Business Analyst
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
To define the scope of projects in conjunction with business sponsors, analyse requirements and specify operational and technical change across USSIM. To take responsibility for providing business analysis across various projects and BAU initiatives, with involvement in activities throughout the full project lifecycle including process definition, system requirements, testing (functional and technical) and implementation.
The successful candidate will be involved in a variety of projects that are either strategic, regulatory or discretionary across the USSIM business areas but with certain emphasis on supporting fixed income and FX investment processes. They will report to the Head of Business Analysis within the USSIM Business Change team.
Key responsibilities
The BA is expected to provide the analysis that will define the scope, requirements and success criteria for a variety of initiatives, often in support of the Fixed Income and FX teams. They will coordinate input from relevant business areas, liaising with the technology change teams (IMS) where appropriate, to define and document proposed solutions for presentation back to business stakeholders for review and sign-off. The BA will act as a point of contact for business and technical colleagues through to solution delivery.
The individual will be expected to support Business Change Project Managers and USS PMO, with responsibility for tracking against agreed deliverables and timelines, capturing associated risks and issues, escalating to the Project Manager or Head of Business Analysis as appropriate. They may also be required to provide input to project reporting including SteerCo representation.
The key tasks are expected to be:
• Define the scope of the project, agreeing high level aims with stakeholders.
• Define detailed business and systems requirements in conjunction with users and developers.
• Prepare a range of documents and project artefacts as required to suit the task at hand.
• Assess implementation options, influencing stakeholders to select the most appropriate solution.
• Highlight the implications of each solution not only in terms of project delivery but also business value and on-going support or effort levels.
• Document the current state, proposed outcome and target operating model.
• Planning, preparation, participation in and oversight of testing, transition and implementation.
More generally:
• Assisting with the design and analysis of solutions.
• Liaising with developers to understand technical opportunities and constraints, identify practical solutions, both strategic and tactical where appropriate, and to help prioritise work into releases.
• Analysis and documentation of requirements.
• Formal documentation of design and solutions processes.
• Feasibility analysis.
• Impact assessment of changes.
• RAID log management.
• Develop effective relationships across the business.
• Assist with RFP / selection process for third party vendors where applicable.
Your experience
• Extensive prior business analysis experience (essential).
• Technical familiarity and experience writing systems documentation (essential).
• Close involvement with fixed income investment teams and systems (strongly preferred).
• Experience of either managing workstreams within large projects or project management of smaller projects (strongly preferred).
• A strong background in financial services, with specific asset management and pensions sector experience (highly desirable).
• Experience of mapping processes, both current and target, with the ability to summarise key elements succinctly for articulation to senior management.
• Good relationship and stakeholder management skills, with an ability to engage with and gain the confidence of others as well as challenge where appropriate.
• Strong communication skills (written, pictorial, presentational and verbal) including the ability to adapt communications to different audiences.
• Logical, structured thought processes and good problem-solving skills.
• Routinely demonstrates a proactive and constructive approach to issue resolution.
• Operates to own exacting standards with attention to the smallest detail.
• Highly competent at prioritisation, process organisation, and management of multiple workstreams
• Ability to deliver high quality work under tight timelines.
• Strong compliance culture and high personal ethical standards.
• Experience of management information typical of that provided to ExCo is desirable.
• Flexible approach to work.
USSIM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Operations | 17/03/2021 |
| London |
Corporate Affairs Officer
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
To provide administrative, social media, event delivery and copywriting support to the Corporate Affairs team.
Key responsibilities
• Provide administrative support for events and briefings (internal and external): work with suppliers, book dates/venues/rooms, send invitations, monitor responses, collate support materials, answer queries, and provide on-the-day support.
• Get involved in internal and external communications campaigns: providing ideas and input and supporting delivery.
• To manage the corporate LinkedIn site and other social media sites such as FB and Twitter andprovide updates as necessary and to monitor other social media outlets. To also update the corporate section on the new website.
• Manage shared inboxes: Corporate Affairs; Media Team; Internal Communications; Valuation; GCEO; ensure emails are addressed in a timely fashion.
• Co-ordinate member/employer correspondence requiring Corporate Affairs input: ensuring enquiries are logged and tracked.
• Assist with the preparation and production of presentations, reports and committee papers (including media monitoring analysis), as well as owned content (i.e. infographics, animations and films).
• Support the drafting and clearance of materials (internal and external), as required.
• Co-ordinate team meetings (i.e. room bookings, agendas, minutes).
• Monitor requests for communications support/activity, ensuring all requests are appropriately allocated and completed expediently.
• Monitor, update and manage content on the USS intranet, and work with ‘owners’ of relevant business sections to update as required.
• Manage corporate media subscriptions and associated licences (i.e. NLA).
• Compile and distribute ‘USS in the news’ on a daily and weekly basis, and maintain and circulate the communications grid.
• Raise purchase orders and receipt invoices on behalf of the Corporate Affairs team.
Your experience
• Good communication skills (verbal and written)
• Planning, co-ordination and attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities efficiently and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• High degree of integrity and discretion
• Open and honest approach
• Able to work in a manner that is consistent with the organisation’s ethos and values
• Experience of working in communications teams desired
• SharePoint experience desired, but not essential
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Corporate Affairs | 04/03/2021 |
| Liverpool |
Enterprise Architect
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
To establish and lead the new Enterprise Architecture function within USS, the primary purpose of which is to ensure that respective functional, data, application and technical architectures are aligned to the organisation's strategic direction, the technology and governance strategies, and policies and standards.
Accountable for providing strategic context, direction, technical roadmaps and standards to drive the technology strategy and business transformational roadmaps, working with a range of senior stakeholders and key 3rd Party suppliers.
Key responsibilities
• Establish, implement and maintain the Enterprise Architecture function and standards across the USS business, ensuring that these are clearly defined and communicated to key stakeholders and business users.
• Lead the architecture function within USS, including guiding and developing the architects and educating business stakeholders.
• Inputs into & translates business strategy into architecture strategic objectives, developing a technology vision and roadmap to fulfil business ambition and reduce costs.
• Defines and maintains the strategy architecture roadmap for building, enhancing, or replacing business and system capabilities, ensuring clearly defined “as-is” and “to-be” architectures are documented and agreed.
Your experience
• Extensive experience of setting up and managing the day to day operations of an EA practice including the development of processes, templates etc. and devising architectural standards and designs, iteratively to meet the needs of an organisation.
• Extensive experience in the range of products, tools, templates, techniques, methodologies, practices and processes relating to Enterprise Architecture
• Experience of working in an agile environment and experience with agile methodologies
• Experience of component based architectures and business process automation
• Expertise in large-scale transformations within business critical environments.
• Providing full solutions design for complex systems and services, including developing and implementing solution and enterprise and application architecture in a multi supplier environment.
• Engaging and communicating with a range of stakeholders, up to and including Executive level.
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| IT | 09/02/2021 |
| Liverpool |
Group & Pensions Architect
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
As a key member of the Enterprise Architecture function within USS, the primary purpose is to ensure that respective functional, data, application and technical architectures for the Pensions and Group business areas are aligned to the organisation's strategic direction, the technology and governance strategies, and policies and standards.
Accountable for working with various business stakeholders and key 3rd Party suppliers to provide strategic context, direction, technical roadmaps and standards to drive the technology strategy and business transformational roadmaps.
Key responsibilities
• Assist with establishing, implementing and maintaining the Enterprise Architecture function and standards across the USS business, ensuring that these are clearly defined and communicated to key stakeholders and business users.
• Act as an advocate and evangelist for technologies and following best practice, including coaching, mentoring and leadership of USS staff
• Inputs into & translates business strategy for the Pensions and Group business areas into architecture strategic objectives, developing a technology vision and roadmap to fulfil business ambition and reduce costs.
Your experience
• Significant and demonstrable experience as a technical / solutions architect
• Creatively interpreting strategy and translating emerging trends and technologies in to a strategic technology roadmap to deliver innovative solutions which add Business value
• ackground within software and software development, with experience of web development desirable.
• Proven skills in analysing and delivering against diverse business requirements.
• Expertise in large-scale transformations within business critical environments.
• Clear and proven organisation, analysis and structured thinking skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| IT | 09/02/2021 |
| Liverpool |
Head of Public Markets Compliance Advisory
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
• To act as the “first port of call” in the Compliance team in respect of the activities of the Public Markets Group.
• As a senior member of the Compliance team, to assist the Head of Compliance for USSIM in a range of compliance matters, including managing compliance systems, undertaking breach assessments and delivering training.
• To assist with managing the monitoring activities of the Compliance team in order to support USSIM business Compliance with regulatory standards.
Key responsibilities
• Provide specialist compliance advice to the investment management function.
• Build close relationships with the public markets Heads of Desks and attend key business meetings in relation to the Public Markets Group (including with External Managers, Operations and Business Change) and other compliance matters as required.
• Facilitate error and breach resolution for public markets.
• Monitor the activities of the Public Markets Group in conjunction with the Compliance Monitoring Manager.
• Have input into the development of the compliance risk assessment and implement the monitoring programme. Including identifying new and emerging risks from business and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the monitoring programme.
• Conduct regulatory thematic reviews and write up findings, presenting final report to line management/Senior management.
• Produce monthly compliance management information reports regarding Public Markets Group, including reporting on MAR, MiFID II, SM&CR and other key FCA regimes.
• Follow up investigations as a result of regular and ad hoc monitoring reviews or business/regulator generated enquiries in Public Markets Group.
• To work closely with other members of the Compliance Team – including the Head of Private Markets Compliance Advisory - as required on cross training, project work, and input to compliance matters in addition to those of Public Markets Group as the need arises.
• Updating and drafting policies, procedures and compliance manual, as directed by the Head of Compliance for USSIM.
• Assist in internal and external audit queries.
• Provide support to the Compliance Officer in relation to the implementation of regulatory and business change projects and attend key meetings as required.
• Maintenance of key regulatory monitoring processes, including MAR surveillance, best execution, allocations, sanctions lists, shareholding disclosures and position limits, exceptions reporting, and maintenance of IT systems to manage these.
• Monitor industry developments, for example best practices from trade associations and apply and roll these out within USSIM as relevant at the direction of the Compliance Officer.
• Assist in the writing and preparation of risk committee report, and board papers.
Your experience
• A good understanding of public market asset classes; including equity, credit, fixed income, derivatives and alternative investments.
• Demonstrable experience of Public Market Compliance.
• Sound knowledge of financial crime impact to public markets investment management.
• Experience of identifying and managing conflicts of interest.
• Thorough knowledge of UK regulatory framework.
• Familiarity with regulatory change agenda, and in particular impact of public markets.
• Willingness to develop relationships at all levels in delivering pragmatic and proportionate compliance advice, monitoring and training solutions within Public Markets Groups.
• Good knowledge of Bloomberg and FundApps or other equivalent systems for monitoring public markets compliance.
• Bachelor Degree or equivalent; relevant professional qualification (Accounting/Legal) or industry qualification (such as CISI).
• Excellent working knowledge of FCA rules and industry best practice relating to:
• FCA Conduct of Business rules, including best execution
• Financial crime regimes including sanctions
• MiFID II rules
• Guideline and limit monitoring
• Market Abuse surveillance, including insider dealing and market soundings
• Shareholder disclosures and position limits
• Conflicts of Interest, including research arrangements
• Record Keeping
• Some knowledge of other relevant regulatory frameworks, including European and US.
USSIM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Group General Counsel | 05/03/2021 |
| London |
Investment Product Analyst
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
The IPM Team is a central team within USSIM responsible for the investment product development across the scheme, as well as oversight and governance of mandates and execution. The IPM Team provides the “voice of the client” within USSIM and this new role will support the ongoing design, delivery and governance of the DC investment product.
The role will primarily involve assisting with co-ordination across USSIM and USS to develop and govern the DC investment product. This will include the steering of developments through the required executive and trustee approval process, as well as creating and coordinating information to support our reporting requirements as a regulated Master Trust.
To keep abreast of market developments and help to ensure that the DC investment product is market leading, working with a virtual team across the organisation to help achieve its strategic investment initiatives.
Key responsibilities
Managing Processes & Future Focus
• Assist with the smooth running of the DC investment product, including oversight and monitoring of the DC section, including member facing communications and responding to queries
• Accurate and timely delivery of DC investment product reporting to executive and trustee committees
• Working with third party providers, such as Northern Trust, to develop the DC platform to meet our ongoing requirements and influence their internal development roadmap
Delivering Results
• To work with a virtual team across investment operations, business change, front office, member engagement, communications, pensions operations, legal, and policy to help to create and develop investment products across the scheme
• Support with the continued development of the DC investment product over time to become and maintain market leading status
• Understanding of the regulatory landscape within which the DC investment product operates
Managing Resources
• Contributing to member education, communications and engagement material, including quarterly investment reports, investment guides, web collateral, newsletters and blogs
• Working with the rest of the IPM team to ensure that the DC investment product benefits from the input of the wider USSIM and USS teams
Managing Relationships
• Support communication with internal and external stakeholders to keep them abreast of DC investment product related matters
Your experience
• Self-starter in identifying new projects and opportunities;
• Competent at prioritisation, process organisation, and management of multiple workstreams
• Attention to detail; particularly when reviewing documents
• Ability to deliver high quality work under constrained timelines
• High level of structure and organisation and the ability to work across teams
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written papers and oral presentations
• Strong compliance culture and high personal ethical standards
• Enhance and further develop USS’ cultural objectives
• Strong stakeholder focus and ability to understand the relationships between the Business and Stakeholders
USSIM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Investment Product Management Team | 07/04/2021 |
| London |
IT Configuration Manager
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
Reporting to our IT Service Desk & Support Manager this role is a fundamental part of the USS Technology Services group function. Managing all configuration related day to day activities such as process, asset, configuration, procurement and lifecycle management.
Key responsibilities
• Provide support and guidance across the Liverpool and London IT teams in all aspects of Configuration
• Formulate and implement processes and procedures for tracking of company software, hardware, and equipment from purchase through to decommission.
• Track and maintain copies of software licenses, warranties, maintenance agreements, and vendor contracts.
• End to end internal and datacentre hardware and software asset management.
• Perform inventories and usage monitoring of all IT assets and record all findings, changes and physical location ensuring all assets follow the asset life cycle.
• Effectively communicate asset management strategies to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Where possible, standardise equipment to lower total costs.
• Perform regular reviews to ensure accuracy of the Asset and License repository.
• Identification and ownership of areas of improvement which could potentially lead to a project
• Ensure all Asset and Software related projects are supported
• Ensure all reporting is produced and distributed to relevant parties.
• Generate, distribute, and review relevant asset, software and licensing management reports.
• Support the generation of IT Service Delivery Management reporting
• Liaise with suppliers around hardware, software and licensing
• Own the Microsoft renewal programme working with IT Managers to understand requirements
• Attend regular supplier review meetings
• Accountable for all hardware and software purchases
• Support the IT Management team as and when required to obtain quotes, raise purchase orders, update SD+ and resolve issues with suppliers.
• Ensure a review is completed on a regular basis of all suppliers to drive efficiencies and cost reductions.
Your experience
• Experience of Configuration Management ideally within financial services organisation
• Strong experience in operating Software Asset Management lifecycle and hardware asset management
• Experience of managing 3rd Party IT suppliers
• Experience of working in an IT environment and an understanding IT metrics and data.
• Ability to produce accurate reports
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• A strong configuration management background, and demonstrated experience of working within an ITIL service focused team
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with management, team, peers and customers.
• Problem ownership & accountability
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| IT | 25/02/2021 |
| Liverpool |
Non-Executive Director
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
n/a
Key responsibilities
n/a
Your experience
n/a
USSIM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| UUK | 26/03/2021 |
22/04/2021
| |
Operational Risk Analyst
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
1. To assist the ERM team in developing our risk data management capabilities, in order to support the embedding of the risk management framework. The role will take responsibility for the administration of the aCCelerate system and all other repositories of risk data. This will include maintenance of the data and implementation of the risk data strategy in order to automate and standardise the production of regular and ad-hoc MI.
2. To support the ERM team in BAU activities, such as Risk & Control Self-Assessments; working with business stakeholders to further embed the risk management framework and the three lines of defence model.
This is a Data Analyst role for someone with Excel, PowerPoint, data management and management information reporting experience who is looking to develop their expertise in risk management.
Key responsibilities
Managing Risk Data:
• System administrator for the aCCelerate system and other operational risk data repositories.
• Proactive management of data quality for the aCCelerate system and other operational risk data repositories and support.
• Development and implementation of standard / cyclical and ad hoc reporting to provide risk MI and insight to inform Senior Management/Committees, in line with the Risk Governance Framework
• Support the Event Management process with the aggregation and analysis of operational risk events reported by the business, including performing root cause analysis, monitoring and recommendations for improvements to action plans to remediate issues on a timely basis.
• Drive continuous improvement of risk reporting and analysis through identification and implementation of opportunities for efficiency
• Key point of contact for Risk Champions, (to include provision of training on aCCelerate)
• Management of the monthly Operational Risk Forum (ORF).
• Take responsibility for ERM Intranet site, ensuring that appropriate resources are available for stakeholders to self-serve as effectively as possible.
• Take responsibility for administration of ERM (Microsoft) Teams site and provide training and support to ERM team on best practice in use of Teams,
Operational Risk:
• Support development of the Operational Risk Framework.
• Assist with Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA).
• Assist operational risk procedural documentation and take responsibility for maintenance.
• Support administration of regular functional Risk Boards.
• Undertake targeted gap analysis activity when required to highlight existing deficiencies that need to be resolved.
• Support and participate on ERM projects.
Your experience
• Experience of managing data systems and MI reporting.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge of Excel and good PowerPoint skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills are required, occasionally using significant levels of judgement to influence positive outcomes.
• Knowledge of Power BI or similar tool would be beneficial but not essential.
• Background of working in a Financial Services organization desirable but not essential.
• Risk Management knowledge desirable but not essential.
• Stakeholder engagement experience desirable but not essential.
• Continuous Improvement, Lean or Six Sigma knowledge desirable but not essential.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development is essential (e.g. a commitment to further study).
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Group Risk | 19/02/2021 |
| Liverpool |
Pension Administrator
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has circa 396,000 members, and over £60 billion in assets, we’re one of the largest private pension schemes in the UK and in the top 50 worldwide. Established in 1974, we’re entrusted by over 350 higher education sector employers to manage and administer the pension scheme and its investments through our two companies, Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited and USS Investment Management Limited.
Our purpose
Working with Higher Education employers to build a secure financial future for our members and their families.
The role
n/a
Key responsibilities
n/a
Your experience
n/a
USSL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
| Pensions Operations | 23/02/2021 |
| Liverpool |