Construction Executive Retirement Savings

What Construction Executive Retirement Savings does

Construction Executive Retirement Savings (CERS) is an Irish industry-wide multi-employer Defined Contribution pension scheme established in 1971 (originally as Construction Federation Executive Pension Scheme, rebranded in 2012) and headquartered in Dublin. CERS serves construction industry employers and employees across Ireland, providing retirement savings vehicles, death-in-service protection benefits (lump sum up to 4x salary, spouse's pension, children's pension), and Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) options. The scheme operates as one of three CIF-related pension arrangements alongside the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS) and the Construction Industry Retirement Trust (CIRT), leveraging its partnership with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) for employer outreach and member recruitment.

CERS's core technology is a defined contribution pension scheme platform featuring nine investment fund options across three categories: three lifestyle strategies (ARF, Annuity, and Cash Lifestyle Strategies that automatically de-risk over the last seven years to retirement) and six direct investment funds (Multi Asset, Bond, Cash, Equity, Property, and Alternative Assets). The platform includes an online member portal (members.cersonline.ie) with daily-updated account values, benefit statements, projection tools, and a pension calculator. Administration is handled by CPAS (CIF Pension Administration Services), with Mercer serving as Investment Adviser and Milestone Advisory as the Trustee's preferred financial adviser.

The business model is asset-fee-based: CERS generates revenue through annual management charges on invested assets, with 100% net allocation on all DC contributions (no upfront charges, no transfer-in or transfer-out fees, no initial setup fees). A €50 charge applies per fund switch beyond four free switches per year. The scheme is a trust-based pension arrangement (CERS Trustees Designated Activity Company), with no external investors or parent company ownership. Distribution occurs through employer-sponsored enrollment and direct member engagement via the CIF network, CPAS administration pipeline, industry publications, video content, and digital marketing.

Name

Construction Executive Retirement Savings

Legal name

Construction Executive Retirement Savings Trustees Designated Activity Company

Website

https://cers.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CERS is an Irish industry-wide multi-employer Defined Contribution pension scheme established in 1971, serving construction industry employers and employees with retirement savings, nine investment fund options, lifestyle strategies, and death-in-service protection benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Pension Scheme

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE), Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory (FSAEABAD)

Keywords

• Defined contribution pensions
• Occupational pension scheme
• Retirement savings products
• Pension administration services
• Construction industry pensions

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pension Contributions: CERS generates revenue through employer and employee contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements. Employers provide contributions which are invested in selected investment funds until member retirement. Revenue is derived from annual management charges on invested assets.
2. Fund Management Charges: Charges are applied related to investment choices. Performance shown is net of annual management charge. Members can make four free fund switches per year; subsequent switches incur €50 charge per switch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CERS provides an industry-wide multi-employer defined contribution pension scheme specifically for the Irish construction industry, offering nine investment fund options (including three auto-de-risking lifestyle strategies and six direct funds), an online member portal, pension calculator, Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), and death-in-service protection benefits. The scheme is governed by an independent trustee company and administered by CPAS, with Mercer acting as investment adviser.

Product overview

Construction Executive Retirement Savings (CERS) is an industry-wide multi-employer pension scheme offering a unified Defined Contribution retirement savings platform for the construction and related industries in Ireland. The core product is a pension scheme with nine investment fund options including three lifestyle strategies (ARF, Annuity, and Cash Lifestyle Strategies) and six direct investment funds (Multi Asset, Bond, Cash, Equity, Property, and Alternative Assets). Members access their savings through an online portal, can top up with AVCs, and at retirement can opt for ARF, annuity, or cash withdrawal. CERS also provides death-in-service protection benefits including lump sum and spouse's pension coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CERS Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
• CERS ARF Lifestyle Strategy
• CERS Annuity Lifestyle Strategy
• CERS Cash Lifestyle Strategy
• CERS Multi Asset Fund
• CERS Bond Fund
• CERS Cash Fund
• CERS Equity Fund
• CERS Property Fund
• CERS Alternative Assets Fund
• CERS Online Member Portal
• Death in Service Benefits
• Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)
• Annuity Products
• Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) Option

Quantifiable outcome

• Historical Main Fund annualised return of 11.95% for period 1974-2011

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPAS (CIF Pension Administration Services)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCPAS provides professional pension administration services to CERS, the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS), and the Construction Industry Retirement Trust (CIRT). Located at same address as CERS (Linden House, 4 Clonskeagh Square). Handles day-to-day scheme administration, member queries, and processing of benefits.
• Milestone Advisory DACcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCERS Trustee preferred financial adviser providing comprehensive personal financial solutions including post-retirement planning, family and business protection, investment planning, and retirement planning. Regulated by Central Bank of Ireland. Contact: 01-406 8020, www.milestoneadvisory.ie
• Construction Industry Federation (CIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIF is the national representative body for construction industry employers in Ireland. CERS operates as CIF's executive pension scheme, benefiting from CIF's industry network and recognition as the voice of construction employers. CIF's sectoral groups provide targeted access to potential employer groups.
• MercercoreTechnology or IntegrationMercer serves as CERS Investment Adviser, providing market commentary, investment strategy recommendations, and fund performance analysis. Mercer is referenced in CERS fund returns publications providing market development insights and economic outlook.
• The Pensions AuthoritycoreOthersStatutory body regulating occupational pension schemes in Ireland. CERS is subject to The Pensions Authority's regulatory oversight and standards.
• The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)minorOthersIndependent, impartial service that helps resolve complaints with pensions providers. Provides dispute resolution mechanism for CERS members.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Irish Life: Ireland's largest life and pensions provider offering group/DC occupational pension schemes, master trusts, PRSA products, and individual savings. Competes with CERS for construction-industry DC schemes at the larger employer end and the broader individual market.
• New Ireland Assurance: Bank of Ireland-owned life and pensions provider operating in Ireland with group pension, executive pension, and PRSA offerings. Overlaps with CERS in employer-sponsored executive pension schemes and decumulation products.
• Zurich Life Assurance Ireland: Irish life and pensions arm of Zurich Insurance Group providing group and individual pensions, including occupational DC and executive pension arrangements. Competes for the same employer-sponsored executive DC business as CERS.
• Royal London Ireland: UK mutual expanding into the Irish market offering group pensions, executive pensions, and PRSAs. A broad-incumbent competitor for both employers and individual members in Ireland.
• Standard Life (Phoenix Group): Standard Life's Irish pensions business (now within Phoenix Group) provides group DC and individual pension products that compete with CERS for employer-sponsored executive schemes and individual members.
• Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland: Major Irish life and pensions operator (post Friends First consolidation) offering group pensions, executive pensions, and PRSAs. Provides overlapping solutions to the same employer and individual segments CERS serves.

Emerging players

• Mercer Master Trust: Mercer operates an Irish/UK multi-employer master trust offering DC pensions with institutional investment capability. Although Mercer is also CERS's investment adviser, the master trust competes for the same employer-sponsored DC mandates.

Direct peers

• Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS): Ireland's largest CIF-affiliated construction industry pension scheme (50,000+ members), CERS's closest comparable in terms of vertical (construction), structure (multi-employer DC) and regulatory regime. CWS is the dominant direct competitor in the same niche.
• Construction Industry Retirement Trust (CIRT): The third CIF-affiliated industry-wide pension scheme serving Irish construction, providing DC retirement benefits alongside employer support. Directly comparable to CERS in vertical, governance (independent trustees), and product set.

Others

• Aon Ireland (Pension Scheme Services): Global consulting and benefits firm providing scheme design, actuarial, and administration services to Irish occupational pension schemes. Adjacent enabler/competitor in shaping employer DC scheme decisions that compete with CERS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cerspension

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Construction Executive Retirement Savings