Overview

A core part of our business is the delivery and administration of both occupational and personal pensions. We look for specialists who can provide clients with a personable, high-quality service.

Occupational pension schemes

Our pension administration teams provide services to over 400 clients and operate out of all our nine offices. 

We have over 500 pension colleagues who provide specialist services including member administration, governance and pension management, pension systems development, pension protection fund, projects, pension fund accounting and client relationship management.

Our pension administrators ensure that members pensions are accurately maintained and serviced. Depending on their level of experience they might expect to carry out the following tasks:​ ​

  • Preparing manual and computer-generated pension calculations ​
  • Maintain the member database ​and communicate with clients, their members and financial advisors ​
  • Process and check pensioner payrolls​
  • Check work of other team members​
  • Read, research and understand pension scheme documentation​
  • Prepare annual benefit statements​
  • Attend client meetings​
  • Contribute to ad hoc project work​

Specialist teams also provide expert administration and consultancy for the Pension Protection Fund.​

We recruit into member administration at all levels from school leaver to senior pension administrators, team leaders and specialists. We also offer apprenticeship and graduate opportunities in this team. Click here for more information.

Our member administration teams operate out of all our offices.

Qualifications supported

Award in Pension Essentials, CertPMI, Certificate & Diploma in Pension Calculations, Certificate in Pensions Automatic Enrolment and Diploma in Retirement Provision.​

Our pension fund accounting team ensure that all accounting records of pension schemes are prepared, maintained and delivered in accordance with internal and regulatory deadlines.  

Typical tasks might include:​ 

  • Maintenance and reconciliation of accounting records
  • ​Preparation of year end accounts​ 
  • Reconciliation of inv​estments and additional voluntary contribution funds​ 
  • Provision of financial management information for clients​ 
  • Liaise with clients, auditors and other internal stakeholders​ 
  • Contribute to ad hoc projects​ 
  • Organise, attend, and lead audit planning​ 
  • Identify training and development needs in the wider fund accounting team​ 

We recruit into the pension fund accounting team at all levels from entry level to qualified accountant. 

Our pension fund accounting teams operate out of all our offices.

For careers paths within our core Finance team, click here.

Qualifications supported

We offer study support for a range of professional accounting qualifications such as Association of Accounting Technicians and Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

Penstream is Barnett Waddingham's in-house IT system covering all aspects of the pension administration services we provide. Features include: member self-service and client documentation access, record keeping, integrated benefit calculations, reporting, and straight-through processing of investment instructions.  

Penstream is fully integrated with our work management system. 

Typical activities carried out by our Penstream team: 

  • Use understanding of benefit structures to configure Penstream providing automation 
  • Provide front-line support 
  • Provide basic or more advanced support and subject matter expertise for project work 
  • Produce reports and provide analysis of pension system data 
  • Participate in or lead in the preparation of bulk data to upload to the pension systems for internal use for the transfer to another provider 
  • Test system changes, research new developments 
  • Develop an understanding of scheme governance documentation to automate processes 

Qualifications supported

Certificate in Pensions Calculations, Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision, PRINCE2 - Foundation or Practitioner.

Our project administrators provide specialist support for project development and project management across our pension administration business. 

Typical activities might include: 

  • Take on new schemes and work with Penstream team to implement on to Penstream
  • Cyclical procedures, such as pension increases, renewals, benefit statements, annual allowance, scheme returns
  • Projects commissioned by Clients to correct benefits, past increases etc
  • Data Cleanse projects to improve tPR data scores, readiness for GMP Projects and Buy In/Out
  • Liability Management Exercises – working with AC and external actuaries on PIE, BPO and ETV and Buy outs
  • GMP Projects – Working closely with GMP working groups
  • Providing data for valuation purposes
  • Implementing factor or scheme changes and subsequent calculation testing

Qualifications supported

Award in Pension Essentials, CertPMI, Certificate & Diploma in Pension Calculations, Certificate in Pensions Automatic Enrolment and Diploma in Retirement Provision, Project Management

A team of creative experts in the management of pension schemes providing a market leading service in all aspects of strategic advice, operational support, business as usual activities and project management services, tailored specifically to the individual needs of our clients. We take a collaborative and practical approach, priding ourselves on communicating clearly and effectively to deliver the best outcomes.
 
Our quality, strength and integrity is defined through our exceptional people (from pensions manager, operational, actuarial and consulting backgrounds), and our working relationships. We can deliver the right resource to suit our clients’ specific needs. 
As we are a national business, we are recruiting exceptional talent from across the UK at various levels of experience ranging from entry-level to senior consultants.

Services we provide:

  • Scheme Governance and trustee secretarial services
  • Training and study support for trustees and in-house personnel
  • Specialist roles including interim pensions managers and expert witness work
  • Expert support for trustees and in-house personnel on specific and individual tasks
  • Bespoke one off projects e.g. GMP Project Management, data analysis, support with the implementation of legislative/regulatory changes

We recruit at all levels of experience from entry-level to senior consultant.

Qualifications supported

Pensions Management Institute qualifications, project management and other relevant specialist qualifications.

Our Client Relationship Managers lead, develop and maintain strong working relationships with a portfolio of clients, communicating with them regularly at a senior level by providing guidance and support and ensuring delivery and client satisfaction of our administration services. The role of a Client Relationship Manager is varied and covers a diverse range of tasks. They liaise effectively with clients, understand the client’s requirements and bring together internal teams to deliver projects and services on time and within budget. 

Typical activities include: 

  • Having an oversight of our administration service
  • Attending client meetings
  • Preparing reports for clients  
  • Managing errors and complaints  
  • Supporting clients to solve problems
  • Liaising with other advisors

We recruit both experienced and trainee Client Relationship Managers and they are based in all our offices.

Qualifications supported

Retirement Provision Certificate and Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision.

Employer benefits

Our employer benefits service helps organisations offer their employees a range of choices that are right for them, meeting variable needs and personal circumstances.

Our BW team has significant expertise in this field. We provide every aspect of service delivery from feasibility consultancy to scheme design, whole of market broking as well as multi-channel communications and ongoing governance. Our online technology also offers sophisticated analytics and platforms for employees to manage benefits effectively. 

Click on the box below for more information on our Client Support role.

Our Client Support teams provide administrative help to consultants across all Employer Consulting teams. Each team member has their own portfolio of clients they provide ongoing support to, according to the services the client has paid for.

Client Support are responsible for managing their own work in line with client deadlines and budgets and working closely with the consultant to ensure a high-quality service to our clients. 

Typical activities include: 

  • Setting up new clients, running anti money-laundering checks 
  • Issuing invoices to client 
  • Drafting reports  
  • Liaising with providers, insurers and clients  
  • Managing relationships between providers, insurers and clients 

The Client Support team is an excellent place to start or further progress your financial services career. We also offer apprenticeship opportunities in this team from time to time. Click here for more information. 

Qualifications supported

Certificate in Insurance, Certificate in Financial Services.

Private client pension schemes

In both SIPP and SSAS you can progress through the teams, and you will also have opportunities to build relationships with business introducers and carry out business development activities as well. We also offer apprenticeships opportunities in this team from time to time.

Click on the boxes below for more information.

The SSAS team manage pensions for business owners who have set up their own pension funds for the company directors. ​ ​

The work ranges from record-keeping and administrative tasks to discussions with the business owners about the rules governing these types of pensions.  This will typically cover how monies can be invested, how funds can interact with the clients’ business and how funds can be paid out on retirement or on death.​ ​

We have a number of teams to support the service we offer clients. Administrators in our central team carry out essential record-keeping tasks and handle submissions to the governing authorities. Client administrators carry out more urgent work as demanded by our clients. Client managers are responsible for ensuring our client expectations are met and dealing with the client relationship. ​ ​

Our teams mainly operate out of Amersham, Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds.

Qualifications supported

Award In Pensions Essentials and Certificate in Financial Planning

We manage pensions for customers who have set up their own personal pension.​ ​

The work ranges from record-keeping and administrative tasks to discussions with the direct clients, financial advisors or our third-party partners. This will typically cover how monies can be invested, how funds can interact with the customers’ business, for example purchasing and leasing of commercial property, to how funds can be paid out on retirement or on death.​ ​

We have a number of teams to support the service we offer clients. Administrators in our payroll and support teams carry out essential record-keeping tasks and handle submissions to the governing authorities. Client administrators carry out work as demanded by our clients. Client managers are responsible for ensuring our client expectations are met and dealing with the client relationship. Property Administrators are responsible for looking after all aspects of property related activity for the commercial properties that we own on behalf of our SIPP clients.​

Our teams mainly operate out of Cheltenham and Glasgow.

Qualifications supported

Award In Pensions Essentials and Certificate in Financial Planning

Career paths at BW

Barnett Waddingham is host to a wide range of roles and abilities. Whether you've already started your career journey or are interested in adapting your skills for a new challenge, our career pathways page can help you assess your options.

Whatever your background, if you have experience or transferable skills, we would love to hear from you.

< Back to career paths