Head of Finance Valuations & Investment Control

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

In your role as Head of Finance Valuations & Investment Control you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to lead the Finance Valuations and Control function for the Investment Segment, with accountability for delivering robust, accurate and well-governed asset valuations and financial control of the scheme’s private investments.

The role provides strategic leadership to the team, building capability and ensuring a high-performing function that supports effective decision-making, regulatory compliance and external reporting.

As a member of the Finance Leadership Team, it contributes to the broader leadership, strategy and continuous improvement of Finance

As a trusted part of the Finance team you will be responsible for:

• To direct, provide and oversee the required investment valuations capability that ensures materially accurate and defendable valuations to all stakeholders and other interested parties.
• Lead the Fair Value Committee (FVC) process end-to-end including reviews of assets and associated valuations, preparation of valuation reports including review with various parties across USS
• Provide subject matter expertise and contribute to key FVC discussions and decisions with constructive challenge and support to senior management, ensuring decisions are made in full knowledge of the facts
• Manage the valuations conducted by the internal Finance Valuations team and review and challenge the valuations of the external valuation advisors, with a primary focus on the performance of quarterly (and occasional ad hoc) valuations of illiquid fixed income and equity asset investments
• Oversight and performance of periodical deep dives into asset valuations
• Responsible for the USS valuation policy and framework covering both public and private markets and provide input, guidance and challenge to all valuation related matters across USS
• Provide strategic oversight and leadership on the valuation and control implications of new scheme products and structures, ensuring that they are fully reviewed with matrix support from Group Finance functions (particularly Tax and Financial Control) to ensure that they can be introduced and maintained in an efficient and well-controlled manner, providing deal advice and focusing on value-add services
• Drive collaboration with Financial Control, Risk and Operations functions, the development of an efficient and well-controlled scheme accounting infrastructure enabling control and analysis of scheme asset value/performance to underpin external reporting accuracy
• Responsible for preparation of defined contribution (DC) reporting, input to regulatory statements, swing pricing calculations and updates to associated DC committees
• Oversight of risk reporting in relation to asset valuations and investment controls
• Reviewing scope, structure, internal modelling capability, systems and frequency of valuations, implementing enhancements as required
• Oversee and manage external valuer relationships across illiquid and property assets. Work with procurement lead on contract renegotiations / RFPs and support forecasting activities with the Head of Investment FP&A and Finance Business Partnering
• Responsible for the Finance Valuation and Control teams including appropriate structure, team size, skill set and staff development and training
• Represent Finance Valuations and Control at senior committees as required including, but not limited to, Group Audit and Risk Committee, USSIM Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the DC Product Governance Committee.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders, including auditors on all matters relating to valuations and investment controls
• Execute additional tasks to meet department related…