On the anniversary of our first birthday, we’re delighted to welcome Lucy Brewitt to the team as our Pensions Specialist.
Lucy brings over 15 years of pensions experience to Ascend, with a deep understanding of the complexities and regulatory requirements that come with managing pension integration. Her extensive background and genuine passion for getting it right make her a brilliant addition to our growing team.
Stewart Waddell, Director at Ascend Payroll, shared his excitement about the appointment:
“I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Lucy again. Her knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to clients are second to none, and I know she’ll make a fantastic impact here at Ascend.”
Why pensions matter
Pensions is an area of payroll that’s often overlooked, yet it causes some of the biggest headaches for payroll teams – especially when you’re dealing with specialist schemes like Teachers’ Pensions and the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Some payroll providers push the responsibility for pension filing back onto clients. We don’t think that’s right. A managed payroll service should cover all aspects of payroll, and that includes pensions and pension filing.
Pensions are more than just a statutory requirement – they’re a vital part of your employees’ financial wellbeing and your business’s compliance responsibilities.
Working with a payroll provider that truly understands pensions means accurate and timely contributions, avoiding costly errors and ensuring compliance with automatic enrolment rules. It means seamless integration between payroll and pension systems, saving time and reducing admin. Most importantly, it gives you peace of mind that your business stays ahead of regulatory changes and that your employees’ future savings are being managed with care and precision.
Lucy’s experience
Lucy started her career in pensions over 20 years ago when she began working for an independent financial adviser. She gained her Diploma in Financial Planning and progressed through various roles – from administration and paraplanning, into management, and eventually running a large pensions team.
“I have a real passion for all things pensions,” Lucy explains. “The rules and regulations resonate with me and, where most find it very boring, I find comfort in the knowledge that pensions are processed correctly, on time and compliantly.”
For Lucy, workplace pensions aren’t just a box-ticking exercise. “This is what employees will rely on in their later years to provide them with an income, and it is imperative that it’s right.”
She finds the work incredibly rewarding. “Using my experience and the knowledge I have built up over my career to support clients navigate the complex world of pensions and the legislation around this is something that I truly enjoy.”
Why Ascend?
“I love Ascend’s philosophy to always put the client first,” says Lucy. “Client care has always been my number one priority, and being given the opportunity to work with a company that completely aligns with those values is something that I could not pass up.”
In her role as Pensions Specialist, Lucy will be supporting the Ascend team and clients to keep their pension schemes compliant, helping navigate new legislation when it’s introduced, and answering any queries clients have around their pension arrangements.
