University of East Anglia

Systems integration improves efficiency for the University of East Anglia pension scheme.

Challenge

The University’s previous pensions system was an amalgam of stand-alone databases, spreadsheets, forms, letter templates and manual records. There was an increasing need for a physical link with the in-house HR and commercial payroll system, to avoid duplicate inputting of basic information and the risk of inconsistencies across systems.

Solution

NorthgateArinso’s integrated ResourceLink HR, payroll and pensions solution.

Benefits

• Complete integration across HR, payroll and pensions.

• The removal of duplicate data entry and storage.

• Extra functionality for faster production of calculations and management reports.

• A solution tailored to match the precise details of the University’s pensions scheme.

Systems integration removes duplication and rekeying “We were looking for a replacement to streamline our previous system and chose ResourceLink from the options available,” says Lorna Jesty, Payroll & Pensions Manager. “What NorthgateArinso offered was a truly integrated HR, payroll and pensions solution. We looked at alternatives but we weren’t aware of any other options that could give us this level of integration.”

There is now one record for each member of staff, removing duplicate inputting. The record can be accessed and updated at any point in an employee’s career with the University, from application and appointment, through their working life, to retirement and being paid as a pensioner.

Configurability to the University’s requirements

Even though systems integration is important, there’s much more to the ResourceLink pensions solution. The UEA Pension Team would recommend it as a stand-alone solution without the integration and are impressed with the extent to which NorthgateArinso understand pension scheme administration, and the way they have tailored ResourceLink to match the University’s scheme.

“This cohesion between our scheme and the new solution is as a result of the tailoring that the UEA Pension Team and NorthgateArinso’s consultants performed prior and during implementation,” says Lorna Jesty. “The consultants asked the right questions about the scheme to get a detailed view of our various calculations, including the more complex ones, and then configured ResourceLink accordingly.

“The system can handle things that are unique to our scheme and it is configured with menus, tasks and processes that are specific to the scheme.”

Organisation description

The University of East Anglia, founded in 1963, directly employs around 3,000 full-time staff and has over 14,000 students. The University’s aim is to provide the highest quality environment for academic excellence, with a supportive ethos. It is consistently in the top five for student satisfaction and many of its staff are very long-serving.

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