Trustee

Role Profile-Trustee                                                                                                    

About Us

CSSC is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting health, wellbeing, and community through sport, leisure, and recreation. Established for civil servants and public sector employees, CSSC provides over 120,000 members with access to a wide range of activities, discounts, and experiences that encourage an active, balanced lifestyle. With a proud heritage and a nationwide reach, CSSC continues to champion wellbeing at work and beyond - inspiring people to connect, stay active, and have fun together.

Background

CSSC is looking to recruit an employer-nominated Trustee to the CSSC Pension Scheme Trustee Board.

The CSSC Superannuation Scheme is one of two pension arrangements operated by CSSC. It is a defined benefit (final salary) scheme, where members’ pensions are based on their final salary and length of pensionable service. The Scheme is registered with The Pensions Regulator and approved by HMRC, benefitting from tax relief and operating within a robust regulatory framework.

The Scheme provides a stable, long-term pension arrangement with flexibility for members, including options for additional contributions, lump sums, and dependents’ benefits. As a trustee, you would help safeguard these valuable benefits for CSSC members, supporting good governance and ensuring the Scheme remains sustainable for the future.

The Trustee is appointed by the CSSC Remuneration Committee and is responsible for the following:

The responsibilities of the CSSC Pension Scheme Trustee

·       Establish and implement pension policy and provide direction to the plan administrative agent concerning the application of the plan rules

·       Establish and implement investment policy and provide direction to the plan investment manager concerning the investment of the pension plan assets

·       Consider financial information received from the plan administrative agent, auditor or actuary and adopt the resulting financial statements and actuarial valuation reports

·       Approve the funds to be used for administrative and investment purposes and for the professional services required by the board

·       Hear appeals from plan members and employers of decisions of the plan’s administrative agent as a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal

·       Monitor the performance of the plan investment manager, plan administrative agents and all other agents and service providers

·       Communicate pension plan information and oversee the risk management process through monitoring of reporting

Skills required for the role of Trustee

It is expected that all trustees will have the following skills, knowledge, and experience, and/or will strive to develop them based on an agreed educational plan. CSSC is particularly keen to receive applications from candidates with private sector pensions or investment knowledge and experience, coupled with the following skills: -

·       Understanding of or an interest in pension issues such as actuarial valuations and impacts, trust law and fiduciary responsibility, market and investment dynamics, financial statements, accounting practice and audits

·       Board or committee exposure

·       Exposure to regulations, contractual, and financial issues

·       Ability to synthesize information and make decisions

·       Ability to work cooperatively and provide leadership

·       A high standard of personal integrity, ethics, and respect for board confidentiality

Additional Information

A trustee must be able to commit time to preparing and participating in the duties required of a trustee. The minimum time commitment for a trustee for meeting attendance, including preparation time, is expected to be 2 days a year. Meetings are held in person in London and in 2026 will be in March and July. In other years, the meetings may take place in December/January and July. Depending on a trustee’s level of experience, additional time may need to be considered for ongoing education.