Technical Manager

Job Title: Technical Manager – Interim

Type: Contractor, self employed

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, up to 35 hours per week

Work Pattern: Office based

Location: Bristol, City Centre BS1

Reporting To: Operations Director

About the role

Here at Hartley Pensions, we are looking for an Interim Technical Manager to support us in the investigation, analysis, and reconciliation of our client SIPP accounts holding toxic/impaired assets, to enable them to transfer to another provider.

This is a technical job focusing on toxic / distressed investments, potential scams / fraud, company liquidations, and pensions liberation.

You will be leading a project reviewing our client SIPPs to identify any discrepancies and missing information. Where issues are found, you will arrange for any necessary reporting and resolution with the client and the appropriate regulatory authority.

What you'll be doing:

Your responsibilities for this role include, but are not restricted to:

• Focused project work with the technical team reviewing impaired pension investments on a case-by-case basis.
• Liaise with pension schemes / providers to obtain pension information.
• Manage and ensure processes are fully monitored and completed in line with client and legislative requirements.
• Administer and take ownership in the reconciliation of our clients’ SIPPs.
• Be a point of contact for the team to support with queries.
• Liaise with our Distressed Asset Committee.
• Contact and liaise with investment providers or banks to get an updated statement for the client’s SIPP.
• Collaborate with our team of pension administrators / SIPP managers.
• Identification, negotiation, reporting, and resolution of unauthorised payments with HMRC.
• Proactively identify risk within the department and escalate any concerns to Operations Director, e.g. potential financial crime, unauthorised benefits / payments, potential scheme sanction charges.
• Monitor legislative changes and ensure compliance with pension regulations.

Skills and experience:

To be successful you must be able to demonstrate that you have managed and taken ownership of complex pension administration scenarios with experience within the SIPP / SSAS pensions industry.

Please note on your CV or covering letter if you have any of the following:

• Formal qualifications with the CII or PMI (CII Level 3 or above), and / or equivalent qualifications.
• Experience dealing with toxic / impaired assets.
• Extensive understanding of, and ability to traverse, HMRC’s Pensions Tax Manual, with a particular focus on unauthorised benefits / payments and scheme sanction charges.
• Comprehensive SIPP / SSAS knowledge.
• Extensive knowledge of pension tax and individual’s statutory right to transfer.
• Experience reviewing alternative / non-standard / high risk investments.
• Extensive knowledge of law around pension transfers, scam concerns, and industry good practice published by the Pension Scams Industry Group (PSIG).
• Dealing with death cases.
• Dealing with and reporting suspected financial crime to the relevant authority.
• Excellent familiarity with the Pensions Regulator guidelines, tax implications, and retirement planning rules.
• Extensive understanding and appreciation of wider retirement issues and non-pension assets, including state benefits.
• Outstanding telephone manner and experience of dealing with members of the public.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas and topics into clear English.
• A willingness to contribute towards shared technical know-how within the department.
• Knowledge of the Criterion Common Declarations Working Group is desirable.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box. If you’re interested in working on a project that involves the reconciliation of simple to complex SIPP cases and you have most of the skills or experience that we're looking for, please go ahead and apply today. We'd love to hear from you!

Interview process:

Two stages:

1. Screening call
2. 40-60 minutes competency-based and Q&A interview.

Who are Hartley Pensions?

Hartley pensions is a SSIP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) and SSAS (Small Self-Administered Scheme) operator. Hartley pensions provide white label SIPP’s for a number of leading investment and trading platforms.

Here at Hartley pensions diversity is important to us. We have an experienced and multi-lingual team from diverse backgrounds. We have an equal opportunities policy and welcome applicants from any background.

Growing, maintaining and promoting a diverse team is a top priority for us. We actively encourage individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply. Join us in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

***Please note, we are unable to provide employment sponsorship to candidates.