Are you a Corporate Finance or Pensions professional looking for your next career move?

If you are looking to step up or consolidate your professional experience, the role of Strategic Manager - Pensions is an exciting opportunity to lead an enthusiastic pensions function, shaping its strategy, planning and operations across all activities encompassing investment, governance and administration to enable the fund to deliver its statutory responsibilities in compliance with the Pension Regulators Code of Practice.

The Isle of Wight Council is the administering authority for the Isle of Wight Council Pension Fund, part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). It is one of the smaller LGPS funds in England and Wales, holding around £700 million of investment assets on behalf of over 17,000 members across 30 employers on the Isle of Wight. At the last valuation a 102% funding level was achieved. The Fund is part of the ACCESS Pool, a partnership of 11 authorities with £34bn of pooled assets. Despite the Funds smaller size, the diversity of the challenges and opportunities offered remain substantial.

The Island is a place defined by over half of its geography being areas of outstanding natural beauty, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and with the finest of landscapes. The Council itself, has great and talented people, committed to public service for Island residents.

About the role

Reporting directly to the S151 Officer and working within a supportive environment, you will be responsible for the leadership and delivery of all LGPS related activity, including developing the Fund’s strategic approach to funding, investments, governance, communications and engagement as well as leading its overall administration on behalf of the administering authority (Isle of Wight Council). You will be the lead in providing advice and information to the members of the Pension Fund Committee and Local Pension Board.

The role will be suitable for flexible working with the opportunity for working at County Hall, and remote working, however, attendance at Pension Fund Committee and Pension Board Meetings will be required.

About you:

You will have:
• A full CCAB professional qualification or relevant Pensions Qualification and membership of a relevant professional finance/Pension body
• Substantial relevant knowledge of Corporate Finance activities and or Pensions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain clearly complex issues to non-specialists.
• Ability to lead and manage the engagement across a wide range of stakeholders
• The ability to plan and organise time and resources to make sure that deadlines and targets are met.
• The personal qualities and skills that promote open and constructive relations with colleagues, scheme members and employers, and external advisers.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to manipulate data.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Chris Ward Director of Finance & S151 Officer at chris.ward@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

When you join #TeamIWC you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:

- Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
- Local Government pension scheme
- Discounted Solent ferry travel
- Island bus network discount
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff parking permit scheme
- Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
- National and local discounts & benefits schemes