date with changes as and when they occur.

To understand NEST and its function regarding Auto-Enrolment obligations

To be able to interpret all functional Agenda for Change and Medical & Dental conditions of service (plus other local and historical national terms & conditions) and their effect on NHS Pension Scheme regulations.

To have a basic understanding of statutory deductions such as PAYE, National Insurance, Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Pay.

To be responsible for the accurate maintenance of all pension records for the 5 Cornwall Health Organisations, ensuring timely submission of information to the NHS Pensions Agency and correct status and eligibility for all NHS staff. This includes the analysis and correction of errors identified on the NHS Pensions Agencys online system.

To liaise with staff and managers at all levels to maintain standards and ensure the continued effectiveness of the section.

Deal with Pension-related queries from staff and managers, including manual pension and AVC calculations ensuring accuracy and accurate interpretation of NHS Pension Scheme regulations.

Ensure pension contributions are correctly processed within strict and tight specified deadlines under pressure.

Maintain pension-related records for payments or deductions and where appropriate process complex manual calculations based on the above.

Process opt-out and refund documentation related to NHS Pensions accurately and within strict deadlines.

To understand the rules that relate to Auto-Enrolment and participate in the monthly/weekly Auto Enrolment duties.

Validate all output from the monthly pension interface process to ensure all employees records have been updated.

Undertake on-going Data Cleanse activities in respect of NHS Pensions.

To carry out complex calculations required for retirement benefit purposes, providing information to staff when required.

Calculate the pensionable pay figures in respect of pension applications, for the Pensions Team Leader to submit to the NHS Pensions Agency

Deputise for the Senior Pensions Officer.

Deal efficiently and sympathetically with requests, queries and complaints from staff and other departments. Ability to be persuasive, motivational, and able to reassure and empathise with staff.

To assist in the development of the most efficient and effective use of resources and the planning and implementation of new ways of working

Ensure that Trust policies and procedures are adhered to.

Assist in the professional development of staff within your team.

Undertaking mandatory training as required by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.

To achieve the Level 3 in the Workplace Pensions Administrator Apprenticeship within the specified time frame. Attend all of the training sessions for the programme, whenever necessary. Undertake any necessary work at home during the length of the course.

Undertake any other duties as may be required by the Pensions/Payroll Services Manager including participation in presentations and workshops.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oGCSE A* - C in Mathematics and English.
  • oIT Literate and experience of using Microsoft packages including Word and Excel

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in an office environment

Practical & Intellectual Skill

Essential

  • oA high level of IT and numeracy skills
  • oGood communication skills, both verbal and written
  • oGood organisational skills and the ability to work to deadlines
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oGCSE A* - C in Mathematics and English.
  • oIT Literate and experience of using Microsoft packages including Word and Excel

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in an office environment

Practical & Intellectual Skill

Essential

  • oA high level of IT and numeracy skills
  • oGood communication skills, both verbal and written
  • oGood organisational skills and the ability to work to deadlines

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Address

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Address

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Pensions Manager

Isabelle Pridmore

isabelle.pridmore@nhs.net

01872258420

Date posted

19 April 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17,602.90 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

156-5945651-A

Job locations

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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