Senior Project Consultant

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Senior Project Consultant

Middlesbrough

Hybrid

Full Time

Permanent

Ref: REQ002720

XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. At XPS, our vision is to create a vibrant place to work where difference is recognised as a strength and where talented people can flourish and achieve their highest potential .

Our Pensions Administration Projects Team continues to grow and we are now looking for an experienced Senior Project Consultant to join our vibrant Middlesbrough office with hybrid working. This is an exciting role and would most likely suit someone with previous experience in a similar pensions project role where they have gained knowledge and experience of defined benefit pension schemes, and technical calculations.

A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis. We undertake pensions administration for over one million members and provide advisory services to schemes and corporate sponsors in respect of schemes of all sizes, including 88 with assets over £1bn. We also provide wider ranging support to insurance companies in the life and bulk annuities sector.

Our people drive our success and as an XPS employee you can bring your whole self to work - Everyone is treated equally and with respect. We will provide you with the support and training you need to grow and be at your very best. It's about inclusion and diversity, ensuring all our people feel included, that they belong to XPS and that they're happy. Above all, it's about ensuring everyone has a voice and feels valued. Because they are.

The Team

Our award-winning pensions administration business puts scheme members at the heart of everything we do. Our services include scheme administration, first-time outsourcing, member communications and scam protection.

Learn more here: https://www.xpsgroup.com/what-we-do/administration/]

The Role

As a Senior Project Consultant with XPS you will be responsible for leading and managing projects end to end, in line with budgets, deadlines, and objectives. You will also coordinate and support less experienced staff with additional projects. Main duties and responsibilities include:

Take ownership of specific workstreams and/or processes, this will include:

• Supporting the production of process documents
• Communicating and training on processes or workstreams
• Assisting teams on complex projects and technical questions
• Managing and allocating work of team members for processes or workstreams
• Management reporting
• Overseeing budgets for workstreams
• Developing marketing materials, internal updates, and newsletters

Other Key Responsibilities:

• Set and achieve project delivery deadlines within scope and budget. Ensure client sign off on fees and scope has been secured as the work commences
• Delivery of projects within agreed budgets, identification of out-of-scope work and proactive management and discussion with the clients to ensure that all work is billed in a timely manner
• Create and maintain centralised data management plan processes
• Completion and review of calculations for pension benefit data both manually and spreadsheet bas
• Undertake and review rectification actions to member benefits and issue communicat
• Partner with Client and Administration Managers within the business on project delivery requirements and stakeholder management
• Dealing confidently with HMRC, Clients, Scheme Actuaries, Scheme Administrators, Consultants, Pension Accounts/Payroll, Members and third parties by phone, email, and lett
• Checking and authorising other team members' work
• Understanding and application of benefit structures, Trust Deed & Rules, Inland Revenue guidance notes, PSO, Disclosure requirements
• Provision of technical information both verbally and in writing
• Compliance with ISO and AAF accreditations
• Checking and authorising project work
• Providing general support to the deputy/ team manager
• Support the delivery of a continuous improvement programme championing operational excellence while identifying areas where the project delivery service to clients could be improved and/or expanded.

Your profile

Essential Criteria

• Significant and demonstrable DB pensions administration experience.
• Technical pensions and data projects knowledge to be able to explain complex issues to key stakeholders internally and externally
• The ability to manipulate spreadsheet data using formulas, such as Index, V-look up, Pivot table and Macro is essential.
• Commercial acumen in order to plan, manage, track and deliver project revenue, client and business requirements within budget
• Strong organisational skills with proven ability to manage resources and operational delivery of a team to ensure revenue targets met and work delivered to plan
• Ability to efficiently resolve issues by identifying solutions to enable projects to be effectively delivered in accordance with client requirements
• Proven ability to lead a project providing strategic direction and guidance while managing, coaching and mentoring individual team members
• Concise and confident communicator of complex project issues - covering both verbal and written skills

Desirable Criteria

• Achieved some exam successes in professional qualifications such as PMI / QPA / RPC / DPC / DPA and actively working towards full qualification

What we offer:

Find out more about Life at XPS

Find out more about Our People Approach

We offer an attractive reward package, typical benefits can include:

• Competitive salary
• Participation in annual discretionary Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus flexibility to buy or sell holiday
• Flexible Bank holidays
• Pension scheme, matching contribution structure
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible Benefits Scheme to support you in and out of work, helping you look after you and your family covering Security & Protection, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle
• Life Assurance cover, four times basic salary
• XPS Rewards (offers High Street discounts and savings from retailers and services providers as well as offers available via phone)
• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your household
• Access to a digital GP service
• Paid volunteering day when participating in Company organised events
• Staff referral scheme when you introduce a friend to XPS

What next:

If you feel XPS could be the next step on your career ladder, please apply directly via the links provided and we look forward to learning more about you. We will consider all applicants and respond swiftly.

Please discuss with the recruitment team, via phone or email, if you require any adjustments to the recruitment process. For example, we can provide materials in an alternative format, or give you extra time in interviews or tests.

If you do not feel ready to apply or still have questions, please email us by clicking here

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following requirements:

• Right to Work confirmation
• DBS Disclosure check
• Employment or educational references covering five years
• Satisfactory credit check

We continuously strive to build an inclusive workplace where all forms of diversity are valued, including age, background, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Please note we reserve the right to close our vacancies early and we only accept CVs direct from candidates or our preferred supplier list.

XPS try wherever possible to respond to all applicants if for any reason you have not heard from us within 28 days of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.