Job description
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) administers pensions for Scottish Teachers, Police, Firefighters' and National Health Service employees on behalf of the Scottish Government.
We're responsible for protecting the financial futures of over half a million people , that’s around 1 in 10 people in Scotland.
If you’re looking for meaningful work, a supportive environment and a career with purpose, you’ll find it at the SPPA.
Our office is based in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders, the train station is a short two minute walk away and offers regular services to and from Edinburgh Waverley, making it a convenient and well connected location for commuters.
The surrounding area offers access to green space, walking routes and a strong sense of local community, supporting wellbeing both in and outside of work.
Our modern office building is designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with spaces for teamwork, quiet focus and hybrid working. Colleagues benefit from a comfortable, welcoming environment that reflects our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion.
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Shape how pension calculations are delivered at scale across major public sector schemes
- Influence the technical direction of a large and complex pensions administration environment
As the Pension Regulations Manager within our Pensions Technical Controls area, you will lead and manage the operational team responsible for the development, maintenance, and assurance of complex calculation models and tools (including but not limited to Excel-based solutions) used to deliver pension benefit calculations that underpin critical pensions, data, and payroll operations. You will act as the technical authority for pensions calculations and controls, ensuring that benefit calculations across multiple public service pension schemes are accurate, compliant, and aligned with legislation and scheme regulations. You will work closely with policy, actuarial, and operational teams to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into robust calculation approaches. Operating within a highly regulated and complex environment, you will provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure these tools are accurate, compliant, and aligned with policy objectives, risk parameters, audit preparedness, and governance requirements. This role demands strong leadership to drive calculator innovation, embed technical controls, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence
Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership: Manage and lead a team of deep pension specialists, ensuring clear objectives, performance management, and professional development to deliver high-quality outcomes.
- Calculator Asset Management: This includes oversight of calculations such as: Retirement benefits (final salary and CARE); Transfer values (CETVs); Death benefits and survivor pensions; Pension increases and revaluation; McCloud remedy calculations and underpin protections.
- Maintenance & Defect Resolution: Direct and coordinate routine maintenance and defect remediation activities to safeguard accuracy and functionality of Excel calculators.
- Risk & Impact Assessment: Lead evaluations of the robustness and compliance of calculation tools, identifying emerging risks and informing mitigation strategies.
- Continuous Improvement: Drive the development and implementation of an improvement roadmap for Excel-based calculators, embedding best practices and fostering innovation.
- Assurance & Compliance: Personally lead compliance activities around legislation in the sphere of: Public Service Pensions legislation; HMRC tax rules (Annual Allowance, Lifetime Allowance); The Pensions Regulator expectations; Audit and internal control frameworks.
- Release Management: Implement and oversee a structured release process to guarantee that only approved and accurate versions of Excel calculators are deployed.
