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        The Profession

      • Pensions industry in brief - by Pip Sanford
        Routes into the pensions profession Pensions administration Pension Administrators must be good communicators and be able to work in a team environment. They must demonstrate mathematical talent to calculate contributions levels, member benefits, lump sum payments, annual renewal reconciliations
      • Focus on the UK pensions industry - by Vince Linnane
        It is, perhaps, unfair to single one man out as the embodiment of the huge gaps between the haves and have nots but it is clear that Goodwin’s £700,000 annual pension is certainly many, many times the total pensions pot for Mr and Mrs Average. Even before the disintegration of monolithic dynasties
      • What are my options? - by Holly Sheridan
        There is no doubt that you have heard the word ‘pensions’ cropping up in the news rather a lot lately and, although often for negative reasons, this has placed the subject firmly in the spotlight. The Government’s introduction of significant legislative and fiscal changes, coupled with the fact
      • Salaries in the pensions industry - by Sarah Bergin-McCarthy
        The industry is full of highly motivated individuals, passionate about developing and sustaining long-term pensions provisions for employees. The industry has and will continue to experience growth, from the political pressures on employers and employees to take more responsibility for retirement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
        Do I need a degree, and if so, in what subject area? The majority of people embarking on the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision examinations for Associateship (APMI) of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) have a degree. But it is also possible to gain employment, for example, as a
      • Opinions: Discrimination in the workplace - by Karen Cole
        The sacking of Sky football pundit Andy Gray back in January 2011 for his sexist comments, has led Karen Cole, Commercial Director at Alexander Lloyd, to contemplate the ever increasing importance and

        Recent Graduates

      • Implementation Consultant (IT) - heywood - by Jacqueline Wild
        My first year at heywood has been incredibly varied. I spent my first few months working with the Operations Director on a number of projects before settling in my current role in the Migration Team, where I have been for six months. Here’s a selection of the roles I have undertaken… Building up
      • Actuarial Trainee: Retirement, risk and finance - Mercer - by Fiona Stewart
        My educational background Throughout school I had always favoured mathematics over other subjects so it seemed the obvious subject to pursue at university. I did not realise at this point, however, that I would go on to study it for the next seven and a half years, firstly completing my honours
      • Trainee Account Manager - Mattioli Woods - by Vikki Iddon
        Varied, fast-paced, and interesting are probably not the first words that spring to mind when you think about a career in retirement planning and wealth management. After working as an account manager for a high street bank, I decided I wanted to work for a smaller company where real development
      • Communications Consultant – Anthony Hodges Consulting - by Diana Dukich
        Creativity in pensions After graduation, I worked as an auditor for two years for a large corporation in the US and realised that I wanted something more creative. To my surprise, I found a creative outlet in the pensions industry. I joined Pensions Actuary – Towers Watson - by Jon Smith
        My role I chose a career as an actuary because I was looking for a career that was well regarded, well paid and would also bring real intellectual challenge on a day to day basis. I also wanted a career that would involve client contact, rather than being purely technical. Working for an

        Senior Profiles

      • Head of Employee Benefits – Veolia Environnement SA - by Mike Sullivan
        All Western economies are suffering from an increasingly aging population. This makes it all the more important that if older people are to enjoy a comfortable retirement for 20 or more years, they need more than just the State pension. Pensions can be provided either by the State, by individual
      • Chief Executive – PAN Governance LLP - by Steve Delo
        1989 was the ‘year of the trainee chartered accountant’, with umpteen accounting firms greedily hoovering up new graduates. Accountancy did not, however, appeal to me (plus the competition was fierce!). Hence, over the two days in Islington, I looked at everything but accountancy – banking,
      • SIPP Technical Manager – Hargreaves Lansdown - by Mike Wilson
        However it happened, I have to admit to still getting excited about pensions. I have enjoyed over 30 years in the pensions industry and been lucky enough to have acquired a wide range of skills and been able to utilise them. As one of the industry’s senior citizens I am now able to call on a
      • Pensions Lawyer and Partner – Mayer Brown International LLP - by Philippa James
        How I got started I studied law at university. At that point I had not decided to become a lawyer but thought that it would be an interesting subject to study. (It isn’t essential to study law if you are contemplating a career as a lawyer. If you have a degree you can attend a conversion course
      • Professional Independent Trustee – Gauisus Limited - by Mark Green
        Not cut out for a career in sales The reality dawned when I found myself as the office tea-boy who, in between keeping the typing pool (yes, there was such a thing in those halcyon days of the early 1980s) in supplies of caffeine, was put in charge of the office computer. This behemoth required
      • Scheme Secretary / Communication Specialist – Pension Meetings Ltd - by Jo Whiterod
        My original plan was to become a chartered accountant. After graduation I was offered training contracts with various leading firms, all of whom apparently shared my conviction that this was the career for me. About 18 months later, the shortcomings of the interview process and my own

        Finding the Right Job

      • How to survive panel interviews - by Kate Selleck
        The challenges of panel interviews for today’s job seekers are examined by the specialist Pensions and Benefits division at [Alexander Lloyd. If you were to ask a consultant or pensions manager, “How often
      • Psychometric assessments - How to prepare - by John Sponton
        The chances are that, as a candidate, you either have or will come across online or offline psychometric tests as part of your job hunting process. What are psychometric tests? Psychometric tests are standardised exercises which compare the responses from one candidate against lots of other
      • How to write an effective CV - by Kate Selleck
        A CV has one purpose and one purpose only – to sell you, the job seeker. This is your sales tool; designed to demonstrate to a potential employer that you would be the ideal candidate for the job. It is your professional identity on paper. Considering the importance of getting it right, the wide
      • Graduate Training Schemes
        Starting a new career is a daunting prospect for anyone. Your learning curve during the first year will be steeper than at any other time. To ease the transition from university to work, and to help facilitate this learning process, structured graduate training and development initiatives are

        The Institute and Qualifications

      • The Pensions Management Institute - by Holly Sheridan
        PMI members are responsible for managing and advising some of the largest institutions in the world and taking key decisions on substantial financial matters. With some £1 trillion invested in UK pensions, PMI members have a vital role to play in shaping the nation’s financial future. With over
      • Benefits of PMI Membership - by Holly Sheridan
        Benefits for PMI Students Depth of knowledge Studying for the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision will increase your level of knowledge as the course of study and examinations cover all aspects of pensions management. Career enhancement When recruiting pensions specialists, many employers
      • PMI Qualifications - by Gillian King
        The full suite of PMI examination, assessment and study support services lead to nationally recognised qualifications for pension managers, consultants, administrators, international benefit specialists, lawyers, accountants, trustees, support staff and also for those for whom pensions is just
      • Continuing Professional Development - by Katie Harris
        CPD requirements All Associates, Fellows and Ordinary Members are expected to fulfil the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements through various learning activities; from private reading, attending courses and training events; to networking with others within the field. We provide
      • PMI Membership Is On The Up - by Andrew Gardner
        The PMI takes a snapshot of its members on 1 September each year to identify trends and to report in the Annual Report and Yearbook. For the second year, the numbers of PMI members have increased after three years of diminishing returns. In this article, Andrew Gardner, Head of Membership at the

        Key Issues

      • PMI's inaugural Career Development Survey proves a big hit!
        The PMI felt that the time was right to take a health check on a wide range of employment and remuneration issues amongst its members and users of the PMI website. The survey also covered broader pensions changes such as the split of work between – Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution

      Company profiles

         
      • Aon
        What do we do? You might not be too familiar with our name, but Aon is an organisation of incredible size and scope. Our business is professional services; Aon provides leading organisations around the world
      • KPMG
        Some straight talking about opportunities in tax At KPMG, the people make the place. And what’s that place like? It’s one where everyone feels valued, and hard work is recognised and rewarded. It’s also a
      • Mercer
        About Us: Mercer is a leading global provider of consulting, outsourcing and investment services. Operating in 41 countries, our 3,200 strong UK based team supports a huge variety of organisations, including
      • PwC
        About PwC We help our clients and our people create the value they want. We work alongside our clients – from public and private companies to governments and charities – to measure, protect and enhance the

      Graduate full time and work experience vacancies

         
      • Aon - Financial Benefits Advisory
        From the very start of your career as a Financial Benefits Advisory Consultant, you will be meeting our clients to learn about their businesses and advise them on employee reward programmes. By
      • KPMG - Intern / Placement Opportunities
        We’re pleased to be able to offer a range of internships and placements which can add value to your studies, and help you determine whether KPMG is the right place to start your graduate career.
      • KPMG - Opportunities in Tax & Pensions
        Tax and Pensions is a fast moving and exciting area of our business. Legislation is continually evolving, and open to interpretation and negotiation – so our advisors spend their time helping clients
      • Mercer - Internship - Trainee Consultant (Retirement)
        Intern positions with Mercer are a fantastic opportunity for candidates to get a taste of working for a multinational consulting firm. Interns join us for a structured 8 week programme running from
      • Mercer - Trainee Consultant (Retirement)
        If you are looking for a challenging complex consulting environment requiring innovative solutions but aren't looking for high levels of numerical content, then the Trainee Consultant role is for
      • PwC - Actuarial Opportunities - Autumn 2012
        As an actuary, you’ll work with uncertainty. Using complex financial and statistical theories to calculate the likelihood of events – anything from a hurricane to a wholesale IT system failure –
      • PwC - Insight Business Placement Programme - 2012
        About the Insight business placement programme Work on real projects, learn about our business and get exposure to a prestigious client list. These six and eleven month placements in Assurance or
      • PwC - Undergraduate Opportunities - 2012
        Get a unique insight into what we do and how we do it on one of our insight programmes for undergraduates. Develop valuable business skills. And discover where your strengths and interests lie. These
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