Diploma in International Employee Benefits

This qualification provides a programme of education, study support and examinations
for those involved with the complex area of international employee benefits. It has
been developed in partnership by the International Employee Benefits Association
(IEBA) and the UK’s Pensions Management Institute (PMI).

The Diploma provides a programme of education, study and examinations for all those involved with the complex area of international employee benefits.

The Diploma is made up of two units:

• International 1: Foundation in International Employee Benefits provides an introduction to the different employee benefits in an international context and the different ways these are designed, delivered, funded, communicated and administered around the world. The unit also introduces the respective roles of stakeholders involved in the provision of international employee benefits provision in the USA, Germany and the UK. It also covers Japan, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland and a regional overview of Europe and North America to highlight the different practices of employee benefit provision, and the legal and regulatory influences of the European Union on employee benefit design and financing.

• International 2: Managing International Employee Benefits builds on the material covered in International 1. It develops an understanding of the following main issues: the employee benefit objectives of a multinational company; the funding and risk management aspects of providing employee benefits, corporate risk benefit management, benefit provision in Brazil, China, India and Russia and a regional overview of Africa, Asia and Latin America to highlight the different practices of employee benefit provision; internationally mobile employees; the employee benefit implications of mergers and acquisitions; and trends in employee benefit provision.

Individuals from many backgrounds will find the Diploma meets their professional needs. These individuals may work for consultancies (including actuaries, lawyers, accountants and tax specialists) or insurance companies or in the pensions or remuneration and benefits departments of commercial companies. They may have international experience already or find that their careers are beginning to move in that direction.

In developing the Diploma, the aim has been to identify those aspects of benefit provision which such people are most likely to encounter in dealing with expatriates, internationally mobile employees and local employees. On a wider scale, it is hoped that the material will be of assistance in formulating corporate policy on employee benefits world wide.

The DipIEB has been developed in partnership by the PMI and the International Employee Benefits Association (IEBA). IEBA was set up to promote increased knowledge and professionalism amongst those involved with international employee benefits.

In addition to the establishment of the DipIEB, its objectives are to facilitate the exchange of information between IEBA members on matters relating to international employee benefits; to take any appropriate collective action on international employee benefit matters and to maintain liaison and exchange views and information with other organisations in the same field.

There are no formal prerequisites for this qualification; either qualifications or knowledge and experience.

However, we would anticipate most candidates would be working in the field.

Achieving the Diploma will help you formulate and implement corporate policy on employee benefits worldwide and provides you with the foundation of knowledge and understanding to address emerging developments in the international employee benefits arena.

It also constitute two units of the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision (and allows two direct exemptions from that qualification).