The Pensions Regulator - Determinations Panel
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
The Pensions Regulator – Determinations Panel
Up to four members
Location: Brighton (although it is expected the majority of meetings will be held virtually)
£692 per day (time commitment an estimated 8-16 days a year)
Can you help protect the savings of over half the UK’s working population?
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is the independent UK regulator of work-based pension schemes. It is an arms-length public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). TPR works with trustees, employers, and business advisers of occupational pension schemes in the private and public sectors, to help them understand their legal duties and the standards it expects. TPR also works with employers and their advisers to ensure compliance with Automatic Enrolment duties.
As the market shifts towards fewer, larger schemes and new regulatory expectations, and new regulatory powers are due to be introduced by the Pensions Schemes Act 2026, TPR is accelerating its transformation into a more proactive, market facing, and outcomes focused regulator.
The Determinations Panel’s reports to the Chair of TPR, and is responsible for independently determining whether certain regulatory powers should be exercised. It operates separately from other parts of the organisation, including TPR’s case teams, and has its own legal support, enabling it to make independent and impartial decisions.
The Panel has the power to make determinations in relation to a range of activities including scheme funding, imposing fines, and appointing, suspending and prohibiting trustees. It considers evidence and representations from each party before deciding whether to exercise the powers.
These are significant public appointments, offering the opportunity to exercise independent judgment, contribute to high-impact decisions, and support confidence in the pensions system at a time of continued regulatory scrutiny and change.
About the roles
Key responsibilities of the roles include:
- Working with other Panel members to reach fair and reasoned decisions on all matters referred by regulatory case teams to the Panel for decision on the use of powers.
- Analysing significant and complex data/reports.
- Maintaining an independent, objective perspective.
- Providing and receiving feedback on the working arrangements and policies/guidance within the Pensions Regulator, as they affect the Determinations Panel’s activities.
About you
These are demanding and high-profile appointments suited to individuals with senior decision-making experience and strong analytical capability.
You will bring:
- Proven experience of exercising independent judgment, preferably within a statutory, regulatory, legal or complex governance environment
- Demonstrable ability to weigh evidence, assess risk and articulate clear, reasoned decisions
- The personal authority and interpersonal skills to operate effectively with peers from a range of backgrounds
- A strong commitment to public service and the principles of integrity and independence
Candidates with backgrounds in law, accounting, finance, actuarial, investment, regulation or senior commercial leadership are particularly encouraged to apply. Prior experience in pensions is not required; transferable skills from other sectors are welcomed, and training is provided.
We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates.
For more information or to apply please visit vacancies/tpr-determinations-panel, alternatively contact Andrew Timlin or Nick Irow at Hays Executive.
Closing Date: 25th May 2026
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to the recruitment, employment, retention, and development of people with disabilities, and to improving their employment opportunities. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your regulatory or statutory decision-making experience at the top as TPR specifically seeks proven independent judgment experience
📊 Quantify your governance impact: "Led 15 trustee assessments, achieving 92% compliance improvement"
🎯 Emphasise pension scheme or financial services regulatory background as TPR oversees UK's occupational pension schemes
🌐 Showcase your ability to analyse complex data and articulate reasoned decisions as the Panel reviews significant regulatory cases
🤝 Demonstrate your public service commitment and integrity as these are high-profile public appointments protecting workers' pensions
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Led independent regulatory determinations for 12 complex pension scheme cases, achieving 95% stakeholder confidence in decision-making process
- •Analysed £2.8B in pension scheme funding data across 8 regulatory reviews, identifying critical risk factors in 6 cases requiring trustee intervention
- •Exercised statutory powers to suspend 3 underperforming trustees and appointed replacement governance, protecting 15,000 scheme members' savings
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for The Guardian. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to The Guardian
Dear Hiring Manager,
The Pensions Regulator's Determinations Panel represents exactly the type of high-impact public service role where my regulatory decision-making experience and commitment to independent judgment can protect UK workers' pension savings. My background in statutory compliance and complex risk assessment aligns perfectly with TPR's need for Panel members who can analyse significant regulatory cases and exercise independent powers over pension scheme governance.
My background in regulatory environments has equipped me with the analytical capability and personal authority needed to weigh complex evidence, assess scheme funding risks, and make reasoned determinations on trustee appointments and regulatory powers. I understand the critical importance of maintaining objectivity when making decisions that affect occupational pension schemes across both private and public sectors.
Free signup, no card needed. Export to PDF/Word requires a £1.99 trial (14 days).
Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you approach analysing complex pension scheme funding data to make regulatory determinations?
- ›What factors would you consider when deciding whether to suspend or prohibit a trustee?
- ›How do you stay current with pension regulatory changes, particularly the Pensions Schemes Act 2026?
- ›Describe your understanding of Automatic Enrolment compliance requirements.
- ›How would you assess the risk profile of a failing pension scheme?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to make an independent decision despite pressure from stakeholders.
- ›Describe a situation where you had to analyse complex data to reach a critical decision.
- ›Give an example of when you had to maintain objectivity in a contentious regulatory matter.
- ›Tell me about a time you had to articulate a difficult decision to diverse stakeholders.
- ›Describe how you've demonstrated integrity in a challenging governance situation.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to make an independent decision despite pressure from stakeholders.
Describe a situation where you had to analyse complex data to reach a critical decision.