Consultant, Benefits

Overview

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About Northern Trust

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889. Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world's most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role/Department

The Consultant, EMEA Benefits role, based in Dublin or Limerick, supports the EMEA Benefits Manager in overseeing pension and benefit programmes across the region. The position involves collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, managing third-party vendors, ensuring compliance with regulations, and contributing to wellbeing and HR initiatives. Key responsibilities include analysing and harmonising benefit programmes, supporting policy development, handling budgeting and reporting, and serving as a go-to resource for benefit-related queries. The ideal candidate should have strong experience in pensions and benefits, excellent communication and organisational skills, and a background in managing vendors and HR systems, with additional experience in TUPE integration and M&A activities considered desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive analyses of benefit programmes for integration and harmonisation, providing well-founded recommendations.
• Support the ongoing development of EMEA Wellbeing initiatives, collaborating with the Senior Benefits Consultant to design and implement internal wellbeing programmes.
• Manage third-party vendor relationships in alignment with the Corporate Vendor Management Policy, including monitoring performance against SLAs, liaising with procurement and legal teams, and resolving complex issues with vendors.
• Assist in managing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders—including HR Partners, Finance, Procurement, insurance companies, third-party administrators, consultants, and employees—to ensure quality service delivery, contractual compliance, and prompt resolution of issues.
• Collaborate closely with the Employee Relations team to ensure benefit implications are properly considered within policies and procedures, offering recommendations to enhance effectiveness and resolve challenges.
• Work in partnership with HR Services, payroll, and HR systems teams to establish effective procedures for day-to-day administration of benefits, including new office setup, benefit changes, and recurring processes.
• Provide recommendations for the improvement and resolution of issues related to existing procedures and practices.
• Research policies, regulatory requirements, and market competitiveness pertaining to pension and benefit programmes for new and existing locations, considering prevailing market practices and trends, and supplying actionable insights.
• Ensure all pension and benefit programmes comply fully with legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and deliver management information in line with regional and corporate standards.
• Assist the EMEA Benefits Manager with annual budgeting, strategic planning, and monthly budget reviews.
• Support the daily administration of EMEA benefit programmes.
• Act as a subject matter expert and primary point of contact for benefits-related inquiries.
• Address escalated participant concerns with professionalism and efficiency.
• Develop, review, and manage communication programmes, including written materials, website content, summary plan descriptions, plan documents, and other relevant documentation.

Skills/Qualifications

• Experience / understanding of pension, wellbeing, and benefits programmes across EMEA
• Knowledge of global pension and benefit frameworks
• Understanding of regulatory requirements and reporting
• Experience managing third-party vendors
• Intermediate MS365 Word/Excel skills
• Budgeting experience or knowledge
• Strong consulting and client service skills at all organisational levels
• Familiarity with HRIS (e.g. Workday)
• Understanding of flexible benefits and platforms
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Exceptional organisational skills
• Independent work capability
• Skilled at facilitating discussions and decision-making
• Good knowledge of pensions and pension administration
• Experience in multi-country operations
• TUPE integration experience desirable
• M&A and due diligence exposure beneficial

Working With Us

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve. Join a workplace with a greater purpose. We'd love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world's most admired and sustainable companies. Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people. Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.

Details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Human Resources

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