Pensions Advisory Consultant (DB Actuarial)

KPMG is enhancing its Tax and Legal practice by expanding our ability to offer support to our clients in connection to their pensions obligations.  Our pensions team work alongside our 2,400 plus Tax and Legal colleagues and the new roles we are adding to the team will be focussed on delivering advice across our client base to advise them on matters relating to their pension provision and other pensions related issues relating to ongoing operations and transactions.

We are now looking for talented and experienced Consultant to join our pensions actuarial team. You will be responsible for delivering high quality actuarial pensions advice in relation to defined benefit pension schemes in the private sector.

You will be responsible for will work closely with the senior members of the team in this service line, which will involve providing:

• Strategic journey planning, risk management aiming for self-sufficiency or buy out and endgame options including use of surplus.
• Strategic funding advice to sponsors and advice on compliance with DB funding code.
• Pension due diligence on mergers and acquisitions
• Provision of member education and communication
• Advice on benefit change, benefit design and implementation
• Advice on good governance and compliance
• Pensions accounting advice

Description of the Role

• Gain understanding of defined benefit pension schemes and actuarial liability calculations.
• Gain understanding of accounting for pensions.
• Responsible for analysing client’s data and information using actuarial techniques and central models.
• Producing technical actuarial work in line with the actuarial standards and, in line with KPMG quality procedures. 
• Running checks to assess reasonableness of actuarial assumptions and accounting results, using KPMG developed tools.
• Use outputs to generate initial draft reports/emails.
• Support team in day-to-day running of cases, including general administration and tracking of procedures versus timeline.
• Supporting with end-to-end tasks for client projects and ensure delivery within agreed timeframes
• Developing specialist technical knowledge
• Maintaining regular, open and honest communication whilst working together with the team  
• Developing strong financial management, timely billing and debt collection

Technical core competencies required for the role.

The relevant competencies for this role are:

• Technical knowledge: Understands relevant technical actuarial, accounting, and financial reporting standards, pension regulations, and literature. Exhibits and stays current on appropriate industry and specialised knowledge, and leverages KPMG methodologies.
• Technology skills: Uses firm-approved tools and innovative technology solutions to increase quality, productivity, and data insights.
• Professional scepticism: Applies professional scepticism, objectivity and independence to pensions actuarial and accounting work.
• Documentation: Completes documentation and audit trails demonstrating an unwavering focus on quality and in line with the actuarial standards.

People & Culture

• Embrace and embed our culture ambition of high challenge, high support which is grounded in Our Values.
• Operate with a curious and sceptical mindset ensuring that this is embedded in your everyday work.
• Actively lead and embed a coaching culture to get the best out of others in an environment where everyone in the team feels empowered to speak up or challenge where appropriate.
• Be accountable, professional and act in the public interest, working for the benefit of shareholders of audited entities and wider society.
• Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose and fun.

Experience and Knowledge Requirements  

• Experience of working in pensions actuarial at either an employee benefit consultancy or other Big 4 firm. (D)
• Basic knowledge of defined benefit pension scheme valuations, roll forward methodologies, and actuarial techniques. (D)
• Understanding of the wider UK pensions landscape (D)
• IT literate with sound knowledge and experience of MS Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint and Word). (E)

Behavioural Attributes and Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate complex matters in a clear and compelling manner.
• Highly effective stakeholder management and relationship building skills; credible and confident with stakeholders at all levels. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills; able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Self-driven and resilient; able to thrive in a high-pressure environment.
• Effective problem solver: makes pragmatic and logical decisions, drawing on own and others’ technical expertise to provide high quality solutions.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills; able to analyse and interpret complex technical statistical information, with a focus on quality, attention to details and accuracy in calculations.
• Effective team working skills; works collaboratively with others towards shared goals.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with a mathematical / financial nature (E)
• Part qualified actuary having passed some FIA exams (or equivalent). (D)

E – Essential, D – Desirable