2024 was our Pensions Audit team’s biggest year ever. By no small margin.
Their portfolio of 326 pension schemes was up 57% from the year before. They’ve still never missed a deadline. And their client feedback and advocacy scores remain “world-class”.
So, last night, it came as no great surprise that they were once again crowned Pensions Accountancy Firm of the Year at the 2025 Pensions Age Awards.
This is the team’s fourth time scooping the title, following victories in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and we caught up with the team to find out more about how they’ve raised the bar this year, and what they’ve got planned for the future.
COLLABORATION HAS BEEN KEY
Since auditing standards ISA 315 and ISA 240 were revised in 2022, pensions audit teams have had to handle more work than ever before. And, depending on the auditor’s approach, this threatened a more cumbersome, costly experience for their clients.
The legislation is still here, as is the market’s needs for compliance, excellence and cost efficiencies. So, CP’s Pensions Audit team has highlighted the importance of working closely with third parties – particularly administrator firms – and maintaining strong relationships with them throughout the year.
These relationships mean we can document their systems as a whole, tailor our approach to specific schemes, and create efficiencies that save trustees substantial time and costs.
We have regular catch-ups with these admin firms to flag any issues, make sure timetables are in place and hold each other accountable for delivery on our shared schemes.
The impact has been fantastic, and it’s helped take the team’s service and client experience to new heights.
FERN FARNSWORTH, Pensions Audit Director, commented:
“Our specialist pensions audit team work with our clients year round, so rest assured, whoever you are dealing with is an expert. The whole team truly has a passion for pensions and this shines through in their work, daily. Collaboration is key to a successful working relationship and by expanding on our communications with administration firms, this enables us to really drive the process, so the Trustees don’t have to. We have a great team and I’m excited to see what the next year brings.”
PROTECTING FUTURES
The team has also been recognised as industry leaders by a number of trustee panels, including Dalriada.Together’s Audit Panel (one of two firms), IGGnite’s Audit Advisory Panel (one of three firms) and the Pension Protection Fund’s (PPF) Audit Services Panel (one of four firms), which we’ve been on for over ten years.
These positions enable us to use our experience to make positive changes in the pensions industry, streamlining our processes, creating efficiencies for clients and members and triggering a whole host of long-term benefits for all parties.
So, if you or anyone you know has a pension scheme that needs auditing, whatever the size, whatever the sector, you won’t find a more well-renowned, well-oiled team to deal with.
