Heywood, a leading provider of pension technology solutions, has been selected by San Joaquin County Employees' Retirement Association (SJCERA) to provide a complete pension administration system, supporting SJCERA’s continued focus on operational excellence and strong member outcomes.
The appointment marks another significant step forward in Heywood’s international growth strategy, further advancing its expansion across the US and Canada as it continues to build momentum in the North American public sector pensions market.
SJCERA administers a multiple-employer defined benefit pension plan, providing retirement, disability and survivor benefits to over 17,000 members across San Joaquin County. Established in 1946, the Association is recognised for its strong governance and commitment to serving members effectively.
The selection of Heywood’s Altair pension administration platform forms a core part of SJCERA’s wider technology modernisation strategy. The system is focused on reducing manual effort, improving data accuracy, and empowering both staff and members with secure, real-time access to pension information.
A key requirement of the procurement was the adoption of a modern, proven solution with minimal custom development. Heywood’s approach, delivering a packaged platform where tailoring is achieved through configuration rather than bespoke development, strongly aligned with SJCERA’s objectives.
In addition to product capability, SJCERA highlighted the strength of Heywood’s delivery team and its collaborative approach throughout the procurement process.
Sian Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Heywood, said:
“SJCERA has a clear vision for how modern pension administration underpins better outcomes for both members and staff. Their focus on data accuracy, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability aligns strongly with our own approach. Pensions are a hugely important part of employee remuneration. We share SJCERA’s conviction that pensions must be accessible, clear and engaging for members. This appointment further strengthens our presence in the US market, and we’re excited to be working with such a forward-thinking organisation.”
Renee Ostrander, Chief Executive Officer at SJCERA, added:
“Our leadership team was incredibly proud of how quickly and effectively we mobilized to run this procurement and identify the right long-term partner. The process itself set a new benchmark for our industry, and Heywood stood out not only for the strength of their technology, but for the people behind it. We’re confident this platform will play a critical role in supporting our internal team and delivering an excellent experience for our members.”
This appointment represents another step in Heywood’s North American success story, demonstrating the value of building on long-standing experience of delivering large-scale, mission-critical pension administration systems in highly regulated environments.