Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
Trainee Pensions Officer
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About Us
Trainee Pensions Officer
£30,225 - £34,389 per year inclusive (Scale 3 - 4)
Permanent
Full time - 36 hours per week
Wandsworth
Objective of role
Join the Pensions Shared Service and begin a rewarding career helping people secure their financial future in retirement. As a Trainee Pensions Officer, you will develop specialist knowledge and practical experience in pensions administration, learning how to manage key Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) processes such as retirements, transfers and benefit calculations. You will also gain an understanding of the legislation and regulations that underpin these important services.
Working within a supportive and experienced team, you will play a vital role in delivering accurate, efficient and customer-focused pension administration. You will be part of the Pensions Shared Service, which administers the LGPS on behalf of five London boroughs: Camden, Merton, Richmond, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth. Through your work, you will help ensure that scheme members receive the information, guidance and benefits they are entitled to, making a real difference to people's lives.
About The Role
You will:
- Learn about and process a wide range of major pension scheme member events, including retirements and transfers.
- Communicate with pension scheme members by telephone and email, applying your knowledge to answer questions and support members.
- Develop an understanding of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the legislation that governs pensions administration.
- Work as part of either the Benefits team or the Data Management/Communications team, with flexibility to support work across teams.
- Receive ongoing training and development support, including the opportunity to study towards a nationally recognised qualification for retirement benefit professionals administered by the Local Government Association and the Pensions Management Institute (PMI).
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Essential Qualifications, Skills And Experience
If selected for interview, candidates will be asked questions relating to the “Brief Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme”, which is included in the application pack.
No previous pensions administration experience is required. Candidates who meet the essential criteria in the job profile, including English language and mathematics skills, will be invited to complete an online assessment test to assess suitability for the role.
Essential Criteria
- Strong numerical skills.
- English language and mathematics skills in line with the essential criteria in the job profile.
- Good communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly by telephone and email.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Interest in starting a career in pensions and willingness to learn relevant legislation and processes.
- Commitment to ongoing training and development, including potential study towards a relevant professional qualification.
Closing Date: 9 August 2026
Shortlisting Date: 10 August 2026
Interview Date: Monday 24 August 2026 in person at Wandsworth Town Hall
Test/Presentation: Online assessment test on Monday 17 August 2026 via Microsoft Teams
Please apply online at jobs.richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.
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We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.
Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
Attached documents
- Anonymised Application Guide for Candidates.pdf
- TPO recruitment - Brief Guide to the LGPS July 2026.pdf
- TPO job-profile.docx
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