Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content Can't find what you're looking for?

Job profiles

Pensions manager

  • Hours

    30-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £18,000 + per year



The work

Pensions managers make sure that pension schemes are properly and effectively run.

As a pensions manager, you could work with in-company or private pension schemes. Your work could include:

  • managing a team of pensions administrators and advisers
  • handling complex claims and settling disputes
  • planning new pension schemes and developing existing ones
  • investing the company's funds to bring the best return
  • reporting on the scheme’s financial performance
  • liaising with actuaries, solicitors, auditors, investment consultants and trustees
  • being responsible for marketing the pension schemes
  • preparing annual financial reports.

You would also need to make sure that your staff and the schemes that you manage meet strict regulatory standards for pensions industry.


Hours

You would typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday, possibly with extra hours at busy times such as the end of the tax year.

You will be mainly office-based, but may need to travel to visit scheme members, employers and trustees.


Income

  • Team leaders can earn £18,000 to £28,000 a year
  • Experienced pensions managers earn from £25,000 to £40,000
  • Senior pensions managers earn between £40,000 and £80,000 a year.

Salary packages may include insurance, pension benefits and bonuses based on personal or company performance.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

To become a pensions manager, you will need a background in pensions or finance work, and preferably a qualification in pensions, insurance or accountancy that meets industry regulatory standards.

You could start as a pensions administrator and work your way up to a management position. You may help your chances of promotion by taking qualifications from the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) or Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) while you are working. Relevant qualifications include:

  • PMI Diploma in Pensions Calculation (DPC)
  • PMI Qualification in Pensions Administration (QPA)
  • PMI Qualification in Public Sector Pensions Administration (QPSPA)
  • CII Certificates in Financial Administration or Life and Pensions.

Contact the PMI and CII for more information about their qualifications.

Alternatively, you may be able to join a company directly as a trainee pensions manager through a management training scheme. Entry requirements for this type of scheme can vary – some employers ask for A levels or an equivalent like a BTEC National Diploma in Business, others may prefer you to be a graduate in business, law or finance.


Training and development

If you oversee pensions or life assurance activities, you must meet the FSA’s training and competence standards. As a pensions manager you will usually work towards the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision, which covers all aspects of pensions administration and management. You would study for the qualification by distance learning.

If you already have relevant finance, insurance or accountancy qualifications, you may be exempt from some of the exams or assessments of the Advanced Diploma.

Once you have passed the Advanced Diploma and have at least three years' relevant work experience in the pensions industry, you will become an Associate member of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI). Contact the PMI for more details about its exams, exemptions and membership.

You should keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career. The PMI and CII offer a range of short courses, seminars and networking events to help continue your professional development.


Skills and knowledge

  • the ability to interpret complex information
  • good mathematical and business skills
  • strong spoken and written communication skills
  • confident decision making ability
  • accuracy and attention to detail
  • an organised and methodical approach
  • the ability to lead and motivate a team.

More information

Financial Skills Partnership (Opens new window)
51 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 0845 257 3772
www.directions.org.uk

Pensions Management Institute (Opens new window)
PMI House
4-10 Artillery Lane
London
Tel: 020 7392 7400
www.pensions-pmi.org.uk

Chartered Insurance Institute (Opens new window)
42-48 High Road
South Woodford
London
E18 2JP
Tel: 020 8989 8464
www.discoverrisk.co.uk
www.cii.co.uk


Opportunities

You could work for any organisation that runs its own pension scheme, or for investment management companies and consultancies that run schemes on behalf of other companies.

Jobs are advertised in the local press, in industry magazines and by financial recruitment agencies.

With experience, you could progress to manage larger departments or schemes, or move into other sectors like insurance. You could also choose to become a self-employed pensions consultant.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The financial services industry is represented by the Financial Skills Partnership (FSP) which includes the following activities:

  • Banking – for individuals and businesses to manage their money, access loans, buy property, exchange currencies and many other activities. It is organised into three core categories: Retail; Corporate; and Wholesale banking.
  • Investments – managing and growing the wealth of individuals and organisations
  • Insurance – covers a huge variety of risks, from cars and houses to ships, planes and satellites.
  • Financial Advice – about working with people to plan their financial goals, based on their current situation and looking at the best ways they can achieve their financial objectives, such as helping someone to choose a mortgage, invest their savings or plan for their retirement.

Almost 1.2 million staff in 34,000 workplaces constitute the UK’s financial services sector, from online car insurers to retail banking giants, and from self‐employed independent financial advisers (IFAs) to global investment banks. Operating under a regulatory framework unique to the UK, the sector facilitates the allocation of capital, promotes confidence and continuity in life and business by managing risk and maintains the transaction systems that the rest of the economy relies on to conduct its business.

Key facts:

  • 47% of firms employ 250 people.
  • Employment is dominated by a handful of large employers, most notably the high street retail banks, e.g. Barclays, HSBC.
  • 29 % of the financial services workforce is employed in administrative or secretarial roles.
  • About a quarter of the workforce is in associate professional and technical roles.
  • Managerial roles, including owners in private companies and the self‐employed, account for 37% of the workforce.
  • Employment growth in UK financial services has been weak when compared with other countries, notably the US
  • Recently, there have been notable declines in employment numbers because of the recession
  • Staff turnover has declined, as fewer vacancies and concerns about the recession may be deterring people from changing jobs

Jobs in the industry range from:

  • Insurance – underwriting, broking, customer services, sales, risk management, compliance, training, actuarial and administrative roles
  • Investments – asset management (sometimes called fund management), product development, product management, investment analysis, relationship management
  • Banking – retail banking (customer services, customer advice, financial advice, foreign exchange and branch management); corporate banking (corporate advice, relationship management, small business management and corporate management); and wholesale banking (mergers and acquisitions, research, sales and trading, and corporate finance)
  • Financial advice – mortgage adviser, independent financial adviser, compliance practitioner, pensions adviser

National and regional data

East Midlands – retail banking dominates financial services employment in the East Midlands. Women make up 53% of the workforce and 51% of workers are aged 35‐59. Full‐time employees account for 73% of the workforce and the average salary is £29,383.

East of England – insurance and insurance broking make up the most important parts of the financial service economy in this region, with Norwich a main centre. The region employs 12% of the country’s financial services workforce, with the majority, 88%, full‐time. Men make up 56% of employees, with 57% of workers aged 35‐59. Average earnings are £34,433.

London – this is the major centre of the UK’s financial services industry, centering on the City and Canary Wharf. Wholesale banking and insurance, investments and exchange markets are all well represented here. Almost of quarter of the workforce; 24% is based in London. Men make up 66% of the workforce and most jobs are full‐time, 94%. The majority of employees; 49% are aged 20‐34 and the average salary is £86,779 although this is heavily skewed by the number of high‐earning posts in the City. For most, the average is much lower.

North East – insurance broking and banking are the most important financial services in the region, with Newcastle the main centre of activity. Around 3% of the UK workforce is based in the region. Women form 66% of the workforce and 63% of workers are full‐time. Employees aged 34‐59 make up the largest share of the workforce at 52%, and the average salary is £27,219.

North West – Manchester is the biggest centre in the region but Chester, Macclesfield and Stockport are important clusters. Banking and general insurance form the bulk of businesses. The region employs 9% of the UK’s financial services workforce, with women making up 56% of employees, and most jobs are full‐time, 80%. Workers aged 34‐59 form the largest section of the workforce at 57%. The average salary in the region is £28,416.

South East – the region is second only to London in size, taking up 15% of the workforce. The gender split between men and women is fairly even at 54% and 46%, respectively, and 60% of all employees are aged 34‐59. Most people are employed full‐time, 84% and the average earnings are £37,298.

South West – The main centres for financial services in this region are Bristol, Bournemouth, Gloucester and Swindon. The sector here makes up 7% of the UK’s sector total. Women form 59% of the workforce and the majority of jobs are full‐time, 75%. People aged 34‐59 form the largest share of the workforce. Average salary for the sector is £34,910.

West Midlands – the region employs around 6% of the UK’s workforce, with the majority centred on Birmingham. Banking, general insurance and credit are the most important sub‐sectors here. Men make up 52% of employees, with 72% of jobs overall being full‐time. Workers aged 34‐59 are in the majority at 52%. The average salary is £29,014.

Yorkshire and the Humber – the emphasis across the region is on retail banking and makes up 7% of the country’s workforce. There are slightly more women than men working in the sector at 51%, and 81% of jobs are full‐time. Once again, the 34‐59 age range is most common among employees, accounting for 51%. Average earnings are £27,481.

Scotland – financial services in Scotland range from retail banking to pensions and car insurance, with centres of activity in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dunfermline. Over 2,100 companies are directly involved in the industry, providing 7% of the UK’s financial services workforce. The most common age range of employees is 34‐59, and most people work full‐time, 81%. The average salary for the sector as a whole is £35,016.


Career paths


Further sources


View full Job market information






Get skills in..

Want to get the skills needed to be prepared for this job? Click on the links below to see relevant courses.



What are people talking about today?

View our Forums

Career Tools

We’re interested in your opinion!

We’d like to know what you think of the National Careers Service website.

If you would like to take part in a short survey after you have finished using the website, please click ‘yes’ below.