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Introduction

We are seeking a detail-oriented Pension Operations Analyst to join the IBM Retirement Funds team. This role supports the day-to-day operational oversight of both our Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) - 401(K) plans for the US and Canada and serves as a key interface with our global custodian, record-keepers, investment managers, and other external service providers. In addition to retirement funds, this team also supports the investment management of the IBM Foundation.

The position focuses on investment operations, cash management and liquidity coordination, oversight, accounting and performance reporting, and regulatory support. This role plays a critical part in executing Fund activity as required, overseeing data and reporting quality, monitoring Investment Manager compliance, and ensuring strong operational controls across our service provider ecosystem. The Analyst will work across both DB and DC plans as well as the Foundation.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Pension Professional, you will have fiduciary responsibility for:

• Day-to-day contact with the custodian, record-keepers, other external service providers, and the IBM Pension investment team - coordinating operational activities and resolving issues
• Manage and oversee cash activity, benefit payments, fundings, de-fundings, and coordination of cash raises to meet liquidity needs
• Monitor positions, cash, and activity at the custodian; investigate and resolve breaks or discrepancies (ex. Compliance breaks, overdrafts and others)
• Review and validate investment accounting, performance, and reporting deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness
• Support DB plan operations, including oversight of asset data, cash flows, reconciliations, and reporting delivered by external providers (corporate actions and other)
• Support DC plan operations, including oversight of daily valuation / NAV processes and fund data.
• Support oversight of investment managers from an operational and compliance perspective, including monitoring guideline compliance reporting, data quality, and issue resolution in coordination with internal stakeholders
• Partners with custodians, record-keepers, investment managers, and internal teams to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent data and reporting
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes related to investment accounting and performance reporting
• Coordinate and support regulatory and plan-related filings, including Form 5500, working with internal partners and external vendors
• Support UBIT tax reporting processes in partnership with external tax providers, including data review, coordination, issue resolution and oversight of State and Federal tax payment processing.
• Liaise with vendors to monitor class actions process and proxy voting process.
• Assist with audits, internal reviews, and fiduciary or governance reporting
• Some administrative support: payment processing, wire tracking etc.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives, control enhancements, and operational efficiency projects
• Maintain and enhance documentation of processes, controls, and procedures

We are seeking:

• A highly engaged and enthusiastic professional who is a team player.
• Someone who is collaborative and takes ownership of outcomes in a fiduciary environment/
• A hands-on operations professional who can seek out higher value outcomes in addition to meeting day-to-day operational needs.
• A professional who values accuracy, controls, and operational discipline, and who looks for ways to improve processes over time
• A flexible person who can work across multiple plans as priorities shift

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

None

Required technical and professional expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field.
• Experience in investment operations, custody, investment accounting, and performance measurement.
• Solid understanding of investments and financial instruments.
• Willingness and ability to develop and maintain proficiency with AI‑assisted tools to enhance analysis, reporting, documentation, and operational efficiency.
• Proven experience managing projects and initiatives end‑to‑end, with the ability to balance priorities, meet timelines, and coordinate across functions.
• Strong attention to detail, with excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate well with both internal partners and external service providers.
• Proficiency in Excel and confidence working with financial and investment data.