Head of Pensions and Benefits at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• This role is accountable for the overall delivery of Pensions and Employee Benefits strategy, policy and related practices and services for Absa Group Limited. This includes strategy, tactical design and delivery plans, formulation of associated practice/s and ensuring operational implementation and adoption i.t.o. pensions and employee benefit methodology, governance and delivery objectives. The role will also oversee the effective implementation of technological solutions to enhance/improve employee engagement with their pension and benefit arrangements and strengthen management of these arrangements.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Development and Partnering:

• Strategic advice to the Group and its various operating entities on pensions and employee benefits.
• Accountable to manage (or oversee management of) pension and benefits projects across the full Absa landscape as required.
• Support local (entity-level) pension and benefit arrangements by providing expert assistance to local Human Capital teams in specific African and International Operations locations.
• Ensuring effective pensions and benefits governance with internal and external stakeholders and committees.

Technical Research and delivery of pensions and employee benefits policy: 

• Anticipate and research international, African and local International Office pension and benefits developments and trends at a high technical level (including legislative and regulatory change) and analyse the impact for implementation, e.g. for projects, change, BAU; Produce technical impact briefings to enable effective response.
• Assist in consulting on and responding to Group Reward initiatives that impact on Absa’s pensions and benefits e.g. organisation restructuring, employee benefit improvements.
• Assist in the delivery of Absa pension and benefits projects e.g. mergers, acquisitions and disposals, plan design changes, operational change.
• Contribute to Absa’s pension communications across the enterprise to ensure that the content is appropriate.
• Respond to Human Capital and, on an exceptional basis, individual complex pension and benefits cases.

Application of employee pensions and employee benefits policy and delivery: 

• Be a subject matter expert/technical point of reference for business units, providing technical support/advice to assist their commercial and human capital objectives and pension & benefits education strategy.
• Assist in due diligence and implementation planning for acquisitions, disposals, out-sourcing, etc. that assists the Group’s commercial negotiations.
• Assist to manage the relationship with the various Trustee and other internal governance bodies across the Absa pensions and benefits landscape.
• Advise and assist in the optimisation of the working relationship with third party providers to ensure efficiency and ‘best in class’ practice.
• Enhance pension and benefits education/upskilling.

People Management:

• Lead, coach, direct and motivate the Pensions and Benefits team to ensure high level, consistent quality service delivery. Manage training for the Pensions and Benefits team and employee benefits/pensions champions in all Absa locations.
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Determine and analyse development needs for the team and ensure that identified training requirements are budgeted for and executed.
• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the team.

Business Management:

• Contribute to the development of Group’s Reward strategy for the next 2-3 years by providing a view on potential improvements for products or services and an assessment of the existing pensions and benefits suite, and anticipated changes in the external environment.
• Agree targets and take accountability for the overall achievement of performance objectives in the business area in terms of Colleague Engagement, customer experience, cost performance, return on investments, risk, compliance, and governance requirements.
• Manage departmental budgets including signing off of invoices and quotes within mandate. Escalate out of budgets items to the Managing Executive for approval.
• Analyse effectiveness of processes and systems in use in the Centre of Expertise and make recommendations for improvements.
• Review performance against balanced scorecard components as prescribed by the Executive, discuss gaps and agree action plans to close gaps.
• Benchmark productivity of the department against industry standards and create measures to improve productivity.
• Agree and manage service offerings and SLAs with internal customers (agree annually and measure monthly).

Risk and Compliance: 

• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that have been designed for the area are understood by all members of the team.
• For audit findings that have an impact on the Centre of Expertise, work with the Managing Executive: Reward and Benefits to close out findings and implement required actions.           
• During scheduled audits and management assurance reviews, ensure that all information required by the auditors are provided timeously.
• Complete required compliance attestations.
• Manage all risk and compliance matters relating to pension and benefit issues, both internally and externally.

Education and Experience Required:

• Minimum of 10 years direct international employee benefits strategy formulation, management and implementation experience (ideally in more than one industry/environment, but preferably including financial services).  This could be either as an internal pensions and benefits specialist, or as a pensions and benefits consultant advising external clients.
• Experience of leading cross-border teams in developing pensions and employee benefits solutions.
• Experience of working within a large multi-jurisdictional corporate or as a member of a top-tier pensions/employee benefits consulting/advisory firm preferred.
• Experience of managing pensions and benefits teams and delivery across multiple jurisdictions.
• Degree in actuarial science or accounting (or relevant associated field).
• Professional Body Registration (e.g. Actuarial Society, Institute of Chartered Accountants) is preferred by not required.

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Stakeholder Management – Executive Committee, Human Capital Function Leads, cross functional teams.
• Cross-functional delivery.
• Advanced understanding of Employee Benefits/Pension Funds practices (including technical requirements), legislation, regulation and governance.
• External liaison – Employee Benefits/Pension Funds (regulators, governance structures, third-party suppliers) in all Absa locations.

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)