South Yorkshire Pensions Authority - Assistant Director

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming South Yorkshire Pensions Authority’s next Assistant Director - Resources.

We are proud of the track record that South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) has built up over a long period. As we progress, we are seeking to build on this, whilst preserving the long-term stability of our pension fund.

I’m proud to have taken up the role of Director of SYPA from October 2025, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Having previously held the Assistant Director - Resources role myself, I’m pleased to be leading the recruitment for this pivotal position. It’s a role at the heart of our organisation, enabling and supporting our pensions administration and investment strategy teams, and that will help shape our future thinking and support us in realising our ambitions.

SYPA is a special organisation – it is both a local authority and a pension fund and is currently unique within the Local Government Pension Scheme as the only democratically accountable single purpose pension organisation in the UK. As a local government body, we have a public sector ethos and place a great deal of importance on our organisational Values and Behaviours – which are all about being honest and accountable, professional, progressive, and empowering. We pride ourselves not only on being a team who can roll our sleeves up and get things done, but also on doing so within a truly supportive and collegiate culture which I believe makes SYPA a fantastic place to work.

We serve over 180,000 scheme members and around 565 employers, managing a pension fund of over £11 billion. Our achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, which reflect the dedication and innovative spirit of our team.

Like all Local Government Pension Funds, SYPA faces a significant agenda over the coming years. Key priorities include:

Implementing the McCloud remedy and other scheme changes within required timescales.
Improving administration services to deliver the best possible experience for members.
Delivering the Pensions Dashboard and enhancing technology use.
Developing our already strong governance framework to ensure it meets new regulatory requirements from April.
Completing pooling in line with Government requirements through Border to Coast.
Updating our Investment Strategy Statement and implementing any changes through Border to Coast.

Despite the challenges ahead, SYPA benefits from a highly supportive Pensions Authority committed to investing in the organisation’s development, ensuring we maintain business-as-usual while driving forward these strategic initiatives.

This is an important leadership role with statutory responsibility as Chief Finance Officer. You’ll be responsible for the Resources department at the centre of the organisation – you will oversee the Authority’s financial strategy and operations, its governance and democratic support functions as well as our ICT and wide range of corporate services. As such, this role is key to ensuring that the organisation is well equipped to meet its challenges and deliver on its ambitions. You’ll join a team that consistently rises to the challenge, collaborating internally and externally to achieve continuous improvement, and supported by a committed Pensions Authority that backs its ambitions with real investment.

We’re seeking a driven and knowledgeable leader who can demonstrate their skills and experience of strategic business and medium-term financial planning, organisational management, and governance frameworks. As the Chief Finance Officer, you will of course be CCAB qualified and able to demonstrate up-to-date CPD, with at least 3 years professional experience post-qualification. With a public sector background, you’ll understand our regulatory context and current issues. Strong interpersonal and people management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders are essential. You’ll build effective relationships with elected members, colleagues and independent advisers, while inspiring your team to innovate, manage change and drive efficiency and effectiveness – making best use of technology.

It’s a truly exciting time to join SYPA. With a solid foundation in place and a clear vision for the future, we’re ready to embrace the changes ahead and continue making a real difference for our members and the wider community.

Our Barnsley office provides a state-of-the-art working environment, we have free on-site parking and are located within 10 minutes’ walk of both the train and bus stations, which makes us easily accessible. At SYPA we are big on your professional development, you’ll have a learning and development plan, and we’ll support you to keep your CPD updated. Perhaps most importantly you will be welcomed by talented teams.

If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to contribute to the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application. In the meantime, following an initial conversation with our recruitment partners at The Resourcing Solution, I would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with those who might wish to learn a little more.

Gillian Taberner
Director - South Yorkshire Pensions Authority

Job title: Assistant Director - Resources

Location: Barnsley / Hybrid

Contract: Full-time (35 hours per week Monday – Friday) / Permanent

Salary: £93,559 to £102,865 plus benefits and relocation support

As Assistant Director - Resources, you will play an important leadership role at South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA), helping to shape and deliver the strategic direction of a unique organisation that combines the responsibilities of a local authority with the management of an £11 billion pension fund. This is a position of significant influence and accountability, holding statutory responsibility as the Authority’s Chief Finance Officer under Section 73 of the Local Government Act 1985.

You will lead and inspire the Resources Department, which provides the essential services that underpin SYPA’s success, including Finance, Governance and Corporate Services, ICT, Communications, Programmes and Performance, and Facilities Management. With direct line management of three Heads of Function and responsibility for around 42 staff, you will ensure these teams deliver excellence while driving innovation and efficiency.

Overview of the Role

Overseeing all financial strategy and operations and maintaining a strong internal control environment.
Providing strategic advice on finance, governance, and corporate matters to elected members and senior colleagues.
Leading corporate projects and change initiatives to support SYPA’s ambitions.
Managing key partnerships and contractual relationships within the scope of Resources as well as ensuring robust governance in place across SYPA for partnership, contractual and stakeholder management.
Acting as a visible leader who champions SYPA’s values of honesty & accountability, professionalism, progressiveness, and empowerment.

We’re looking for a strategic leader with proven experience in setting and implementing successful strategies, exceptional people management skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. You will bring a strong track record in financial management and governance within the public sector, alongside the ability to inspire teams and build collaborative relationships internally and externally.

Essential Requirements:

A full CCAB accountancy qualification and evidence of up-to-date CPD (i.e., CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS).
At least three years of post-qualification experience in a professional role.
Experience of working within a local authority or similar public sector body is essential; experience within the Local Government Pension Scheme is desirable.

If you are ready to take on a role that combines strategic influence, operational leadership, and the opportunity to make a real difference for thousands of pension scheme members and employers, we would love to hear from you.

In carrying out this role the Assistant Director will demonstrate the following values:

Honest and accountable: Telling it like it is and taking responsibility for our actions even when we have made a mistake.

Professional: Being highly skilled and competent and managerially applying rationality to decision making processes.

Progressive: Welcoming of change, while taking sensible risks and learning from our mistakes and from others.

Empowering: Providing the freedom for individuals to identify and implement solutions to problems.

For more information on the role please see the Job Description / Person Specification here [pdf 102kb].

What's In it for You?

In addition to the chance to take up this highly varied and interesting role and the competitive salary offered, we provide the following additional valuable benefits:

Annual Leave

We have a generous annual leave policy that offers between 28 days and 36 days annual leave depending on length of service, plus all statutory bank holidays. The Authority directs its staff to use part of this leave entitlement to facilitate a closure of the offices over the Christmas period. In addition to the above are all statutory public holidays, usually 8 per leave year. Carry forward of up to 5 days unused leave is allowed in any year.

Flexible Working

The Authority’s normal working week is 35 hours (7 hours per day Monday to Friday).

The Authority operates a scheme of flexible working which allows staff to mix working from home with attendance in the office. For full time members of staff, the policy requires office attendance on a minimum of two days per week. Senior Managers are expected to be flexible in their attendance in the office to facilitate the effective functioning of the organisation.

Ability to access this policy is subject to having a suitable workspace at home which will be remotely assessed from a health and safety point of view. The Authority provides equipment such as laptop stands and additional screens to ensure that working at home is as easy as working in the office.

Certain key meetings are required to be in person such as appraisals and the regular Senior Management and Leadership Team meetings, as well as all formal meetings of the Authority.

This postholder will be expected to manage their time to achieve an appropriate work life balance and facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s objectives.

Family-related Leave

The Authority also aims to be a family-friendly employer, with policies to support this including entitlement to 12-months’ maternity leave, 6 months of which is paid at full pay, provision of 6 weeks’ maternity support / paternity leave paid at full pay and equivalent adoption leave entitlements. Further details can be provided on request.

Pension

All staff are automatically enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme which provides a salary-related pension. Employee contribution rates are graded according to salary; more details can be found on our website here: Contribution Pay Bands.

Travel and Subsistence

The postholder will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence costs in line with the Authority’s policies which promote travel by public transport wherever possible, and limit reimbursement of car mileage to the relevant HRMC rate.

Relocation

A relocation package of up to £8,000 is available and details will be provided to the successful candidate.

Professional Subscriptions

The Authority will pay one relevant professional subscription for the postholder; however, it should be noted that this may count as a taxable benefit.

Learning and Development

The Authority provides all staff with access to LinkedIn Learning which gives access to a wide range of content to support individual learning and development. In addition, the Authority supports a wide range of professional qualification training and attendance at relevant courses and conferences to support continuing professional development.

Staff Discounts

All staff have access to the Wider Wallet scheme which gives access to discounts at a range of local shops and leisure venues.

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

All staff have access to salary sacrifice schemes covering:

Additional Voluntary Contributions
Cars (with CO2 emissions of 75g/km or less)
Cycle to Work (Pending).

Further details will be provided to the successful candidate on request.

We are a growing public sector organisation with a team of around 130 staff who run the workplace pension scheme, managing a Fund of more than £11 billion on behalf of around 565 employing organisations, including Local Authorities and other public / not-for-profit sector bodies.

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is responsible for administering the Local Government Pension Scheme in South Yorkshire. The Authority was created in 1988 as part of the arrangements put in place following the abolition of South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council. The Authority itself is made up of 12 Councillors drawn from the 4 districts in the County.

The Pensions Authority's workforce is headed by the Director and is organised around three streams of activity, each led by an Assistant Director, reflecting the focus of its work in relation to:

Scheme members
Investment of the Pension Fund's assets, and
The running of the organisation

Structure of SYPA

Corporate Objectives

Values and Behaviours

How we achieve our objectives is as important to us as what we achieve, and we operate with a framework of values and behaviours which signify the type of organisation we want to be:

Values	Behaviours
Honest and Accountable	Telling it like it is, and taking responsibility for our actions even when we have made a mistake
Progressive	Welcoming of change while taking sensible risks and learning from our mistakes and from others
Professional	Being highly skilled and competent and managerially applying rationally
Empowering	Providing the freedom for individuals to identify and implement solutions to problems

In addition, if we are to live those values then our managers must demonstrate specific management behaviours as shown below:

Management Behaviours	Demonstrated by:
We model positive behaviours to each other and to all staff	We regularly offer encouragement and praise for positive behaviours We challenge inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour We give and receive authentic feedback We hold staff to account for their performance
We take responsibility for improvement - within a clear framework	We get on with making improvements and changes rather than wait for permissions (Within a clear advice frame that sets out what we can get on with and what we can't). We trust people to do their job, we don't micromanage. We give a heads up when we plan something new, we speak up early when there is a problem or when things aren't going well. When something doesn't go well, we look for what we can learn and what we can do differently next time.
We all get behind a common goal	We have a clear vision that sets out what our goals are and clear priorities which set out what our most important changes are. We make the time to understand what we need to do to contribute to that vision. We work together across the organisation and contribute to the organisation as a whole. We challenge and question rumours and use discretion in sharing what gets discussed amongst managers.
We involve and engage people in decisions that will affect them	We keep people in the loop about things that will affect them. We seek and value the opinion of the people we manage and of other teams. We take the time to set out plans, then listen to the concerns and recommendations of those involved as to ho we can strengthen those plans. We communicate regularly and clearly to all staff.

South Yorkshire: A Region of Transformation

South Yorkshire is full of pleasant surprises. Once an industrial heartland, the region has been transformed into a 21st Century playground with a passion for music, sport, and culture.

So, alongside some of the UK’s best shopping, family attractions and nightlife, you’ll find some of UK’s finest Gothic architecture, museums, and Victorian monuments. As with all of Yorkshire, you’re only ever a stone’s throw from magnificent scenery, making it a great place to live.

Throughout Yorkshire, tourism generates more than £9 billion per annum supporting 225,000 jobs.

Barnsley: A Town Reinvented

Barnsley, a historic market town first mentioned in the Domesday Book, proudly showcases its heritage through castles, museums, and cultural centres. Surrounded by ancient villages and historic parkland, and bordering the Peak District National Park, it offers the perfect balance of history, nature, and modern living.

In recent years, Barnsley has undergone award-winning regeneration, transforming its town centre into a destination hub for shopping, entertainment, and dining. The innovative approach even brings health services onto the high street, creating a modern, accessible space for residents and visitors alike.

This transformation is delivering results. Footfall has soared, and according to a recent BBC feature, Barnsley is expected to rival York thanks to its strong retail offer, vibrant activities, and popular events such as the Christmas market and food festival. At the heart of this success is The Glass Works development, which combines independent shops, big-name brands, cultural attractions, and the town’s famous markets in a stunning new setting.

Barnsley’s museums, theatres, stately homes, and heritage sites provide countless opportunities to explore its rich industrial roots in coal mining and glassmaking, while enjoying a thriving cultural scene.

Contact us:

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Leanne Auton by emailing Leanne.Auton@northyorks.gov.uk or calling 07815 028 548 or Penny Keatings Penny.Keatings@northyorks.gov.uk or by calling 07811 411 462 – our recruitment partners from The Resourcing Solution.

Key dates:

Closing date: Midnight Monday 9 February

Longlisting: Friday 13 February

Stage one – Longlist Technical Interview: Monday 23 February – virtually via MS Teams

Please note, candidates shortlisted from the Technical Interview will be invited to complete an Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) & an Executive Scenarios assessment.

Final stages:

Stakeholder Assessment: Monday 9 March (in-person, Oakwell House, Barnsley)

Final Interview - Appointments and Appeals Committee: Tuesday 10 March (in-person, Oakwell House, Barnsley)

Apply:

To apply please provide us with your CV including a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document. Your supporting statement should outline your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for the role.

Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.

It is important that your CV includes: your full contact details (telephone, email, address), full employment history (name of employer, job titles, dates of employment and salary), full education history (qualification, grade, dates and place of study), explanation of any gaps in employment and the contact details of at least two referees including your current / most recent employer indicating whether you consent to us contacting each referee prior to interview. Please also provide details of your current salary and notice period.

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, or belief.

We will not accept applications from agencies.

Your Privacy: South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. Please refer to the Privacy Statement which explains how we use information about you and how we protect your privacy.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE PENSIONS AUTHORITY - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RESOURCES

£93,559 to £102,865 plus benefits and relocation support

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming South Yorkshire Pensions Authority’s next Assistant Director - Resources.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Annual Leave

Flexible Working

Family-related Leave

Pension

Travel and Subsistence

Relocation

Professional Subscriptions

Learning and Development

Staff Discounts

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

ABOUT THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE PENSIONS AUTHORITY

Corporate Objectives

"To deliver a sustainable and cost-effective pension scheme for members and employers in South Yorkshire delivering high levels of customer service and strong investment returns which facilitate stable contributions"

Values

Behaviours

Management Behaviours

Demonstrated by:

ABOUT BARNSLEY SOUTH YORKSHIRE