Pension adminstrator Review

. I am Part of the Pension administration team. As an apprentice Pensions administrator I carry out day to do administration of Pension Schemes. Some of my day to day activities include: • answering queries by phone, letter and email • using a computer system to check and update records • calculating the amount of money people will receive • processing money paid towards a person's pension • transferring benefits from one pension to another • arranging the payment of pensions • keeping up to date with pension and tax laws As an administrator I am not allowed to give advice however I can point members in the direction of other sources of information. I have to be up to date with regulatory laws and processes because of the member information I deal with is sensitive and private. I’ve had lots of compliance training so that I know exactly how to do my job without causing any data breaches.

I have learnt a vast amount of new skills. Coming to work everyday and socialising with my colleagues is very different from being in sixth form and I have learnt some new people skills and office etiquette. I have learnt lots of new skills within the office to such as using the office machinery. Further to this I have developed my communication skills and I am able to tailor my conversations when speaking to certain people for example members of the pension schemes or Trustees.

I really enjoy the programme! Learning on the job and having a hands on approach really suits my style of learning. I would highly recommend anybody to take up an apprenticeship in financial industry. I am now approaching the end of the apprenticeship which has flew! I have really enjoyed meeting the other apprentices and doing group training sessions.

The apprenticeship is very well structured, I regularly meet with my skills coach from the growth company and discuss the things I have learnt and the things I need to do in order to pass my apprenticeship when I am In gateway. I have a call with my apprentice rep from Barnett waddingham once a month to discuss how things are going.

I have an apprentice rep who I call and discuss my problems/concerns/progress with this is really useful as it offers me support in any which way I need it. I also meet with my team leader once a week to discuss the work I have done over the past week and the work coming up over the next week.

I have passed the APE qualification. All of the training was done in house and I got one half day a week study leave where I booked out a meeting room and studied all the material I was given for the exam. We have a local APE rep who you go to should you have any questions.

In order to pass the qualification you need to learn about things such as retirements, deaths, compliance, the different people involved in a pension scheme etc.. I use all of this knowledge in my day to day work and it really helps me! Without sitting the qualification I would not of have broadened my knowledge anywhere near as much.

We have an office social committee how often organise events before the office. Once a mo nth we have a charity coffee morning where we all go the café and enjoy cakes and coffee with all proceeds going to charity. Once a week we head down to the local Powerleague and play football, 12 people from the office come and play.

Yes

As a company they put the employee first. If I have any concerns / needs they accommodate them. Everybody walks around the office with a smile on there face and its a real community feel! everybody knows everyone's name and gets on really well. We have inter office football and netball tournaments and this is great fornetworking!

Be yourself! BW is a really good place to work where everybody is treated equally. In the interview it is more of a chat where the interviewers are trying to get to know you and understand why you want the job. They understand that apprentices are you and do not have much employment history and the accommodate for that.