Pension Assistant

Job Description

London Borough of Harrow is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Pensions Assistant to join our HR & Organisational Development team within the Resources & Innovation Directorate. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the delivery of a high-quality pension service, supporting scheme members, pensioners and employers while ensuring accuracy, efficiency and excellent customer service. Working closely with the Pensions Team Leader and wider pensions team, you will play a key role in maintaining pension records, processing benefits and supporting the effective administration of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

In this varied role, you will undertake a broad range of pension administration duties, including managing new entrants to the pension scheme, processing pension benefits, maintaining pensioner payroll records and responding to member enquiries. You will utilise pension, HR and payroll systems to ensure data is maintained accurately and services are delivered in line with agreed standards and timescales. The postholder will also support the ongoing development of systems and processes, helping to maximise automation and improve service delivery across the function.

This role offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative and supportive environment where accuracy, customer focus and continuous improvement are highly valued. The successful candidate will contribute to the achievement of team objectives, support colleagues across HR & OD and help ensure pension services are delivered consistently to Harrow’s diverse communities. In addition, you will support the Council’s commitment to equality, information security, health and safety, and its Climate Vision, helping to make a positive impact for residents and employees alike.

The Successful candidate will have:-

• Experience in office administration, ideally within a pensions or related administrative environment.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to understand and resolve enquiries from a client perspective.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Good IT skills, including the ability to use databases, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word effectively.
• Experience of working accurately to strict deadlines and managing competing priorities.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to follow established business processes with minimal supervision.
• The ability to analyse information, solve problems and maintain high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience handling enquiries by telephone, email, face-to-face and through electronic systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and build positive working relationships.
• An understanding of the diverse nature of Harrow’s communities and a commitment to equality and inclusion.
• A proactive approach to learning new systems and supporting service improvements.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate relevant work-based experience.

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/ Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn