Meet the team: Data reconciliation
For information
This month we met Dave Caldwell, Data Reconciliation team manager, as we start getting to know the teams in our Pensions Operations department better…
What team do you run?
I run the Data Reconciliation team. The purpose of the team is dual functional: contribution reconciliation and joining the scheme.
Can you tell us what you like about working at USS?
Talented people who carry out their duties to their best of their abilities, individually and collectively.
Tell us about the role of the data reconciliation team, what do they do?
We ensure that the contributions paid to the scheme are correct, including carrying out adjustments where there are errors which have led to a member paying incorrect contributions. We also ensure that the contributions to the USS Investment Builder section of the scheme are processed on time. We’ve hit the dizzy highs of payments in excess of £18 million for one days processing!
The other function of the team is in relation to new member records, the issuing of membership certificates.
We also look after general service requirements ranging from changes to basic data, absence notifications to providing quotations for cover for Death in Service/Ill health during absence, as well as cross border regulation queries.
Who is on your team?
Dave Powell is the Assistant Team Manager. I have three Senior Administrators Bill Hammond, Maureen Dooley and Dave Durney, and two Pensions Administrators Lyndsey Tate and Matthew Forster.
Dave P and the other Senior Administrators have been reconciling contributions for a long time, in fact 45 years between them and they have a wealth of knowledge in this area. Lyndsey and Matthew are following in their stride.
What’s a typical day like for you and your management team?
A typical day starts with the team huddle so that we can manage our workload and the team can discuss or bring to light any issues that they have had exposure to. We also have an opportunity to discuss any continuous improvements. The rest of the day will be spent working through our caseload so that we can meet the service level agreements for the tasks that we’re responsible for.
Looking to the future, what’s in the pipeline?
We are continually looking to streamline our processes through our continuous improvement initiatives both internally and how we work with employers.
Our next major initiative is to address the receipt and payment of contributions electronically.
We work in partnership with employers, do you have any special requests of our clients to make our processes work even more smoothly?!
We’ve recently created a new contributions reconciliation page on the employer portal which provides an overview of member and employer contribution processing. This includes a do’s and don’ts section and frequently asked questions, I would ask employers to visit the page to learn more about what we do and the issues that arise, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls.
If our clients have any specific queries, who should they contact?
In the first instance it would be the team member who looks after your institution. After that myself or Dave Powell.
If the query is not urgent then email datareconciliation@uss.co.uk.
All USS contacts are available from the regular Employer updates and from the Contact USS page of the employer portal.
Their contact details are on the employer portal as well as in the regular employer updates.
And finally! The Quick Fire Favourite Five:
Share with us your favourite:
Film: Any Mad Max film
Musician: I don’t have a favourite musician per se but I have varied listening, anything from Eminem to Queen
Drink: A cup of tea
Food: Anything fattening
Holiday destination, when not here at USS: Australia, in particular Melbourne, it’s a vibe thing… but most importantly my daughter lives there and is our guide.