Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Placementand GraduateOpportunities
This booklet is dedicated to those peoplewithin our group of companies who havegrasped the opportunities found in ouropen and honest culture
Spence is one of a group of companies providing pensions advice, trusteeship and management. From the recruitment of a graduate to the creation of a ground breaking new software system and set-up of two other businesses, we have seen many changes.
We are very proud of the culture that we have developed since our Group of businesses was founded in the year 2000. Our goal is to provide interesting, worthwhile and healthy careers for our people. We look after our staff first and foremost, but for a commercial purpose, which is to deliver great service, profitably. By focusing on our goal, we provide the best outcomes for pension scheme members, trustees and employers.
We provide knowledge and expertise to meet challenges, often in sensitive circumstances, trusted by employers, trustees, pension scheme members and regulators to carefully manage pension schemes over many years. Everything we do must be completed to the highest standard of quality and with unquestionable integrity. This demands close trust between us as colleagues, and trust between us and others.
Despite our transformation and growth over the years, we have retained the same philosophy of recruiting those willing to make a real contribution to the business at an early stage and encourage this to be taken into their continued career path, wherever it may take them.
Brian Spence
We strive to provide interesting andworthwhile career opportunities for allmembers of staff and believe this emphasis sets us apart and ensures our staff engage and thrive in the work that they carry out.
You will be involved in all aspects of the business from an early stage and our flat corporate structure means you will work alongside senior members of staff from the outset.
We promote a friendly and collaborative atmosphere at all levels of the business and placement and graduate students are integrated immediately as members of the team.
If your application is successful, no matter what area of the business you are assigned to, you will be expected to immerse yourself in our culture and take full advantage of the opportunity to work within a real industry setting with professionals by your side to teach and inspire you along the way.
You will be offered an interesting and rewarding placement experience which will readily equip you for working life after graduation and as a graduate you will be offered an excellent opportunity to start a successful career.
An appointed mentor who will help you identify the best examination path for you.
Flexible working practice to suit individuals’ needs.
A generous study leave package. A flexible benefits package, including core benefits of permanent health insurance, pension, life assurance with the option to avail of a wide range of flexible benefits.
Here is what our recent graduates and placements say about their experience with us.
What to expect
We are excited about the future at Spence & Partners. Our Business is growing fast through new client wins and expansion in our current service offerings. Our use of our innovative integrated actuarial and administration pension scheme software platform, Mantle®, across our work is driving us to deliver integrated solutions to our clients. As a result, we believe we can offer something different to students looking to take the first steps in their actuarial and investment careers.
We recruit the best peopleand, by investing in their future, we also invest in the future of Spence and our clients
Rachel GrahamPlacement Student, Graduate Recruit, Actuarial Technician
“I gained so much from my placement experience and it confirmed for me that the actuarial profession was where I saw my future”
Martin PurvisPlacement Student, Graduate Recruit, Pensions Administrator, Data Analyst, Pension Trustee Assistant
“My placement year spent with Spence proved to be the most crucial of my four year degree course.”
Matthew LeathamPlacement Student, Graduate Recruit, Actuary
“My experience at Spence so far has been great and it has really helped me develop both personally and professionally.”
Spence & Partners is a professional firm of actuaries, pension consultants, data specialists and administrators who since 2000, has built a team of personnel with a breadth and depth of experience and expertise.
We strive to understand the real world pressure on our clients in today’s market and we work with those who appreciate our straight talking approach.
We focus on innovation and technology to provide a more efficient and cost effective service but understand that a personal touch is needed to guide people through a complex landscape.
I heard about Spence through the QUB Placement Office whilst preparing for my placement year. The staff spoke very highly of Spence which encouraged me to attend their information evening. I learned about all the opportunities available and it was following this evening that I decided to apply as an actuarial placement student.
I could never have imagined how much work I would get involved in. My roles included acting as actuarial support and helping with other departments such as the Administration, Finance, Accounts and Payroll teams. Due to the vast amount of work I was involved in, it allowed me to develop my professional and technical skills whilst also enhancing my business awareness as a whole. It is due to this that there is never a ‘typical’ day in Spence.
The responsibility I held increased throughout the year and I was carrying out more complex tasks. Within the year, I was already checking other students’ work and providing training to more senior members of staff. This reflects Spence’s approach of treating their placement students as integral members of the organisation.During my placement year, Spence offered me a graduate position within the company to complete the actuarial exams. I learned a lot about the actuarial exams from my colleagues and I am very grateful for all the study support offered by Spence.
Completing my placement year at Spence was the best decision for me as it provided me with valuable experience inside and outside of my actuarial role. I would highly recommend Spence to any student wanting a placement year that is busy, fast-paced but extremely rewarding. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time to date with the company and I look forward to the future.
Kareen McDonagh
Our focus is on innovation and utilising technology solutions to provide a more efficient and cost effective service.
“I could never have imaginedhow much work I would getinvolved in.”
I was one of the first students to graduate from the Actuarial Science and Risk Management degree at Queen’s University Belfast in 2011. My third year of study required students to gain exposure in an actuarial working environment and I was fortunate enough to secure my placement year at Spence.
During my time there I was involved in a variety of actuarial tasks and from day one was contributing to proper actuarial work. I had guidance and support along the way and everyone at Spence was always willing to answer any questions and made me feel at home from the very beginningI gained so much from my
placement experience and it confirmed for me that the actuarial profession was where I saw my future.
Since returning to Spence as a graduate in August 2011 I have developed my professional skills and knowledge as a result of the variety of work I have had the opportunity to be involved in.
I qualified as an actuary in 2018, after progressing through my professional exams. Spence provides great study support which includes subsidised study materials and tutorials, a study mentor and a bank of study days to help us achieve an appropriate work-study balance.
I cannot speak highly enough of my experience to date with Spence, my personal and professional development has been beyond my expectations. It has been exciting, challenging and extremely rewarding and I look forward to what the future at Spence holds for me.
Rachel GrahamPlacement Student 2009Graduate recruit 2011
“I gained so much from myplacement experience andit confirmed for me thatthe actuarial professionwas where I saw my future.”
Approachable personnel with a breadth and depth of experience allows us to provide our clients with a market leading service proposition throughout the UK.
I joined Spence & Partners on 1st July 2009, returned as a graduate in 2011 and my journey still continues with sister company Dalriada Trustees.
Studying Actuarial Science and Risk Management at Queens University Belfast, I was required to spend my third year on placement gaining real life experience. Studying such a specialised course presented the difficult task of finding a suitable company that matched not just my course, but me as an individual.
I initially learned of Spence through my QUB careers advisor, admittedly I knew little about actuarial firms in practice at that time. Perfectly sized, it offered the opportunity to work closely with different professionals on a wide range of projects.
Immediately my position within the company became clear, I was not treated as a placement student, but as an equal member of staff. On a daily basis I worked with a
variety of actuaries, consultants, accountants and pension administrators.
Each day I would be presented with new tasks, new projects and new challenges. Under the inexhaustible guidance of my colleagues, I gained experience at a phenomenal rate. I was actively encouraged to take responsibility for my own work alongside involvement on numerous group projects. As my time at Spence progressed, I gained not only much needed experience, but a drive to forge a career within this industry.
Returning as a graduate I joined the pension database function, specialising in data transition, audit and management. This provided me with the opportunity to build a technical understanding of data and the numerous platforms used within the industry. I set to work on adding a new technical dimension to my actuarial and pensions background.
In December 2013 I progressed to the consultancy team, working under the banner of Spence’s sister company, Dalriada Trustees Limited. I now work on a wide range of schemes, both Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution. A number of my schemes have been appointed to us via the Pensions Regulator or the courts, many amidst suspicions of ‘Pensions Liberation Fraud’, a corruptive approach used to offer early access to retirement savings.
To work on such high profile and difficult cases, at such an early stage of my career, is a testament to the opportunities made available to me. Benefiting from the guidance of a senior consultant on a daily basis, I am now immersed in a challenging and interesting career.
Martin PurvisPlacement Student 2009Graduate Recruit 2011
“As my time at Spence progressed,I gained not only much neededexperience, but a drive to forgea career within this industry.”
Our ability to truly Innovate inan industry that can often appear stagnant has been a huge factor in our ability to provide unique opportunities for our employees.
I joined Spence and Partners in September 2017 after graduating that summer from the Finance degree at Queen’s University, Belfast. From my placement year at university, I was able to gain my first experience as a Trainee Pensions Administrator in another Belfast based firm. Following this I was keen to build on my existing knowledge when searching for a graduate role. Spence and Partners was first brought to my attention by one of my lecturers and the QUB Placement
office who spoke highly of the company’s support with previous students from the university.
Upon joining Spence, myself and fellow newcomers were instantly made to feel welcome and integrated within our respective teams and the company. From day one we were provided with training and guidance needed to help us develop in our ever growing and ambitious company. Part of this included our personal Learning & Development within our careers. Following on from this I have already passed two of my ‘Certificate in Pension Calculations’ exams within my first year at Spence. This was aided greatly from the support of fellow colleagues who had gone through these and were still continuing to.
As a member of the PPF Administration Team, I have been entrusted with a variety of responsibilities involved in both the day-to-day management and project-based work of Schemes within their Assessment Period pre-transfer. This has allowed me challenge myself on a daily basis as well as developing many invaluable skills within the financial industry.
My experience so far has exceeded my expectations in how I have been able to grow both personally and as a young professional. I am eager to continue on this journey as I advance further in my career opportunities.
Lindsay Pentland
It is important that we have a broad spectrum of people and skills, it is the only way we will remain sustainable and successful.
“My experience so far has exceeded my expectations in how I have been able to grow both personally and as a young professional.”
I joined Spence and Partners in June 2014 having recently graduated from the Actuarial Science degree at Queens. Working at Spence was attractive to me at the time due to the growing and ambitious nature of the company and I was not disappointed.
All newcomers at Spence are given a degree of freedom and responsibility for their own development. This means that any ideas are taken on board and very often you can see your ideas come to fruition. Over my time here I have enjoyed being able to contribute to our award winning software Mantle®, and also to our investment function together with my main work within the actuarial function.
Every day presents different challenges due to the breadth of work we undertake, this helps keep the job interesting and will also mean that you can develop a wide range of skills.
I have recently qualified as an actuary and benefited greatly from the study support provided by Spence, including study materials, attendance at tutorials and most importantly the support of other colleagues going through the actuarial exams to help develop an effective study plan.
My experience at Spence so far has been great and it has really helped me develop both personally and professionally. I’m excited to see what the future holds here.
Matthew Leathem
“I have recently qualifiedas an actuary and benefitedgreatly from the study support provided by Spence”
We offer two Graduate Pathways:
• Actuarial & Investment
• Pensions Management
Our Pensions Management and Actuarial and Investment teams offer a diverse range of stimulating and fast paced work.
Please check our website (address below) for current placement opportunities.
We create an environment where you can drive your career to the next level – we believe in empowerment and expect our colleagues to thrive in an environment of personal responsibility and ownership. You’ll get direct exposure to working with the directors of our business and the opportunity to really make your mark in a growing business.
Applicants are requested to submit an application form, CV and cover letter which clearly illustrates that their skills and experience are relevant to the post requirements.
Please ensure you clearly outline your academic qualifications.
We look forward to meeting you and explaining more about our group of businesses.
Placement and Graduate Opportunities
Please apply via our websitehttps://www.spenceandpartners.co.uk/careers
Any queries please contact our HR department:Linen Loft, 27-37 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8FE
T : 028 9041 2884
Spence & Partners Limited
Linen Loft27-37 Adelaide StreetBelfastBT2 8FE
t: 028 9041 2000
Edmund House12-22 Newhall StreetBirminghamB3 3AS
t: 0121 389 2314
Castlemead, Lower Castle StreetBristolBS1 3AG
t: 0117 959 5002
The Culzean Building36 Renfield StreetGlasgowG2 1LU
t: 0141 331 1004
Princes ExchangePrinces SquareLeedsLS1 4HY
t: 0113 426 4487
46 New Broad StreetLondonEC2M 1JH
t: 020 7495 5505
82 King StreetManchesterM2 4WQ
t: 0161 641 6312
Authorised and regulated by the FinancialConduct Authority. Registered No. NI37760
