Our Services > Audit & Accounts >

Occupational pension schemes

The audit of occupational pension schemes is increasingly becoming a specialist area. At Hillier Hopkins, we have a dedicated and experienced team. Trustees appreciate the need for auditors who are experienced in this sector and understand the issues involved. We deliver extremely cost effective audit services to pension schemes and currently act for over 100 pension schemes with funds up to £100m. We can offer the following service:

• Accounts preparation
• Audit
• Assessing the employers covenant
• Tax Compliance
• Guidance to pension scheme trustees

Proactive

We have extensive contact with actuaries and administrators as well as independent trustees and hence can provide an effective advice service in addition to our role as auditors. Pensions legislation is becoming increasingly complex and we can keep you up to date with new developments and provide support and advice on a variety of issues.

Our membership of both the Pensions Research Accountants Group (PRAG) and the National Association of Pensions Funds (NAPF) provides us with timely and up to date information on the latest developments, and we will endeavour to swiftly advise you of any matters, which may affect your scheme. We shall also advise you of any changes in tax legislation that may have an impact on the scheme. We will provide proactive assistance and advice regarding the presentation of the annual financial statements to ensure that these are in line with current best practice.

Experienced and Trained Teams

Our team has many years experience, ensuring you receive continuity of audit personnel from year to year and enabling our staff to have a good understanding of your scheme. We shall agree a timetable with you to ensure that the audited accounts are made available to the members within seven months of the scheme year-end, as required by the Pension Act 1995, or earlier if required.

To provide guidance and support to pension scheme trustees.

Trustees Responsibilities
The role of the pension scheme trustee is an onerous one. The Pensions Act 1995 and subsequent statutory regulations impose complex and wide-ranging requirements, enforced by The Pensions Regulator. Trustees have the primary responsibility for managing the affairs of pension schemes, as well as safeguarding the scheme’s assets and the interests of the members. They are subject to civil, even criminal, penalties for breaches of the Pensions Act, so it is vital that they understand their responsibilities. Many trustees are not professional pension experts and may feel daunted by the sheer scale of the regulations. We are able to provide guidance to assist trustees in gaining a better understanding of their important role.

Newsletter

Click here to download our specialist newsletter Pension Line

The Pension Team:

Phil Collins (View profile)

"We inherited 3 pension schemes in 2000 following a business acquisition. Hillier Hopkins were appointed auditors to these schemes shortly afterwards and helped us sort out numerous problems that had accumulated over the years. They also helped us with the provision of accounting services for our main pension scheme at a time when our internal resources were particularly stretched.

The same principal and manager have been working with us throughout this period, which is very reassuring for us, and they have proved efficient and effective throughout. Overall, we are delighted with the service we have received and will definitely consider them for any similar work in the future."

Geoff Mellor – Whitbread Pension Group