Client Manager – Investment Strategy (DB Pensions)

We are working with a well-respected UK pensions provider that is continuing to evolve how it engages with employers on investment matters. As part of this evolution, they are looking to appoint a Client Manager with a strong investment background to play a pivotal role in shaping how investment strategy, performance and funding outcomes are communicated to employers and their advisors.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced investment professional who enjoys client interaction but doesn’t want to move away from the technical side of pensions investing. The role sits at the intersection of investment expertise, client engagement and strategic communication.

Why this role exists

The organisation already has a strong investment capability, but they are now looking to strengthen how investment insights are delivered to employers participating in their workplace pension offering.

While employer relationships are managed by a dedicated client relations team, there is a growing need for someone who can act as the investment “bridge” between the investment function and those employers, translating strategy, explaining performance and ensuring investment considerations are clearly understood by non-investment specialists.

This role will sit within the investment management business, working closely with colleagues across the investment, actuarial, operations and client relations teams to ensure that employers and their advisors feel confident, informed and well supported on investment matters.

What makes the role interesting

This position offers a rare combination of investment credibility and client visibility.

You will be:

• Attending employer meetings to explain investment strategy and performance
• Translating complex investment concepts into clear, reassuring messaging
• Helping employers understand the implications of funding strategy, asset allocation and market movements
• Acting as the investment “voice” when engaging with employers and their advisors
• Ensuring feedback from employers and advisors reaches the investment team so it can inform future decisions

You will also play an important role in enhancing the investment reporting framework, helping to improve how information is communicated so it is clear, consistent and meaningful for both internal stakeholders and employers.

Alongside client engagement, you will have opportunities to contribute to prospect activity, thought leadership and industry visibility, helping the organisation continue to strengthen its position within the pensions market.

The environment you’ll be joining

The investment management function works closely with a range of stakeholders including:

• Client relations specialists supporting employer relationships
• Investment professionals responsible for portfolio management
• Investment operations teams ensuring strategies are implemented effectively
• Actuarial colleagues responsible for ALM modelling and funding analysis

The schemes range from smaller arrangements of around £5m to schemes exceeding £3bn, all operating sophisticated investment strategies across public and private markets. To simplify implementation, these strategies are delivered through a set of core investment building blocks which wrap underlying mandates into a manageable and scalable structure.

What success will look like

Success in this role will be measured by the strength of relationships with employers and advisors, and by how effectively investment information is communicated across the organisation.

Over time, you will help ensure that:

• Employers feel well informed and confident in the investment approach
• Feedback from employers and advisors is effectively shared with the investment function
• Communication between the investment and client relations teams becomes more seamless
• Investment reporting continues to evolve in quality and clarity
• Employer satisfaction remains high across service surveys

Who this role could suit

This opportunity is likely to appeal to someone with 10+ years’ experience within DB pensions investments, perhaps coming from an investment consulting, actuarial consulting or fiduciary management background.

You will need a strong understanding of:

• DB funding strategies, ALM and journey planning
• The mechanics behind DB investment strategy design
• A broad range of asset classes typically used within pension portfolios
• Investment performance and funding attribution

Just as important will be your ability to explain complex ideas clearly and confidently, building trust with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Why consider this move

For the right person, this role offers something different from the traditional consulting environment.

It provides the chance to:

• Combine technical investment expertise with meaningful client engagement
• Influence how investment insights are communicated across a large pension organisation
• Work closely with both investment specialists and client-facing teams
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a significant Master Trust solution
• Build visibility across employers, advisors and the wider pensions market

For someone who enjoys the client side of pensions investing but wants greater ownership, influence and variety, this represents a compelling next step.