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Pensions Officer

Surrey County Council

Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF£34,660 per annumPermanent36 hours per weekCloses: 2026-08-31
Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This role has a starting salary of £34,660 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. Join us as a Pensions Officer within Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and play a vital role in supporting the effective delivery and oversight of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a specialist and evolving area, where you will help ensure high-quality pension outcomes through strong internal coordination and external partnership working Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (prorated for part time staff) Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. About the Role As a Pensions Officer, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery, assurance and ongoing development of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme within Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. With pension administration delivered by an external provider, the role focuses on internal support, coordination and oversight, working closely with the Pensions Manager to ensure services are accurate, compliant and delivered to the highest standard. Acting as an important link between internal teams, including HR, Payroll and Finance, and the external pension administrator, you will help manage data flows, resolve queries and maintain effective communication across all parties. In this varied position, you will support the oversight of the third-party pension administrator, helping to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and quality of service delivery. You will liaise with internal stakeholders and external providers to resolve queries, build effective working relationships and support the smooth operation of pension services. Working closely with Finance and Payroll colleagues, you will assist with data validation, reconciliation and reporting, while producing and analysing pension data, management information and reports to support decision-making and compliance. The role will also involve supporting governance activities, including the preparation of information for internal reporting and the Local Pension Board, alongside contributing to the development and continuous improvement of internal processes, controls and ways of working. In addition, you will manage the pension team mailbox, tracking enquiries and ensuring workflows are updated and maintained. You will also support the Pensions Manager in delivering pension-related projects and workstreams, coordinating actions, maintaining documentation and monitoring progress, risks and dependencies. The role includes supporting communications with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure clarity and engagement, as well as assisting with the implementation of new processes arising from outsourcing arrangements and wider pension reforms. This is an excellent opportunity to play a central role in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of pension provision for firefighters. Your work will contribute directly to strong governance, accurate pension outcomes and improved ways of working across the organisation. While extensive pensions knowledge is not essential, as full training will be provided, a strong aptitude for working with numerical data, attention to detail and a willingness to learn are crucial to success in this role. This is a hybrid role, with a blend of office and remote working. Shortlisting Criteria In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our Core Code of Ethics: • Experience of working with complex and sensitive data technical administrative processes • Strong organisational and analytical skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail • Ability to coordinate work across multiple stakeholders and manage competing priorities • Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly • Ability to build effective relationships with both internal teams and external partners To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following questions as part of your application: Describe your experience working with complex or technical data. How did you ensure accuracy and quality? Tell us about a time you worked across multiple teams or with external partners to resolve an issue or deliver an outcome. How do you manage competing priorities and ensure deadlines are met in a busy environment? Describe how you have communicated complex or technical information to a non-specialist audience. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Joanne Hart via email or on MS Teams. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 19/08/2026 with interviews to follow. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.