Description

MANAGE INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTIONS AND PROCESSES


Develop and implement plans for the section that support Pension Administration and EPPF’s objectives, ensuring optimisation of current business and workflow processes.
all benefit processing activities in accordance with the benefits as defined in the rules of the Fund and applicable legislation.
Unclaimed benefits and... Evidence of Survival reviews, tracing and verification
Fund valuation and all audits
Provide interpretation advice on the application of the Rules of Fund.
Ensure that audit controls are in place and audit requests are followed up.
Participate on the defined Committees (Benefits Committee (BC), Medical Panel (MP), Management Benefits Committee (MBC)) and take decisions based on formal documentation.
Implement controls and work plans, these may include allocating field trips, establishment of deadlines; control registers and implementation of databases for both ill health administration & social work case registers.
Manage the administration system, checking that accurate record keeping and query management is adhered to.
Manage the query and issues log for the department, monitoring turnaround times and responses to queries.
Compile weekly/monthly statistical reports on the departmental activities and performance.
Compile annual departmental statistical summary of departmental activities.


PROJECT MANAGEMENT


Participate in the Fund’s overall projects as required with continuous focus on Business Processes, system enhancements, omni channel business insight, contributing expertise to enable project objectives to be met.
Draft reports as part of the project deliverables.


PROVIDE INPUT TO THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE SECTION


Contribute ideas for improved service delivery at Management meetings.
Compile comprehensive business reports for this function, highlighting successes and risks in terms of achieving the section’s objectives.
Keep abreast with changes in relevant guidelines and other legislation, to make recommendations where policies and procedures need to be amended.
Develop, enhance and implement processes and procedures that are relevant to the section and enhance service delivery.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to implement new systems and processes, enabling integration to other areas.


OVERSEE SECTION 37C DEPENDENCY INVESTIGATIONS ON DEATH BENEFITS ALLOCATIONS


Manage investigations on death benefit cases confirming dependency with recommended benefits allocation percentages for approval by Benefits Committee.
Monitor that outstanding banking details for payment of approved death benefits are followed up, and confirmed.
Verify that death benefits allocation reports produced are legally compliant with recommendations and reflect minimal errors.
Manage multi-disciplinary case reviews on benefits allocations with Legal Department
Provide a Benefits Allocation Checklist to ensure fair and equitable allocation of death benefits
Monitor that reports are written in required format and settings and information on reports is accurate and logically concluded.
Co-ordinate submission of death benefits allocation reports to management within agreed timelines for before Benefits Committee (BC) meeting for approval.
Participate in Benefits Committee meetings, contributing expertise in order to facilitate decision making.
Oversee enquiries, cooperate and provide information on legal complaints.


OVERSEE THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO GURDIAN CASES, IMPLEMENTATION OF BENEFITS COMMITTEE & MEDICAL PANEL DECISIONS AND REQUESTS/REFFERALS FOR CASE INVESTIGATIONS AND SOCIAL ADVICE FROM OTHER INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS. 


Implementation of decisions, requests and referred cases, with reports and recommendations being submitted to BC, MP& BP or other internal departments.
Ensure compliance with Fund rules and legislation to suspension, addition, termination and reinstatement of beneficiaries (widows and minor children) in compliance.
Monitor guardian changes, Trust advances and payments
Oversee the accurate payment of benefits to the correct beneficiaries.
Monitor the use of children’s instalment lump sum accounts and pension benefits to reduce the number of unnecessary requests for advanced payment.
Monitor customer and stakeholder enquiries are accurately and sensitively resolved or escalated to the appropriate level.


PEOPLE LEADERSHIP  


Manage planning of resource requirements, ensure sufficient capable resources are in place to meet service delivery demands, maintaining the effective and efficient capability of the department.
Build a high performing team where the best people are deployed in the right roles and deliver against strategy.
Ensure that all employees are motivated, developed.
Manage employees’ performance and ensure that their individual and collective performance is of the required standard.
Implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls and delegations of authority for the department, to ensure that accountability for decisions made.
Inspires, aligns and engages employees around the vision and strategy of the Fund, maximising employee engagement and willingness to invest discretionary effort. 


FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT


Forecast annual capital and operational expenses for the section in line with corporate policy.
Manage costs against approved budget.
Investigate methods to contain / reduce costs.


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE


Ensure compliance to procedures and relevant legislation
Provide detailed, accurate information for internal and external audit purposes within specified deadlines.
Action audit issues identified within time frames indicated.
Implement controls within the section which minimize potential risk to stakeholders.
Compile accurate financial statements, reflecting the status of the section.
Maintain sound relationships with key stakeholders within EPPF.
Participate in management forums within EPPF, contributing expertise to enable sound decision making.


CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM


Provide assistance to internal and external stakeholders, as required.
Assist with follow up on issues identified within the section.
Liaise with Eskom employer HR, other Pension Administration staff and Accounts on member and pensioner benefits investigation issues.
Participate in EPPF’s projects, contributing knowledge of benefits investigation processes and requirements.


Requirements

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION/TRAINING


Relevant Bachelor’s Degree. Registered with professional bodies - where applicable


REQUIRED MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE


At least 6 years job-related experience, which should include at least 2 years’ experience in a management role
Knowledge of an African Language is an advantage more

Description

ENGAGE KEY REPRESANTATIVES OF THE CLIENT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CONTEXT AND NEEDS 


Partner with Employer representatives and HR professionals to identify challenges and gaps in service levels, understand their context and requirements in the short and medium term (e.g. changing member demographics, anticipated organisational restructures and frequently asked questions)
Monitor... the accurate completion of claim forms and query trends and provide feedback and recommendations to HR
Develop and secure commitment to member engagement and education plans to meet these needs and share feedback and trends with the Member Experience Manager and specialists to ensure that engagement strategies remain relevant and adapt accordingly.
Keep the representatives and their HR teams informed of any changes in regulations, benefits offerings, claim procedures, processes and service channels, building their capability to respond to frequently asked questions and guide employees in their benefit selection and retirement decision-making
Agree service levels, engagement channels and initiatives and be a key channel of support on an ongoing basis
Regular schedule of goodwill visits and training programs that target HR Practitioners, HR Officers, and HR Assistants.
Respond to all queries and complaints accurately and sensitively.
Support the Business Development Consultant and Investment Consultant on all referrals.


PROACTIVELY ENGAGE MEMBERS AT KEY POINTS IN THEIR JOURNEY   


Plan and conduct member engagement, communication, and information sessions in line with critical points of their journey (onboarding, significant life events, pre and post retirement)
On request, provide accurate, and specialist benefit counselling to members who are pre-retirement in terms of options, tax implications, divorce act, income tax act, pension fund act, etc.
Plan and coordinate member education sessions ensuring their objectives are well defined and their impact tracked.
Conduct presentations and answer queries in a sensitive manner.
Use surveys, site visits and engagement sessions with members to gauge impact of communication received and ensure that the transfer of information is well understood.


SUPPORT AND EXECUTE BROADER MEMBER AND PENSIONER EDUCATION AND FUND PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS   


Work with the Member experience specialists to understand member and pension segments and requirements and design multi-channel, country-wide information functions which attract Pensioners, promote the EPPF and Fund benefits and answer queries appropriately.
Oversee all logistical arrangements regarding the pensioner education functions.


ANNUAL BUDGETS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 


Prepare and motivate for budget to deliver member and client engagement against plans in respective areas of responsibility to deliver to client and member needs
Manage costs against guidelines and ensure alignment of expenditure with the budget.


MEMBER FEEDBACK AND REPORTING


Weekly reporting on all engagements and member feedback
Gather feedback from members and pensioners at engagement session
Input into monthly reports


Requirements 

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION/TRAINING


Relevant Bachelor’s Degree. Registered with professional bodies - where applicable.
Certified Financial Planner qualification preferred, FAIS qualifications an advantage
Regulatory Exam 5


REQUIRED MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE


Strong understanding of Employee Benefits administration processes and related products
At least 3-5 years job-related experience (retirement and financial planning) with a focus on employee benefit client relationship management and benefit consulting.
Working knowledge of focused client service
Proficient in MS office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
Presentation and Facilitation skills 
Valid Driver’s licence and own car
Extensive travelling required for member engagement. more

Full Job Description
1. Install, upgrade, and manage database applications:

Install and maintain the performance of database servers.
Responsible for maintaining the integrity and performance of the Funds databases
Manage database access.
Performance tuning of database systems.
Install, upgrade, and manage database applications.
Diagnose and troubleshoot database errors.
Recommend and... implement emerging database technologies.
Design and implement data extraction and transformation programmes and support with data mining on an as needs basis
Create and manage database reports, visualizations, and dashboards.
Create automation for repeating database tasks.
Be available for on-call support as needed.

2. Maintain data standards and ensure data remains consistent across database

Establish the needs of users and monitor user access and security
Monitor performance and manage parameters in order to provide fast responses to front-end users
Map out the conceptual design for a planned database
Consider both back-end organisation of data and front-end accessibility for end-users
Refine the logical design so that it can be translated into a specific data model
Further refining the physical design to meet system storage requirements
Install and test new versions of the database management system (DBMS)
Maintain data standards, including adherence to the Data Protection Act
Write database documentation, including data standards, procedures and definitions for the data dictionary (metadata)
Informing end users of changes in databases and train them to utilize systems effectively
3. Ensure that storage and archiving procedures are functioning correctly

Ensure that data is stored securely and optimally by controlling access permissions and privileges
Develop, manage and test back-up and recovery plans
Work closely with IT project managers, database and business analysts
Communicate regularly with technical, applications and operational staff to ensure database integrity and security
Commission and install new applications and customise existing applications in order to make them fit for purpose
Manage the security and disaster recovery aspects of the database.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

In-depth knowledge of the application environment
Extensive knowledge of business practices and processes
Knowledge of developing IT related business plan and motivation
Commercial knowledge (budgeting, procurement etc.)
Project lifecycle (SDLC) knowledge
Knowledge of Cobit and /or ITIL
Experience with Linux and Windows Server environments
Extensive experience with design, implementation and utilisation of database technologies (MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL Oracle, MongoDB)
Business Acumen
Presentation skills
Excel Intermediate
Understanding and knowledge of Microsoft Applications
REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION/TRAINING

Relevant Diploma in computer science, computer software/computer systems engineering or related discipline.
Database Administration certification (advantageous)

REQUIRED MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE

At least 3 years job-related experience, preferably within an IT environment.
Experience with financial/investment systems advantageous
Business awareness and understanding of business requirements of IT
An understanding of information legislation, such as the Data Protection Act.
CLOSING DATE: 12 JUNE 2023 more