The Pension Fund Investment Strategy and Management Course for HR Professionals, offered by Oxford Training Centre, is designed to equip human resources personnel with the technical knowledge and strategic oversight skills required to manage pension-related investments effectively. As pension funds become increasingly complex and subject to stringent governance expectations, HR professionals are now more accountable for the design, monitoring, and compliance of employee retirement investment strategies.
Recognised within the domain of contemporary Human Resources Training Courses, this course provides an integrated understanding of investment principles, fiduciary responsibilities, governance structures, and risk management practices relevant to occupational pension schemes. It empowers HR professionals to confidently oversee pension portfolios, liaise with financial advisors and trustees, and ensure alignment with long-term employee benefit commitments.
This programme delivers in-depth instruction on asset allocation, pension scheme design, defined benefit and defined contribution plans, and the mechanics of pension fund performance reporting. Participants will also gain a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing retirement fund oversight, helping them align internal policies with evolving industry standards.
Objectives
- Develop core competencies in pension fund design, investment oversight, and governance for HR roles.
- Enhance understanding of how to build and manage effective retirement fund investment strategies that serve the long-term interests of employees and employers.
- Enable HR professionals to assess, report on, and contribute to decision-making around pension asset allocation, fund performance, and trustee engagement.
- Provide practical tools for managing defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes within organisational contexts.
- Introduce critical frameworks for pension fund regulatory compliance, performance evaluation, and fiduciary risk mitigation.
- Improve financial literacy among HR staff responsible for liaising with investment consultants, actuarial professionals, and external pension fund managers.
- Build awareness of ethical investment principles, ESG criteria, and regulatory expectations for responsible pension scheme governance.
- Help professionals manage the administration, forecasting, and communication of pension-related decisions to employees and stakeholders.
Target Audience
- HR professionals and benefits managers responsible for overseeing retirement plans and pension funds.
- Senior HR executives accountable for employee benefit fund investment strategy and policy development.
- Compensation and benefits specialists working on long-term incentive and pension plan structures.
- L&D and finance-aligned HR professionals who wish to gain expertise in pension asset management training.
- HR business partners supporting trustees or management committees in reviewing investment performance and governance.
- Professionals engaged in corporate retirement planning, seeking a certified pension fund training program for HR professionals.
- HR officers managing or contributing to the administration of occupational pension schemes.
- Staff involved in reporting, auditing, or compliance regarding pensions and post-employment benefits.
How Will Attendees Benefit?
- Gain comprehensive knowledge of HR responsibilities in pension fund administration and investment, including policy oversight and reporting requirements.
- Improve capability to work alongside investment advisors and legal teams in pension fund governance, audits, and regulatory filings.
- Understand the structure and strategy of defined benefit and defined contribution plans from an HR management perspective.
- Learn to critically assess pension plan health, funding status, and investment performance metrics in HR reporting.
- Strengthen risk management practices by exploring the investment strategy and fiduciary responsibilities for HR managers.
- Build strategic communication approaches to inform employees of pension updates, risks, and entitlements.
- Learn to align investment practices with broader corporate values, including ESG integration and ethical investing in pension schemes.
- Expand cross-functional skills to collaborate with finance and legal teams in overseeing retirement benefits effectively.
- Earn recognition through a certified HR pension investment strategy course that supports career progression into senior HR or governance roles.
Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to Pension Fund Strategy and Management in HR
- Overview of HR’s evolving role in pension fund oversight
- Principles of retirement fund investment from a non-financial background
- Understanding employer pension contributions and fund sustainability
Module 2: Pension Scheme Structures and Plan Types
- Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution schemes: strategic implications
- Occupational pension schemes vs. personal pensions: HR’s role in alignment
- Employer plan design, employee options, and compliance considerations
Module 3: Fundamentals of Pension Fund Investment Strategy
- Basics of institutional investment: risk, return, and time horizon
- Core asset classes in pension funds: equities, bonds, property, alternatives
- Long-term investment planning and funding objectives
Module 4: HR Governance and Fiduciary Oversight
- Governance responsibilities of HR in retirement fund strategy
- Pension plan board interaction, trustee communication, and reporting protocols
- Legal and fiduciary duties in pension administration and investment policy
Module 5: Investment Performance and Risk Management
- Metrics for measuring pension fund returns, volatility, and drawdowns
- Scenario planning and stress testing for retirement fund resilience
- Risk tolerance, time horizons, and funding ratio analysis
Module 6: Regulatory Frameworks and Pension Compliance
- Overview of pension fund regulatory compliance in HR practice
- Auditing, documentation, and plan transparency obligations
- Managing compliance risks and ensuring statutory alignment
Module 7: Employee Communication and Education Strategies
- Transparent and ethical communication of pension entitlements
- Financial wellness initiatives and employee retirement literacy
- Training on employee pension scheme management for HR staff
Module 8: Investment Committee Participation and Strategy Review
- HR’s interface with investment committees, fund managers, and actuaries
- Understanding actuarial reports, funding gaps, and liability analysis
- Pension strategy and fiduciary responsibilities for HR managers
Module 9: Ethical, ESG, and Responsible Investing in Pensions
- Introduction to ESG criteria and their relevance to HR-managed pensions
- Aligning organisational values with retirement fund investments
- Reviewing governance trends in ethical pension plan structuring
Module 10: Succession, Communication, and Post-Retirement Integration
- Supporting phased retirement and post-employment financial planning
- Internal coordination of retirement fund updates with talent management
- HR’s leadership role in retirement planning and fund governance initiatives