Gursharn Benning

“Good employee benefits advice means one trusted person with strong, wide-ranging knowledge across pensions, group risk, healthcare and more.”

After studying Economics at Heriot-Watt University and completing an MSc in International Accounting and Finance, I wasn’t certain which path to follow. When an opportunity in employee benefits presented itself through Edinburgh’s thriving financial sector, I took it and it turned out to be the best decision I made. Over a decade later, I’m still passionate about what I do.

I joined Mattioli Woods in 2022, bringing with me more than ten years of experience across both provider and consultancy roles. That journey through administration, pension provider operations, and advisory work gives me something most consultants can’t offer: an understanding of how every part of the system works, not just the part facing the client. At one point, I was the only person in my firm with meaningful employee benefits knowledge, responsible for everything from pensions to healthcare to group risk benefits. This experience gave me a real appreciation for just how much there is to know across this field.

Today, I work with businesses across the country, many of them in Aberdeen’s energy sector, helping them design, implement, and manage employee benefits programmes that attract and retain the right people. My specialism spans pensions, group risk, healthcare and wellbeing, and flexible benefits. What I’ve found is that most employers simply want one trusted person who understands the full picture, which is exactly what I am here to be.

What sets Mattioli Woods apart is the depth of expertise behind every conversation. In our Edinburgh office alone, colleagues carry decades of combined experience in employee benefits, and that collective knowledge shapes the quality of advice we deliver. The rigour of our ongoing training and the breadth of our capability means clients aren’t passed around. They get real, rounded guidance from someone who knows the whole landscape.

I also believe strongly in being present, not just available. A big part of my role involves getting in front of clients, whether that’s at their offices, at industry events, or through channels such as our sponsorship of Aberdeen Football Club, where we bring clients together in a more relaxed setting. Building real relationships where trust is earned over time, is what makes this work rewarding.

Outside of work, I’m kept busy by my two children, a gym habit, and a lifelong loyalty to Manchester United. Looking back, employee benefits chose me rather than the other way around, but after more than a decade, I wouldn’t change a thing.