[Hiring] Pensions Technical Specialist @Nucleus Group

Role Description

Role is based in Portsmouth or remote. As Pensions Technical Specialist, you will be the team's subject matter expert on all aspects of SIPP and pension administration. You'll act as the go-to person for technical queries, complex casework, and regulatory interpretation, ensuring the team consistently delivers accurate, compliant, and high-quality administration.

A core part of the role is the design, delivery, and ownership of training across the team. You'll build and maintain structured training plans for new joiners and experienced administrators alike, supporting their technical development and ensuring consistent standards across the function.

Working closely with the TPA Team Manager and Team Lead, you'll also support quality assurance, contribute to process and procedural improvements, and help the team stay ahead of legislative and regulatory change.

This is a senior, hands-on technical role — not a people management role — suited to someone who enjoys problem-solving, sharing knowledge, and shaping how a team operates.

Responsibilities

• Technical Expertise
  • Act as the primary point of escalation for complex technical queries across SIPP administration, including contributions, transfers (cash and in-specie), benefit crystallisation events (PCLS, drawdown, UFPLS), death benefits, and overseas transfers.
  • Provide authoritative guidance on HMRC pension legislation, FCA requirements, and wider regulatory matters affecting SIPP administration.
  • Research, interpret, and communicate the impact of legislative and regulatory changes (e.g. Finance Act updates, Lifetime Allowance abolition, tax treatment of lump sums).
  • Review complex cases prior to processing and provide sign-off where required.
  • Support the resolution of technical errors, breaches, and complaints, including root-cause analysis and remediation.
• Training & Development
  • Own, develop, and maintain the technical training plan for the administration team.
  • Design and deliver structured training programmes for new joiners, including a defined induction pathway.
  • Build and run ongoing technical training sessions for experienced administrators, covering legislative updates, complex case studies, and refresher topics.
  • Maintain a library of up-to-date training materials, technical guides, and reference documents.
  • Assess competency and identify development needs across the team, working with the Team Lead and Team Manager to address skills gaps.
  • Coach and mentor administrators on technical aspects of their casework.
• Quality, Compliance & Risk
  • Support quality assurance activities, including technical reviews and file checks.
  • Ensure procedures, process notes, and technical documentation remain current, accurate, and aligned with regulatory requirements.
  • Identify and escalate technical, operational, or regulatory risks.
  • Support internal and external audit activity.
  • Contribute to the maintenance of a strong compliance and good-customer-outcomes culture.
• Process & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to improve technical processes, controls, and procedures.
  • Support the implementation of system enhancements, automation initiatives, and change projects from a technical perspective.
  • Ensure technical considerations are properly reflected in new processes and procedural updates.
  • Contribute to ad-hoc projects, including client onboarding, scheme migrations, and regulatory implementation work.
• Stakeholder Support
  • Provide technical support to client-facing colleagues, helping resolve queries and shape responses to clients.
  • Build effective working relationships with the Team Manager, Team Lead, administrators, and wider business functions.
  • Where appropriate, support direct client communication on complex technical matters.

Qualifications

• Proven pensions administration experience in a senior SIPP role with end-to-end administration experience, or previous experience in a dedicated pensions technical role.
• Strong working knowledge of SIPP products, HMRC pension tax legislation, and FCA regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrable experience handling complex cases including transfers, benefit crystallisation, death benefits, and tax reporting.
• Experience designing and delivering training, coaching, or knowledge-sharing in a pensions environment.

Requirements

• Skills & qualities
  • Technical knowledge — Deep, current expertise in pensions legislation and SIPP administration; confident interpreting and applying regulatory requirements.
  • Training & coaching — Able to translate complex technical content into clear, engaging training for varied audiences.
  • Communication — Clear and confident written and verbal communication; able to explain technical matters to non-technical colleagues and clients.
  • Problem solving — Analytical, methodical, and solution-focused approach to complex queries.
  • Organisation — Strong planning skills with the ability to manage training plans, technical reviews, and project work in parallel.
  • Collaboration — Approachable, supportive, and proactive; comfortable being the team's go-to person.
  • Continuous learning — Genuine interest in staying ahead of legislative and industry change.

Benefits

• Generous blend of benefits including a non-contributory pension.
• Bonus.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Paid time off for emergencies.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Flexible working options.