Pension Fund Financial Reporting Training Course

Duration 10 days 20 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Pension Fund Accountants, Financial Reporting Managers and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-A-130

Before you join: Participants should understand double-entry accounting, trial balances, financial statements and basic investment terminology such as bonds, equities, pooled funds and derivatives.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Pension funds must produce financial statements that explain stewardship of members’ assets, funding obligations, investment results, benefit payments and administrative costs. Reporting teams face difficult judgement areas: fair valuing unquoted investments, reconciling custodian records, accounting for contributions and benefit payments, presenting actuarial information, and meeting trustee, regulator, auditor and member reporting requirements. Errors can affect funding decisions, regulatory filings, audit opinions and member confidence.

This course develops the reporting skills needed to prepare and review pension fund financial statements under IAS 26 and related IFRS requirements. Participants work through defined benefit and defined contribution plan reporting, financial instrument measurement under IFRS 9, fair value disclosures under IFRS 13, cash flow reporting, investment disclosures, actuarial valuation information and financial statement close procedures. The course also distinguishes pension fund reporting from employer accounting for pension obligations under IAS 19.

Participants use reporting packs, investment schedules, trial balances, custodian reconciliations and actuarial reports to build financial statement components and supporting disclosures. Short technical briefings are followed by case-based analysis, group review of reporting judgements, reconciliation work and close-process simulations. Each participant leaves with a pension fund financial reporting file containing reporting templates, disclosure checklists, reconciliation models and a structured close plan that can be adapted to their fund.

The course suits finance, accounting, investment operations, reporting and governance professionals working for pension funds, retirement schemes, asset managers, trustees, administrators and public-sector retirement arrangements.

What you will be able to do

  • Prepare pension fund financial statements using IAS 26 presentation and disclosure requirements
  • Distinguish defined benefit and defined contribution reporting treatments and disclosures
  • Apply IFRS 9 classification, measurement and impairment requirements to pension fund investments
  • Produce IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy disclosures for quoted and unquoted assets
  • Reconcile custodian records, investment manager reports and general ledger balances
  • Evaluate actuarial valuation reports for financial statement disclosures and funding information
  • Design a controlled pension fund financial close timetable and evidence pack
  • Review and present a complete pension fund annual financial reporting package

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Prepare pension fund accounts with clearer judgement trails and supporting evidence
  • Interpret actuarial valuation information without performing actuarial calculations
  • Challenge investment valuations, fee calculations and custodian reconciliation differences
  • Contribute confidently to year-end audit discussions and trustee reporting meetings
  • Build a reusable reporting file for annual accounts and interim reporting

For your organisation

  • Improves accuracy of pension fund financial statements and regulatory reporting submissions
  • Reduces unresolved differences between administrators, custodians, managers and general ledger records
  • Strengthens audit evidence for valuations, contributions, benefits and expenses
  • Improves trustee visibility of investment results, funding information and reporting judgements
  • Creates more consistent close procedures across pension funds and reporting periods

Course modules

20 modules over 10 days

Participants can identify the reporting responsibilities, users and information needs of a pension fund.

  • Pension fund reporting objectives for trustees, members, regulators and auditors
  • Fiduciary accountability distinguished from employer pension expense reporting requirements
  • Annual reporting cycle from transaction processing through audited financial statements
  • Key reporting users and their decisions based on fund accounts
  • Trustee responsibilities for approving financial statements and annual reports
  • Reporting policies aligned with governing rules, legislation and accounting standards

Participants can map pension plan structures and account for their principal transaction flows.

  • Defined contribution arrangements and individual member account accumulation mechanics
  • Defined benefit arrangements, funding promises and pooled asset administration
  • Hybrid plans combining defined benefit and defined contribution features
  • Contribution flows from employers, employees, transfers and special funding payments
  • Benefit payments, transfers out, annuity purchases and death benefits
  • Plan rules translated into accounting events and reporting classifications

Participants can apply IAS 26 requirements to pension fund financial statement preparation.

  • IAS 26 scope for retirement benefit plan financial reporting
  • Defined contribution plan statements of net assets available for benefits
  • Defined benefit plan reporting of net assets and actuarial present value
  • Disclosure of significant accounting policies, investments and funding information
  • IAS 1 presentation requirements pending IFRS 18 effective-date transition
  • Local pension regulation mapped against IAS 26 reporting requirements

Participants can design reporting data structures that support pension fund disclosures and reconciliations.

  • Pension fund chart of accounts structured by asset and liability class
  • Investment coding for asset class, currency, manager and fair value level
  • Transaction source mapping from administrators, custodians and investment managers
  • Data ownership matrix for balances, reconciliations and disclosure inputs
  • Materiality thresholds applied to account analysis and reporting adjustments
  • Reporting pack design linking trial balance accounts to note disclosures

Participants can classify and measure common pension fund investments under IFRS 9.

  • IFRS 9 classification of debt, equity and fund investments
  • Fair value through profit or loss for managed investment portfolios
  • Amortised cost assessment for qualifying debt investment holdings
  • Accrued interest, dividends receivable and investment income recognition
  • Foreign exchange gains and losses on overseas investment positions
  • Derivative contracts, collateral balances and settlement-date accounting decisions

Participants can assess fair value evidence and prepare valuation disclosures under IFRS 13.

  • IFRS 13 fair value definition and principal market assessment
  • Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 hierarchy classifications
  • Quoted prices, broker quotes and pricing-service valuation evidence
  • Unquoted private equity valuation using discounted cash flow techniques
  • Property fund valuations, valuation dates and independent valuer reports
  • Valuation adjustment governance for stale prices and late manager statements

Participants can account for investment returns and distinguish fund expenses from investment costs.

  • Interest income calculated using effective interest rate principles
  • Dividend income recognition based on entitlement and ex-dividend dates
  • Realised and unrealised gains analysed by investment asset class
  • Investment manager fees, performance fees and carried interest calculations
  • Transaction costs recognised according to relevant investment measurement basis
  • Investment return disclosures reconciled to portfolio performance reports

Participants can record and reconcile contributions, benefits and transfer transactions accurately.

  • Employer and employee contribution recognition using plan contribution schedules
  • Contribution receivables, late payments and doubtful collection assessments
  • Member benefit payments reconciled to administrator payroll files
  • Transfer values between pension arrangements and receiving schemes
  • Unclaimed benefits, suspended payments and deceased member balances
  • Contribution and benefit analytics identifying unusual period movements

Participants can interpret actuarial reports and extract appropriate pension fund disclosures.

  • Actuarial valuation purpose, funding basis and reporting date alignment
  • Present value of promised retirement benefits under IAS 26
  • Demographic assumptions including mortality, retirement and member turnover
  • Economic assumptions covering discount rates, inflation and salary growth
  • Funding surplus or deficit explained through actuarial movement analysis
  • Actuary report disclosures distinguished from management accounting estimates

Participants can account for non-investment balances and assess their reporting risks.

  • Bank balances reconciled to cashbooks, bank statements and custodian accounts
  • Receivables analysed by contributions, investment income and settlement status
  • Payables classified between benefits, expenses, taxes and investment settlements
  • Prepayments and accruals supported by contracts, invoices and calculation schedules
  • Cash flow statement preparation using IAS 7 classification principles
  • Liquidity monitoring linked to benefit payment and collateral requirements

Participants can resolve differences between fund records, custodians and investment managers.

  • Three-way reconciliation between general ledger, custodian and manager records
  • Holdings differences investigated using trade dates and settlement dates
  • Price exceptions analysed against valuation policies and independent sources
  • Corporate actions checked for dividends, splits, rights and mergers
  • Foreign currency positions reconciled using approved period-end exchange rates
  • Reconciliation ageing report escalated through defined issue ownership

Participants can assemble core pension fund financial statements from validated reporting data.

  • Statement of net assets available for benefits prepared from trial balance
  • Changes in net assets analysed through contributions, benefits and investments
  • Defined benefit presentation incorporating actuarial present value information
  • Comparative figures restated for errors, reclassifications and policy changes
  • Cross-casting procedures proving statement totals to supporting schedules
  • Financial statement review focused on consistency, clarity and materiality

Participants can prepare complete and supportable pension fund note disclosures.

  • Accounting policy notes tailored to pension fund investment activities
  • Investment portfolio disclosures organised by asset class and geography
  • IFRS 7 market, credit and liquidity risk disclosures
  • IFRS 13 valuation hierarchy tables and Level 3 movement analysis
  • Related party disclosures covering trustees, sponsors and service providers
  • Subsequent events assessed using IAS 10 recognition criteria

Participants can evaluate reporting controls and assemble evidence for pension fund audits.

  • Key controls over contributions, benefits, investments and financial close
  • Segregation of duties across trustees, administrators and investment managers
  • Control evidence retained for reconciliations, valuations and journal approvals
  • Journal entry controls addressing management override and unusual adjustments
  • Audit requests planned through a prepared-by-client evidence schedule
  • Control deficiencies documented with owners, corrective actions and due dates

Participants can manage a disciplined year-end close for pension fund financial reporting.

  • Close timetable sequenced around valuations, actuarial reports and audit milestones
  • Period-end cut-off procedures for trades, contributions and benefit payments
  • Close checklist assigning preparers, reviewers and evidence due dates
  • Post-close adjustments tracked through controlled financial statement updates
  • Issue log management for unresolved balances and disclosure decisions
  • Trustee approval timetable coordinated with auditor completion requirements

Participants can coordinate financial statement information with pension fund regulatory and tax reporting.

  • Tax-exempt pension fund status and investment income reporting implications
  • Withholding tax receivables, reclaims and tax provision reconciliations
  • Regulatory annual return data traced to audited financial statements
  • Funding reports distinguished from statutory financial reporting submissions
  • Breach reporting requirements assessed under applicable pension legislation
  • Statutory filing calendar coordinated with trustee and audit deadlines

Participants can prepare decision-useful financial reporting analysis for trustee review.

  • Net asset movements explained through contributions, benefits and investment returns
  • Investment allocation changes analysed against approved strategic asset allocation
  • Expense ratios calculated for administration, custody and investment management
  • Liquidity analysis compares liquid assets with forecast benefit payments
  • Funding position commentary linked to actuarial valuation assumptions
  • Trustee dashboard presents exceptions, trends and required decisions

Participants can distinguish pension fund accounts from sponsor accounting under IAS 19.

  • IAS 19 defined benefit obligation compared with pension fund net assets
  • Service cost, net interest and remeasurements in sponsor accounts
  • Plan asset information supplied to employer finance reporting teams
  • Asset ceiling considerations distinguished from pension fund reporting requirements
  • Multi-employer plan disclosures and available information limitations
  • Data request protocol between fund administrators, actuaries and sponsors

Participants can manage policy changes, error corrections and reporting framework transitions.

  • IAS 8 accounting policy changes applied retrospectively where required
  • Prior-period errors corrected with clear comparative disclosure explanations
  • New standards impact assessment documented through reporting change registers
  • IFRS 18 transition considerations for pension fund presentation formats
  • Disclosure controls updated after changes in investments or plan rules
  • Training and governance actions assigned for approved reporting changes

Participants can build, review and present a complete pension fund annual financial reporting package.

  • Trial balance mapped into pension fund primary statements and notes
  • Investment schedules reconciled with custodian confirmations and valuation evidence
  • Actuarial disclosures extracted from funding valuation and supporting assumptions
  • Material accounting judgements documented for trustee and auditor review
  • Close checklist, issue log and audit evidence index completed
  • Trustee presentation explains results, risks, exceptions and approval actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. IAS 26 financial statement preparation template
  2. Pension fund reporting disclosure checklist
  3. Custodian and general ledger reconciliation model
  4. Fair value evidence and hierarchy assessment worksheet
  5. Year-end close timetable and evidence index
  6. Trustee financial reporting dashboard

Who should attend

  • Pension Fund Accountants — prepare annual accounts, investment schedules and trustee reports
  • Financial Reporting Managers — oversee reporting quality, close controls and audit delivery
  • Fund Administrators — process contributions, benefits and member-related financial transactions
  • Investment Operations Professionals — reconcile holdings, valuations, income and corporate actions
  • Trustees and Governance Officers — scrutinise financial statements and reporting judgements
  • External and Internal Auditors — assess pension fund controls, evidence and disclosures

Skills and tools covered

Pension fund reportingInvestment valuationActuarial disclosuresCustodian reconciliationFinancial statement closeTrustee reporting

Tools and standards

IAS 26 Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans, IAS 19 Employee Benefits, IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course combines focused technical briefings with pension fund reporting cases, financial statement extracts, investment schedules and actuarial reports. Participants analyse defined benefit and defined contribution scenarios, prepare reconciliations, identify disclosure gaps and review reporting judgements in small groups. Simulated close meetings require participants to resolve valuation, contribution and custodian exceptions. Instructor feedback links each activity to IAS 26, IAS 19, IFRS 9, IFRS 13 and practical audit evidence. Participants finish by applying the methods to a complete annual reporting case.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should understand double-entry accounting, trial balances, financial statements and basic investment terminology such as bonds, equities, pooled funds and derivatives. Experience in finance, accounting, fund administration, investment operations, audit or pension scheme governance is useful. Participants should be able to read a set of financial statements and work with spreadsheet-based reconciliations. Prior pension fund accounting experience is not required. Detailed actuarial mathematics, investment management credentials, tax specialisation and prior knowledge of every IFRS standard are not assumed.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should understand basic accounting, trial balances and financial statements. Pension fund experience is useful but not essential, and the course does not require actuarial calculation skills.

Bring a laptop for spreadsheet-based analysis and, where permitted, a recent set of pension fund accounts, reporting timetable or disclosure checklist. Confidential data should be removed or anonymised before use.

It is designed for pension fund accountants, financial reporting staff, administrators, investment operations teams, auditors and governance professionals. It also helps trustees who need to review annual accounts and reporting judgements.

IAS 19 courses focus mainly on employer accounting for pension obligations and employee benefit expense. This course focuses on the pension fund or retirement plan’s own financial statements, investments, benefit transactions, disclosures and close process, while explaining the IAS 19 interface.

Participants can apply the templates to year-end accounts preparation, custodian reconciliations, valuation reviews, disclosure drafting and audit evidence planning. The final reporting file provides a practical structure for improving an existing reporting process.

The first week builds core reporting capability through plan structures, IAS 26, investment accounting, valuations, contributions and statement preparation. The second week covers disclosures, controls, audit, close management, trustee analysis, reporting changes and the final capstone reporting case.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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