Investment jobs in Ashmore

Pensions Technical and Oversight Specialist

Reporting to: Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (SMF16)
Location: Wimborne, Dorset (hybrid)
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: Dependent upon experience

About Us

Platform One is an infrastructure provider to the wealth sector. From custody to client, one platform, every solution.

We provide services such as custody, brokerage, pensions and technology to IFAs, wealth managers, investment managers, family offices and much more. One of our core offerings is an investment platform service, designed to deliver a secure, high-quality investment platform for the UK marketplace. The service enables intermediaries to consolidate and manage all their clients' investments in one place.

As Pension Scheme Operator, Administrator and Trustee we provide SIPP and SSAS pension products to our customers via intermediaries and business partners, enabling them to save for their retirement.

Our mission is to transform the infrastructure that underpins the world of investments and advice. We are growing to be the leading provider of infrastructure to the investments and adviser community. Our platform model is devoted to championing automation and unrivalled user experience. Our team is based in the UK and the Philippines.

At Platform One we focus on delivering good outcomes for our customers by acting in good faith, supporting our customers to pursue their financial objectives and avoiding causing foreseeable harm. Training is provided by Platform One to give an understanding of Consumer Duty and how you can embrace this by meeting our own internal standards, values and behaviours, resulting in an excellent service being delivered to our customers.

About the Role

This role forms a key part of the second line compliance function, providing independent oversight, challenge and specialist technical expertise across our SIPP and SSAS business to support effective governance, regulatory compliance, risk management and the delivery of good customer outcomes.

The role is ideally suited to an experienced pensions professional with strong technical knowledge who wishes to apply their expertise within a risk and compliance environment while influencing business strategy, governance and customer outcomes.

The role is based in our Wimborne office, with hybrid working available.

Your Key Responsibilities

Pension Technical Oversight

• Provide specialist pension technical support and guidance across the business.
• Act as the firm's internal subject matter expert on pension legislation, regulation and taxation.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on topics including pension drawdown, bereavement and death benefit cases, Pension Sharing Orders, excess contributions, genuine errors, Relief at Source, pension transfers, registered pension scheme requirements and HMRC reporting obligations.
• Support operational teams in resolving complex pension-related queries and issues.
• Maintain awareness of developments in pensions legislation, regulation and industry best practice.
• Provide technical interpretation and advice on complex pension matters and emerging regulatory requirements.

HMRC Liaison and Oversight

• Act as the primary point of contact for HMRC in relation to pension matters.
• Support and oversee pension-related HMRC reporting obligations and submissions.
• Ensure the business remains compliant with pension taxation requirements.
• Provide advice and guidance on HMRC processes, requirements and technical pension tax matters.
• Support remediation activity where pension tax issues are identified.

Pension Complaints and Customer Outcomes

• Assist in the investigation and resolution of complex pension technical complaints.
• Provide technical guidance and root cause analysis relating to pension complaints and incidents.
• Support the business in delivering fair customer outcomes and compliance with Consumer Duty requirements.
• Identify trends and emerging risks through complaints analysis.

Consumer Duty and Product Governance

• Lead and complete Consumer Duty product and service reviews to assess whether pension products and services continue to deliver good outcomes for customers.
• Review target market assessments, customer journeys, communications, product governance arrangements and outcome testing.
• Assess customer outcome data, complaints information, vulnerability data and operational metrics to identify customer risks and areas for improvement.
• Provide independent second-line challenge and recommendations to business owners regarding product governance and customer outcomes.
• Document review findings, action plans and evidential support for governance committees and Board reporting.
• Support annual Consumer Duty assessments and ongoing monitoring activities.
• Escalate risks of customer harm and support remediation activities where required.
• Ensure Consumer Duty regulatory developments are incorporated into governance and oversight frameworks.
• Act to deliver good outcomes for our customers by following the Consumer Duty rules and guidance set by the FCA and our own internal core values and behaviours.

Regulatory Change and Horizon Scanning

• Complete ongoing horizon scanning for changes to pension legislation, FCA rules, HMRC requirements and wider regulatory developments.
• Assess the impact of regulatory and legislative changes on the business, pension schemes and customers.
• Maintain regulatory change logs and impact assessments.
• Liaise with projects and business stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of regulatory and legislative changes.
• Track implementation progress and provide updates to management committees and senior management.
• Support assurance activities relating to regulatory change implementation.

Literature and Customer Communications

• Review and update pension scheme literature, customer communications and operational procedures.
• Ensure communications are technically accurate, compliant, clear and aligned to Consumer Duty requirements.
• Maintain and review technical pension content across customer-facing materials.
• Support policy and procedure development relating to pension activities.

Financial Promotions

• Review and approve pension-related financial promotions and marketing communications.
• Ensure communications comply with FCA requirements, Consumer Duty principles and internal governance standards.
• Provide advice to business stakeholders regarding financial promotion requirements and regulatory expectations.

Governance, Risk and Reporting

• Own and maintain pension-related compliance and technical risk assessments.
• Identify, assess, document and monitor pension technical risks.
• Oversee pension-related risk registers and control assessments.
• Provide independent challenge regarding pension compliance risks and regulatory obligations.
• Produce management information, analysis and governance reporting for Board meetings, the Risk Management Committee, the Product Governance Committee, the Business Acceptance Committee and Consumer Duty governance forums.
• Escalate regulatory concerns, incidents and material risks appropriately.

Compliance Monitoring

• Assist in the delivery of the Compliance Monitoring Programme.
• Undertake thematic reviews and monitoring activities relating to pensions.
• Assess compliance with internal policies, pension legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Support the development and implementation of remedial action plans.
• Track and report completion of agreed actions.

Business Partner Management

• Act as a key point of contact for pension business partners.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders.
• Support oversight and due diligence activities relating to pension service providers.
• Attend and participate in business partner meetings.

Training and Awareness

• Design, develop and deliver pension technical training to colleagues across the business.
• Provide guidance and coaching on pension regulatory developments and technical issues.
• Support the ongoing development of pension and regulatory knowledge across operational and management teams.
• Promote a positive compliance and risk culture.

Industry Engagement

• Attend industry forums, conferences, working groups and professional events.
• Monitor emerging trends, risks and regulatory developments within the pensions industry.
• Share insights and best practice recommendations with internal stakeholders.

Skills & Qualifications

• Technical expertise: deep and authoritative knowledge of pension legislation, regulation, taxation and industry practice, ideally gained in a SIPP or SSAS environment.
• Regulatory awareness: a strong understanding of FCA, HMRC and Trustee obligations, proactively identifying regulatory developments.
• Analytical thinking: ability to evaluate complex issues, identify risks and develop practical solutions.
• Risk management: ability to assess and manage pension-related conduct, regulatory and operational risks.
• Communication: strong communication skills, communicating clearly and professionally to technical and non-technical audiences and external stakeholders.
• Stakeholder management: ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues and business partners.
• Attention to detail: ability to maintain excellent standards of accuracy and technical quality.
• Influence and challenge: ability to provide constructive second-line challenge and support informed decision making across the business.
• Self-motivated: ability to work autonomously and as part of a team with a high level of commitment to deliver.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Your birthday off, in addition to your holiday allowance.
• Vitality Private Healthcare.
• Smart Pensions Pension Plan.
• Hybrid work opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion

Inclusion is at the heart of our social mission. Yes, we're an equal opportunities employer committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status, but it goes so much further than that. We value difference and we're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for every staff member.

Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Childcare
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee mentoring programme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance
• Referral programme
• Sabbatical
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wimborne BH21 7WH