Location: Hybrid (2 days per week in office) Belfast, Country Antrim, UK
At Pearson, we believe learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. We're looking for a dynamic and experienced FP&A Senior Manager to join our Higher Education division, supporting our Central Functions team. This is a key leadership role within Pearson Finance Services, responsible for driving financial performance, strategic insight, and operational excellence across our global support functions.
About The Role
As FP&A Senior Manager, you will lead financial planning and analysis for Pearson's Central Functions, including Finance, Technology, Legal, HR, Marketing, and Property. You'll manage a high-performing team of 20 finance professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
You'll Be Responsible For
* Team Leadership: Managing, coaching, and developing a diverse team of 20 FTEs, ensuring alignment and cohesion across deliverables.
* Financial Planning & Analysis: Leading month-end close, planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes. Reviewing inputs and delivering high-quality analysis for senior stakeholder review.
* Strategic Insight: Providing complex analysis and data storytelling to support decision-making and communicate performance to senior leaders.
* Project Finance: Overseeing CIP spend tracking, hosting costs, capitalization schedules, and partnering with cross-functional teams for accurate forecasting.
* Audit & Governance: Managing audit responses and ensuring compliance with financial controls.
* Change Leadership: Supporting transformational change across Pearson's finance operations, driving efficiency and quality improvements.
What You'll Bring
We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, matrixed environment and is passionate about leading teams through change. You'll need:
Skills & Competencies
* Strong leadership and team management capabilities
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate financial concepts for non-finance audiences
* High accountability and ownership, with a focus on outcomes and continuous improvement
* Proven ability to collaborate across functions and geographies
* Change management experience and the ability to lead others through transformation
* Strong prioritization and time management skills
Qualifications & Experience
* Extensive experience in Finance Management or BPM roles
* Recognised professional accountancy qualification
* Strong accounting knowledge and understanding of financial control and performance management
* Experience with finance ERP systems (Oracle preferred)
* Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, v-lookups, sum-ifs)
* Proven people management experience
* High attention to detail and commitment to quality
* Experience working in a multinational, matrixed organization
* Exposure to shared services or delivery centre environments
* Understanding of specialist finance areas (e.g. tax, treasury, M&A, compliance)
Who We Are
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing
Job:
Finance
Job Family:
ENTERPRISE
Organization:
Corporate Finance
Schedule:
FULL_TIME
Workplace Type
Req ID:
20820