Team Leader (Funding and Investments)

What will you be doing?

To support the investment governance team to deliver Fund investment strategy, monitoring and reporting requirements, including procurement, Freedom of Information and compliance requirements of the Funds, whether assets are held directly or by the ACCESS pool.

To support the Pension Services Financial Manager with closedown activities such as the production of the financial statements and liaising with Internal and External Auditors.

To ensure that recharging processes between the Funds, employers, external bodies and the Administering Authorities are undertaken to required standards and to review effectiveness of processes on an annual basis.

To support the Pension Fund Accountant in the annual budgeting and monitoring cycle.

To ensure efficient internal controls are in place to meet internal and external requirements, including production and presentation of monthly control reports.

To annually review the integrity of the Pension Funds Chart of Accounts.

Fully support those under your management to develop and achieve a high level of performance.

Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

To maximise personal productivity, minimise duplication and errors; and manage our information efficiently and securely to reduce risk, though effective use of Office 365 and our internal IT systems and applications.

Actively challenge and seek to eliminate any directly or indirectly discriminatory practice or behaviours.

Demonstrate awareness and understanding of other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs and ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons.

About you

A relevant accounting qualification such as AAT Level 4 or degree equivalent.

Experience of year end processes including production of the financial statements

Sound experience of financial practices and processes, in particular strong report writing skills.

Initiative and ability to plan and organise time and resources to ensure that own, team and service deadlines and agreed targets are met with the minimum of supervision, delivering high levels of performance under changing conditions, tasks, responsibilities or people.

Ability to communicate effectively to all levels of management, including good report writing skills; for example, able to write management reports explaining complex financial issues in a simple and concise manner.

Able to own, address, and apply creative thinking to bespoke, complex service processes and challenges.

Relations with others: The personal qualities and skills that promote open and constructive relations with managers, reports, colleagues and customers and able to negotiate and influence at a high level.

Experience of working in a similar role or within the pensions industry, where it was important to drive improvements and Efficiencies.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.  

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU 

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.