Job Title: Specialist, Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst Description: In this role, You'll partner closely with finance teams to bring clarity, accuracy, and continuous improvement to our planning and reporting cycles. This role aligns with Industry-titles such as Financial Planning and reporting Analyst, Financial Analyst-FP&A, or FP&A Analyst The Role As a Specialist, Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst within Pearson Financial Services (PFS), you'll help bring clarity to financial performance across Assessment and Qualifications, enabling confident and informed decision-making. Reporting to the Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis, you'll play a key role in shaping how the business sees, understands, and plans its financial future. In your first six months, you'll build strong partnerships with Finance Business Partners, develop a deep understanding of Pearson's financial systems, and become a trusted contributor to monthly reporting, forecasting, and planning cycles. This is a great opportunity for a part-qualified or recently qualified accountant who enjoys working with data, solving problems, and continuously improving the way finance supports the business. What You'll Own In this role, you'll take ownership of delivering accurate, insightful financial analysis that supports both day-to-day operations and longer-term planning. Your impact will include: Financial performance insight through the preparation of monthly management reporting packs, variance analysis against targets, and clear explanations of key drivers. Quality reporting and analysis by producing ad-hoc analysis and reports that support Finance Business Partners and business stakeholders in making informed decisions. Planning, budgeting and forecasting support, including preparing analysis, reviewing outputs, and supporting system loads in collaboration with the BPO team to meet tight deadlines. Data integrity and controls, ensuring reconciliation between source ERP systems and reporting tools such as Oracle and Hyperion, and investigating significant variances. Process improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline reporting, improve accuracy, and introduce better ways of working across PFS. Collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing to a supportive team environment and working closely with colleagues across PFS, the wider Finance function, and offshore teams. About You You're someone who enjoys getting into the detail while always keeping sight of the bigger picture. You're curious, analytical, and motivated to continue developing your finance career in a global organisation. You bring accounting knowledge (part-qualified or recently qualified) and a solid foundation in financial analysis, and you're someone who takes ownership and uses sound judgement to get things done. You're comfortable working across teams and with stakeholders, adapting your communication style to engage both finance and non-finance partners. You thrive in an environment with clear deadlines and high standards, balancing accuracy with pace and knowing how to prioritise effectively. You enjoy being part of a team that values continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer service. Essential Skills & Experience Proven experience performing financial and variance analysis, with the ability to explain results clearly and confidently. Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including VLOOKUPs, SUMIFS, pivot tables). Strong written and verbal communication skills. Experience using finance ERP systems (Oracle preferred but not essential). Ability to work under pressure and meet strict financial deadlines. A proactive, self-starting mindset with a strong sense of accountability. Desirable Skills & Experience Experience supporting planning, budgeting, and forecasting cycles. Advanced Excel capabilities (macros, power queries, data models). Experience partnering with stakeholders in a large or complex organisation. Familiarity with Oracle, Hyperion, and SmartView tools. Ability to manage multiple priorities across different teams and locations. What You'll Get At Pearson, we're committed to helping you grow - both professionally and personally. In return for the great work you'll do, we offer: A competitive salary and flexible hybrid working. 25 days' annual leave, increasing up to 30 days, with the option to buy or sell additional days. A highly competitive pension plan, with Pearson doubling your contribution. Access to Pearson's Save for Shares programme. A wide range of additional benefits, including private medical and dental cover, digital GP service, wellbeing support, volunteering days, and exclusive discounts. Ready to make an impact? Apply now and be part of a finance team that helps shape learning outcomes for millions of people worldwide. 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 TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com. Job: Finance Job Family: ENTERPRISE Organization: Corporate Finance Schedule: FULL\_TIME Workplace Type: Hybrid Req ID: 20643