Jobs › Marsh McLennan

Pension Administration - Senior Specialist

Marsh McLennan · Chicago, IL · $74,000–$148,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a project you managed with tight deadlines and many parties.

What they are checking: Whether they can lead projects as a project manager, which this role requires.

How do you explain a complex calculation result to a client who is upset?

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm and clear with clients when emotions run high.

Tell me about a mistake you caught in your own or someone else's work.

What they are checking: Whether they have the attention to detail that pension benefits require.

What would you do

A client asks for work that is outside the agreement. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can protect the budget and scope while keeping the client happy.

You find missing data for a group of participants right before a deadline. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they escalate early and find workable fixes instead of guessing.

How do you keep a project on budget when the scope keeps shifting?

What they are checking: Whether they track work closely and raise budget issues early.

About the work

Walk me through the data work involved in a pension plan termination.

What they are checking: Whether they understand participant data cleanup, benefit verification and annuity purchase steps.

How do you review a pension calculation to make sure it follows the plan document?

What they are checking: Whether they read plan provisions carefully and test calculations against them.

What is a lump sum window, and what are the key steps to run one?

What they are checking: Whether they understand common risk transfer projects and their administrative steps.

How do you test a new calculation tool before using it for live participants?

What they are checking: Whether they protect accuracy by testing tools carefully before relying on them.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Marsh McLennan.

Company: Marsh Description: Pension Administration Senior Specialist What can you expect? • Be a leading member of the Calculations and Special Projects team and have an influence on the success and growth of Business and Client Services. • The Senior Specialist is responsible for leading special pension administration projects, including serving as the data manager for plan termination projects. The Senior Specialist will also assist with completion of pension calculations and the review of plan documents and calculation tools related to special projects. What is in it for you? • Work for a global company with excellent benefits and a dynamic culture • Excellent growth/advancement opportunity • Work with collaborative, intelligent, solutions-focused colleagues who truly care about the work, and each other, while maintaining work-life balance We will count on you to: • Maintain a high level of professionalism and sense of urgency to ensure client expectations are consistently met while acting as a primary contact with clients and Marsh consultants • As Project Manager, lead pension calculation, data, and risk transfer projects and act as point of contact to clients, administration and processing teams • Manage special project tasks to ensure project tracks to budget, that project is completed per the terms of the client agreement and that any out-of-scope work is identified • Lead and attend team and project calls. Communicate across various teams (internal /external). • As a data manager, oversee, monitor and review all aspects of the data project to include: • Identify critical data elements for clean up and plan termination projects. • Develop data request for all phases of plan terminations based on plan provisions. • Draft database specifications detailing project needs including mapping for data imports/extracts • Analyze findings and impact of missing data • Track and update data corrections received at various times from various sources. • Understand downstream impact of data updates and missing elements and communicate to interested parties • Reconcile population at key points throughout the project • Calculate and review qualified and non-qualified benefits, including but not limited to QDROs, 409A, employee contributions, late retirement increases and RMDs. • Keep updated on current government regulations/IRS Code • Develop and maintain access-based or excel-based calculation checkers for ongoing and special project clients What you need to have: • Bachelor’s degree preferred • 5-7 years of experience in defined benefit administration • Prior experience with project management and client relationship management • Strong proficiency with MS Excel and Word (proficiency in MS Access desired) • Excellent problem solving and analytical skills; proven ability to identify, research, follow up and resolve issues or problems encountered through project work • Excellent oral and written communication skills What makes you stand out: • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written • Strong analytical, research, problem solving skills and attention to details • Strong project management skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize time effectively • Ability to handle difficult client situations and derive strategic solutions Accepting applications through October 23 Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X. Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, veteran status (including protected veterans), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by contacting reasonableaccommodations@marsh.com. The applicable base salary range for this role is $74,000 to $148,000. The base pay offered will be determined on factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements. Decisions will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the base salary, this position may be eligible for performance-based incentives. We are excited to offer a competitive total rewards package which includes health and welfare benefits, tuition assistance, 401K savings and other retirement programs as well as employee assistance programs. Applications will be accepted until: November 6, 2026

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