Senior Associate - Risk Settlement
Location: Flexible
Employment Type: Fixed Term, Full Time
Grade: Senior Associate
Hybrid
REQ003703
About XPS Group:
XPS Group is a prominent and growing UK consultancy and administration firm within the pensions and insurance sectors. As a FTSE 250 company with over 2000 employees, we leverage expertise alongside advanced technology to serve over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsors. Our goal is to foster a workplace where diverse talents thrive.
About the Role:
The Risk Settlement team has experienced material growth in the past 2-3 years and continues to grow, with a 40% increase in revenues for FY25 expected. As part of this, we are looking for an ambitious and experienced Associate or Senior Associate to join our team, to work alongside our lead brokers on bulk annuity transactions.
As part of this, we advise Trustees and Corporate clients on a wide range of Risk Settlement matters, including:
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Helping them to understand the risks within their pension schemes and what products are in the market to assist with mitigating or transferring those risks.
- Providing strategic journey planning advice and monitoring progress made
- Advising clients on how to position their schemes to ensure engagement from the insurance market
- Leading broking projects, including requesting insurer quotations, negotiating on pricing and terms and executing transactions
- Working with schemes that have transacted a buy-in to help them through the data-cleanse, buyout and wind-up workstreams.
The DB market continues to thrive in this area and XPS is investing heavily to continue to enhance our capabilities.
This is key growth area for XPS, having already grown over 600% in the last 3 years. The XPS Risk Settlement team is now a firmly established top-tier team in the market, and we have ambitions to be the leading advisory team in the UK in the next 3-5 years. The team now consists of 50 people split roughly 50% in advisory and broking, and 50% focusing on post transaction projects.
This role is to join the Risk Settlement team in an advisory and broking role.
Key Responsibilities:
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Drafting reports, emails and presentations to deliver results and advice.
- Client management, taking responsibility for allocation and completion of work, and meeting deadlines, working directly with the lead Risk Settlement Advisors and the wider team.
- Drafting and review of quotation request materials including reviewing data for accuracy and completeness.
- Attend client meetings, taking an active role where applicable.
- Playing a role in new business initiatives.
- Assisting the team in building and maintaining strong insurer relationships.
- Developing and maintaining a good understanding of Risk Settlement products and providers in the market, including developing personal relationships with key contacts at insurers.
- Developing internal processes and identifying new ways to work more efficiently.
- Taking a proactive role in personal development/training.
- Becoming a specialist expert and being visible in your location as one of the points of contact for Risk Settlement matters.
Your Profile:
Essential:
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Experience working in DB pensions.
- Broad understanding of how UK pensions schemes operate, with an understanding of UK DB Pensions.
- Excellent planning skills with the ability to prioritise and complete work in accordance with deadlines in a support role.
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills. Confident and able to draft advice in simplified terms to for the use of clients, consultants, and more junior team members.
- Good Stakeholder management.
- Aptitude for learning and ability to build rapport swiftly with colleagues, clients and providers.
Desirable:
- Some experience of Risk Settlement work through existing client portfolio or previous role(s).
- Some experience on project-based work and dealing with various stakeholders (internal and external).
- Actuarial background.
What We Offer:
Enjoy a competitive salary, annual discretionary bonus, and 25 days’ holiday with buy/sell flexibility. Benefits include pension matching, healthcare plans, life assurance, and retailer discounts. We support our team with a flexible benefits scheme, employee assistance, and digital GP service. Participating in volunteering events is encouraged with paid volunteer days available. Referral bonuses are offered for introducing suitable candidates to XPS.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit applications via Apply Now option or contact
[email protected] for more information. Join XPS Group and contribute to a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
Equal Opportunities Statement:
XPS Group is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome applications from all candidates, irrespective of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or belief. As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure accessible and supportive work settings for all employees.
Eligibility:
Any employment offer made will be conditional upon you satisfying DBS Disclosure checks, Employment or educational references, Satisfactory credit checks and eligibility to work in the UK before an offer can be made. XPS Group is not able to provide sponsorship to employees.
Who Are We:
To find out more please visit: www.xpsgroup.com
