Specialist, Pension Operations

OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE
UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario’s university sector, proudly serving over 41,000 members across five universities and fourteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities.
Together, we’re a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve, and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact. Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.
As a pension plan, UPP approaches investing through a long-term lens to generate and safeguard value. Our commitment to investing responsibly accounts for material risks that impact our investment portfolio to generate sufficient risk-adjusted returns to meet the pension needs of our members.
Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Manager, Pension Operations, this is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Senior Pension Services professional to join a team of high performing professionals to make a great impact.
This role is based in downtown Toronto in a hybrid work environment, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (minimum two days per week in-office).
**SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES**:
UPP is uniquely positioned in its flexibility to build an internal foundation from the ground up. We approach this build thoughtfully and methodically, with a careful focus on building a strong base, operational efficiency and excellent member and employer experience. We are creating a digitally enabled service experience for our members.
Service Delivery
- Deliver best-in-class service to our members, participating employers and universities.
- Provide accurate and timely reporting to all stakeholders regarding general and specific provisions of the benefit and pension plans.
- Recommend improvements to pension administration.
- Act as a primary contact for queries regarding member data, contribution data captures, and connecting with client Experience Team.
- Guide team on delivering services with legislation timelines.
- Act as the primary contact for UPP Staff members.
- Exhibit an ability to listen, negotiate and communicate goals; share knowledge, experience, and responsibility with the team to achieve the highest standards of professionalism.

Pension Administration
- Prepare and/or coordinate statutory reporting requirements, such as annual member statements, pension adjustments, and quarterly pension adjustment reversals.
- Peer review transaction cases and payment streams.
- Assess feasibility of workarounds for system-generated member calculations.
- Monitor employer transactions, including the collection, recording and reconciliation of contributions and data.
- Ensure compliance with the pension plan text, all legally prescribed timelines, and internal policies; ensure that all data is accurate and comprehensive.
- Ensure all benefit payments, including monthly pension payroll, are paid accurately and on time via the trustee.
- Remain current on pension benefit trends, practices and procedures, and evaluate and recommend adjustments.
- Other projects and activities, as assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE**:

- Completed college diploma or university degree with 5+ years of strong data analytics experience in the pension or financial services industry.
- 3+ years of experience in a broad range of pension plans, including defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid plans.
- Experience reading and interpreting pension plan texts and translating provisions to be used operationally.
- Strong ability to self-diagnose member data issues correctly.
- Experience coding SQL, Data visualization (PowerBI/Domo), Mail Merge, PowerAutomation, Excel VBA, and Reporting best practices would be an asset.
- CEBS or PPAC would be an asset.
- Strong oral and written communication skills and an ability to communicate complex information clearly and at a level appropriate for the member and employer.
- Professional, client-focused approach to colleagues and assignments.
- Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
- Ability to organize, set priorities and work independently.

**ATTRIBUTES**:

- A passion for delivering a great pension experience from enrollment to retirement, with a proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
- Good numeric skills to ensure accuracy in calculations