Welcome

Dear prospective applicant, 

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy for our new Director of Financial Wellbeing Services. 

The Pensions Board provides retirement services to those who work or minister for the Church of England.  The Pensions Board is both a regulated pension provider and a charity providing housing, and now other services, to those we serve.  From 2026, the Church of England is making a big investment to transform the support to its clergy through practical support and new products (e.g. a church-backed mortgage offer). 

What we are trying to do here is akin to diverting an asteroid. So how do you divert an asteroid? 

A small nudge years before it reaches you can completely alter its course.  But leave it until its right on top of you, and it requires enormous effort to shift.  Retirement planning is a bit like this – informed decisions through life can totally change the outcomes.  It’s a bigger challenge for stipendiary clergy in the Church of England who are required to reside in the Vicarage through their ministry, making retirement planning and home ownership harder.  The Pensions Board operates the Church’s clergy retirement housing service which offers subsidised rental housing for those who need it.  The great news is the Church is funding that for the future.  But, it’s dealing with the asteroid when it arrives.  Our plan is to offer a range of new services and support to clergy throughout ministry to enable more choice in retirement plans.

We tested these ideas with the Church and received overwhelmingly enthusiastic support.  You can read about these ideas, and the response, at: www.churchofengland.org/enablingchoice/

Now it’s time to bring this to life in a new service delivery arm within the Pensions Board.  That’s where this role comes in.  The Director of Financial Wellbeing Services will head up a completely new team charged with delivering these products and services.  You are not doing this alone.  We already have an implementation project team in place to lay the groundwork.  You will also be working with me and some brilliant Exec colleagues, notably Natasha (our Director of Strategy & Engagement) and Tom (our Director of Housing).  We have a strong non-executive trustee Board and Housing Committee bringing expertise, support and challenge.

So what about you?  We do not have a set idea about the role or background from which our new Director will come.  You might have a background in financial services, or perhaps a relevant advice service in the charitable sector, or something else.  We are looking for someone who will strive for excellence for the new service; will work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders across the church and respect others; will ensure that our new service operates with the highest standards of integrity and shows compassion.  These are the values we seek to inhabit across the Pensions Board.  We are looking for a colleague who is excited by the vision we’ve set out in Enabling Choice and wants to be part of making it a reality.  We are looking for someone who can shape, lead and manage this new team and play a full part as a leader in the Pensions Board.

The Pensions Board is committed to inclusion, and with this being a brand new role with a new team, we are genuinely open to different options for how this could be configured.  We would consider the appointment on a full time, part-time, or job share basis.  We welcome those with caring responsibilities, valuing the insights they bring.  Knowledge or awareness of the Church of England and/or the challenges particular to parish clergy and their families would be helpful in the role because that’s the client group you will be serving.  The Board is proudly part of the Church of England, but there is no faith requirement attaching to this role.

I’m look forward to appointing a fantastic colleague to join us and head up this exciting new set of services.  Please do take the opportunity to find out more about the role, ask questions, and think carefully about whether it might be for you.  And if it is, I look forward to receiving your application.

With best wishes,

John Ball

Chief Executive, Pensions Board