Pensions Modelling Actuary (3205)
Job summary
Join a collaborative team to design advanced Excel-based pension calculators that safeguard compliance and deliver trusted results.
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Its principal role is to administer the pensions, premature retirement and injury benefits schemes for employees of the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSSS) the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (STSS), the Fire Scotland Pension Scheme and the Police Scotland Pension Scheme. The Pensions Modelling Actuary will work to support business objectives in line with (McCloud Remedy).
As Pension Modelling Actuary you will design, build, and maintain highly complex pension calculators that support Remedy implementation and other pension scheme calculations. In this pivotal role, you will apply your expertise in UK and Scottish pension regulations to ensure compliance, accuracy, and sustainability. Make advanced use of tools like Microsoft Excel to create robust, auditable solutions that integrate seamlessly with our existing pension and automation systems. Working closely with actuaries, policy teams, and external advisers, you will provide technical leadership, documentation, and assurance to reduce reliance on Subject Matter Experts and future proof our processes.Job description
Responsibilities:- Develop and maintain advanced spreadsheet-based pension calculators, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and auditability.
- Apply knowledge of UK/Scottish pensions legislation and Remedy regulations to ensure calculators are correct and compliant.
- Document calculation methodologies and tool structures to support knowledge transfer and long-term sustainability.
- Work collaboratively with actuaries, policy colleagues, administrators, and external advisers (e.g., GAD).
- Support validation, testing, and assurance of calculations to minimise error and reduce audit/legal risks.
- Provide technical advice and guidance to colleagues, acting as an internal expert resource.
- Contribute to programme MI and reporting through accurate calculation outputs and analysis.
- Ensure calculators are adaptable to future scheme or legislative changes.
Person specification
QualificationsFellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) or equivalent actuarial professional body (Essential). Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills:- Lead Criterion - Proven ability to design and deliver complex pension or financial models.
- Expert-level Microsoft Excel skills (including advanced formulae, VBA, and modelling best practice).
- Experience of UK or Scottish public service pension schemes and regulatory frameworks.
- Experience working with actuarial calculations, pensions policy, or financial modelling.
- Managing a Quality Service - Level 4
- Delivering at Pace - Level 4
- Changing and Improving - Level 4
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 4
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £60,010, Scottish Government contributes £17,384 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 750 words which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
Stage one (application sift): Candidates will have their applications assessed against all success profile criteria listed above unless there is a large number of applications, in which case, the following process will apply:
An initial sift will be conducted using the CV and supporting statement on the Experience - Proven ability to design and deliver complex pension or financial models as listed above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against the rest of the Behaviours and remaining Technical and Experience criterion.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 9th or 16th March 2026, however this may be subject to change.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Michael Batchelor
- Email : michael.batchelor@gov.scot
Recruitment team
Salary range
- £60,010 - £74,820 per year