Contract: 3mth Fixed Term Contract
Salary: £31,022 (pro-rata)
Working Hours: 20 per week
Location: Hybrid working (based at HQ offices)
Closing Date: 31st July 2026
At Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Behind every firefighter and emergency response is a dedicated team of professionals ensuring our workforce is supported throughout their careers and into retirement.
We are looking for a highly organised and customer-focused Pension Support Officer to join our Finance & Pay team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong administrative skills, attention to detail, and an interest in pensions, payroll, HR, or finance administration
Working closely with the Pensions Manager, you will play a key role in delivering an efficient and compliant pension administration service, helping to ensure our employees receive accurate pension information and support.
The Role:
Support the accurate preparation of pensionable pay information and pension calculations
Assist in ensuring compliance with pension regulations, internal policies, and governance requirements.
Act as a first point of contact for pension-related enquiries from employees and the Essex Pension Fund.
Maintain accurate records and protect sensitive personal information in line with data protection legislation
Support pension projects, statutory returns, and reporting requirements.
Coordinate and administer Local Pension Board meetings, including agendas, minutes, and action tracking
Review and improve pension administration processes to enhance efficiency and customer service.
Work collaboratively with HR, Payroll, and external pension providers to ensure seamless service delivery.
Help maintain pension information and guidance for employees across the organisation.
We are seeking someone who has:
Experience in an administrative, finance, payroll, HR, or pension-related environment
Excellent organisational skills and a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information appropriately
Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications
The ability to work independently, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines
A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement
In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Gain valuable experience within pension administration and governance.
Work with experienced professionals across Finance, HR, and Payroll.
Contribute to meaningful work that supports our workforce throughout their employment journey.
Develop your knowledge through training and professional development opportunities.
How to Apply:
If you are in the LRS Development or Resource Pools:
If you meet the essential criteria listed above, you should express an interest in the role by uploading a statement confirming your LRS status before clicking Apply in the Recruitment Portal.
Other Candidates:
You will be required to submit a CV detailing a minimum of five years employment and / or education history, along with a supporting statement of no more than 750words that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the Person Specification.
You may submit this either as a word document, pdf, or an mp3 (voice note) or mp4 (video), however the word count of your supporting statement should not exceed 750 words no matter which format you choose to present your application.
You may attach separate documents (such as qualifications) should you wish. Your CV and additional documents will be referred to in shortlisting to confirm eligibility (e.g., your current role and any existing qualifications).
Assessment and selection:
Stage 1
Application & shortlisting (assessment of your supporting statement will be made against the essential criteria of the Person Specification)
Stage 2 – Panel Interview
Date TBC
Assessments will be made against positive indicators taken from the Code of Ethics the NFCC Leadership Framework and Essex Fire Safeguarding policies.
NFCC_Leadership_Framework_Final.pdf (nationalfirechiefs.org.uk)
Core Code of Ethics England Guidance May 21 V0.pdf (ukfrs.com)
Essex Fire – Safeguarding Statements
Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact James Durrant at james.durrant@essex-fire.gov.uk
If you have any questions about the process, then please contact recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
Our Culture and Benefits
Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees.
You can find out more about our benefits at https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/recruitment/benefits
Important Information for Firefighter Pension Scheme Pensioners
If you are currently in receipt of a pension from the Firefighter Pension Scheme, please note that taking up this role may affect your pension. Under pension abatement rules, if your earnings in this role, when combined with your pension, exceed your pre-retirement salary (adjusted for inflation), your pension may be reduced.
For further guidance, please contact our Pensions team on 01376 576799 or email mailbox.pensions@essex-fire.gov.uk
Safeguarding
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service.
You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying.
This role will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Disability Confident
We are an equal opportunity, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We value diversity and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Applications are considered solely on merit.
Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact Equality.Diversity@essex-fire.gov.uk
You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies and application processes via www.essex-fire.gov.uk/join-essex-fire