Our pension audit specialists use their extensive experience to benchmark against sector best practice. A full range of inhouse-support includes actuaries, asset valuers, cyber, and tax specialists.

Pension scheme trustees need to respond to changing regulation and evolving risks. A full-service approach to assurance helps trustees navigate key challenges beyond statutory requirements; to helping you avoid critical reputational risks, such as the potential loss of member data.

Our assurance service will give you full confidence in your scheme’s governance.

  • Modern audit methodology
  • Benchmarked insight
  • Sector developments
  • Modern audit methodology
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    Focus on key risks in your sector supported by the latest pension-specific digital tools.
  • Benchmarked insight
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    Large client base enables industry-wide comparison of governance structures and our knowledge of peer-to-peer scheme best practice will help to keep you abreast of emerging issues
  • Sector developments
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    Expert guidance that keeps you aware of changes across the pensions sector in a wide range of areas
Neil Knights
Partner, Head of Pensions
Neil Knights

Why Grant Thornton

We are one of the largest providers of audit services to the sector, delivering to trustee boards of all types of pension schemes: DB, DC, Hybrid, Master Trusts, and ones with Common Investment Funds, including complex schemes with assets of over £50 billion.

135
pension team
450+
covenant assignments
330+
scheme audits

21
of the top 100 UK schemes in our portfolio
5
UK pension centres of excellence
 

The occupational pension scheme market has been one of our focus sectors for more than 30 years. It means we have built teams with the depth of experience that you – and your Trustee boards – expect and require.  

Our pensions industry expertise is much broader than audit, and we have specialists who work to deliver holistic services to trustees, sponsors and key stakeholders, in areas such as valuations, actuarial, cyber security, internal audit, as well as employee benefits consultancy and investment tax advisory and compliance services for pension funds. 

 

You will also receive value-adding comments and observations benchmarked to best practice, as well as updates on emerging issues relevant to your scheme.

Pensions advisory services

Supporting our pensions audit clients beyond compliance

The challenge
Our client previously had a minimum compliance audit that provided no insightful recommendations to improve internal controls arising from the audit process.
The solution
Our team identified investment managers had been over‑charging the scheme and there was a duplication of effort between the in-house team and scheme advisers.
The result
New risk management processes were implemented to provide greater visibility over mitigating controls for the Trustee, ensuring they operate as expected.

Testimonials

“My team and I have dedicated our careers to the pensions sector because we enjoy helping trustees with their governance responsibilities. I'm very proud of the quality of both our audits and our client service experience. We offer the best value for trustees seeking a quality scheme audit.”

Neil Knights Partner, Head of Pensions

"Schemes are facing evolving cyber threats on a constant basis. Key to protecting the information of members and continuity of critical services is understanding cyber risk, whether it be in the supply chain or through in-house functions and undertaking proportionate actions to mitigate this.”

James Arthur Head of Cyber Security

"We have a successful track record of delivering high quality assurance on pension scheme risk and control frameworks. Combining deep knowledge and experience of auditing pension schemes of all sizes with specialists across all risk types we provide the comfort demanded by Scheme Trustees.”

David Cuss Managing Director, Internal Audit