UK Health Security Agency

Pensions Officer

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

National £25,976- £30,264

Outer £27,722 £32,505

Inner £29,737 £34,453

The UKHSA People Function plays a key role in supporting the business through change as we build our organisation and ensure we recruit and retain the very best people to achieve our vision. Our people and culture are integral to our organisation's identity and the success of our strategy, policy, and operations for protecting the public requires recruiting, developing, and retaining high-calibre people in all areas and ensuring they work well together. This means a customer-focused, solution-driven delivery of priorities across the whole HR spectrum - at the same time as undergoing our own restructure to ensure we are appropriately sized and skilled to deliver and excel.

This is an exciting role within the People Group (HR) in UKHSA, working within the Payroll and Pensions Team.

The Pensions Officer will manage a high quality, customer focused, effective and efficient pension service to all UKHSA staff. This will involve providing pensions support to the pensions team and stakeholders across the business to ensure compliance.

The role provides advice to staff in relation to pension legislation, HMRC regulations and various pension scheme rules. You will support the Pensions Supervisor and Manager on pension matters relating to administrative and operational matters of all UKHSA pension schemes.

Main duties of the job

Your main duties and responsibilities will include:

  • Responsible for checking correct scheme for new starters.
  • As a first point of contact for employees and managers, to provide support and deal with queries.
  • Validate and process redundancy payments, AVCs, pension opt in/out forms, AW8's etc.
  • Responsible for collation and analysing of information with regards to salaries, pensions, personal details and correctly interpreting the data, calculating and inputting into ESR system in respect of starters, leavers and re-grading, amendments and redundancy payments.
  • Support training of pension officers.
  • Investigate and give advice on pension queries.
  • Provide advice to managers and staff on pension requirements on both NHS & Civil Service pension schemes.
  • To ensure that an adequate audit trail is maintained for all transactions to demonstrate all changes have been appropriately authorised and processed.
  • To undertake the calculation of a variety of payments (e.g. redundancy, protection of earnings entitlements), Total Pensionable Pay (TPP), processing of pension refunds and estimates of benefits.
  • To provide advice on ESR to both staff and managers on pension processes.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • Learning and development tailored to your role
  • An environment with flexible working options
  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
  • Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

20 September 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,976 to £34,453 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00582

Job locations

Hybrid working with occasional travel to Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based at our Head Office in Canary Wharf the occasional travel between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability of no more than 1500 words should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering a quality service
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at pace
  • Changing and Improving

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 3rd October 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: Week commencing 9th or 16th October 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based at our Head Office in Canary Wharf the occasional travel between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability of no more than 1500 words should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering a quality service
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at pace
  • Changing and Improving

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 3rd October 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: Week commencing 9th or 16th October 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to graduate level or able to demonstrate equivalent competence to that level.
  • Experience of working on payroll systems
  • Proficient in the use of all Microsoft applications including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and be able to interrogate spreadsheets and databases.
  • Plan own day to day work schedules to meet weekly, monthly, payroll deadlines.
  • Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal.
  • Able to remain calm under pressure and act appropriately in response to sensitive pension issues.
  • Able to work with minimum levels of direct supervision.

Desirable

  • Experience of analysing and interpreting pension payments. Investigate and rectify pension queries to identifying errors/discrepancies. Carries out detailed payroll/pension calculations.
  • Ability to train other staff members on the payroll system on a day to day basis.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
  • Payroll/ Pensions Qualification
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to graduate level or able to demonstrate equivalent competence to that level.
  • Experience of working on payroll systems
  • Proficient in the use of all Microsoft applications including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and be able to interrogate spreadsheets and databases.
  • Plan own day to day work schedules to meet weekly, monthly, payroll deadlines.
  • Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal.
  • Able to remain calm under pressure and act appropriately in response to sensitive pension issues.
  • Able to work with minimum levels of direct supervision.

Desirable

  • Experience of analysing and interpreting pension payments. Investigate and rectify pension queries to identifying errors/discrepancies. Carries out detailed payroll/pension calculations.
  • Ability to train other staff members on the payroll system on a day to day basis.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
  • Payroll/ Pensions Qualification

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Hybrid working with occasional travel to Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Hybrid working with occasional travel to Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

RPO Talent Specialist

Hannah Burton

UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com

Details

Date posted

20 September 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,976 to £34,453 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00582

Job locations

Hybrid working with occasional travel to Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)