At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial planning and analysis, driving strategic insights and modernising processes.
- Company: Join Pearson, a global leader in education with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on inclusion and high performance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance transformation while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Must be a fully qualified accountant with 10+ years in FP&A leadership.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This role aligns to industry level titles such as: Head of Financial Planning & Analysis / Senior Director, FP&A / Director of Financial Planning & Analysis.
The Head of FP&A in PFS will lead the financial planning and analysis function across Pearson within a shared services environment. This role ensures strategic alignment between operational performance and financial objectives, driving insight‑led decision‑making and supporting Pearson's global finance transformation agenda. This FP&A role will lead the business unit facing FP&A teams, whilst working closely with the Global Lead Finance Operations to reimagine services as we evolve our Finance strategy towards greater Data Science, Advanced Analytics and Agent Ops AI‑enabled ambitions. This is a highly complex people management role and whilst delivering the FP&A agenda, a large amount of time and capacity within this role is spent delivering world‑class people management. Furthermore, given most of this team is in Belfast - this leader will also support the delivery of a talent acquisition and development agenda in a complex labour market. The role will collaborate with the Head of PFS Financial Control as a site lead for engagement, people, and culture - not as an overall management role - working in partnership with Pearson stakeholders such as PEM, FLT Members, HR Business Partners and Workplace teams to foster a positive and inclusive environment.
Role Dimensions
- Approximately 80 roll‑up employees across the PFS FP&A finance organisation.
- Approximately 10 direct reports, including senior FP&A managers and analysts.
- Accountable for Gallup Q12 engagement outcomes and driving a culture of inclusion and high performance.
- Responsible for performance management processes, ensuring clarity of objectives, regular feedback, and development planning for direct reports.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Transformation Leadership
- Own the FP&A strategy for PFS, aligning financial planning with operational and corporate objectives, working in collaboration with Group FP&A and Business Partner FP&A leaders to design a transformation agenda to modernise FP&A.
- Partner with senior leaders to influence resource allocation, investment decisions, and cost optimisation initiatives.
Planning & Forecasting
- Lead annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles for PFS, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Develop dynamic financial models for scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
- Standardise and automate FP&A processes and reporting where possible to modernise FP&A.
Performance Analysis
- Deliver actionable insights through variance analysis, trend identification, and risk/opportunity assessments.
- Produce consolidated management reports for executive leadership adopting automation, AI and agentic ops to modernise reporting.
- Deliver comprehensive KPIs as a FP&A service including forecasting accuracy, cycle time reduction, automation and productivity metrics.
Data, Governance & Compliance
- Support with build of a governed data model to integrate multiple data sources to support automation and advanced analytical techniques.
- Ensure adherence to SOX, audit standards, and internal control frameworks.
- Maintain compliance across global FP&A processes in partnership with Data Privacy, Technology and Audit.
Team Leadership
- Manage and develop a high‑performing FP&A team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Develop and build career paths and skills to support FP&A of the future and build finance talent.
- Act as a mentor for emerging finance leaders within PFS.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to embed financial insight into operational decisions.
- Act as a site engagement lead in partnership with FRC Lead, HRBP, Workplace and Property teams to promote culture and collaboration.
Change Management
- Lead and embed finance transformation initiatives across FP&A, driving adoption of new tools, data capabilities, and AI‑enabled processes while ensuring minimal disruption to planning and reporting cycles.
- Guide teams and stakeholders through organisational and process change, building engagement, capability, and resilience while maintaining strong operational delivery and performance outcomes.
Tier M38 Expectations - Operational Manager
This role sits within Operational Manager tier, the leader is accountable for the overall performance of the FP&A department, setting objectives in alignment with business unit goals. They oversee multiple teams or managers, ensuring operational excellence, the integrity of financial reports, and delivery of reliable forecasts and actionable analyses for senior leadership.
Performance Deliverables
- Timely, accurate reporting and analysis packages for the business unit, supporting operational and financial targets.
- Identification and mitigation of risks in planning/reporting processes, reducing variance from forecasts and improving responsiveness to business shifts.
- Oversight of professional development for department staff, resulting in sustained improvements in quality and speed of delivery and finance of the future talent.
- Leading successful implementations of process improvements, standardisation and use of automation, AI, Agents to deliver operational excellence, ensuring minimal disruption to reporting or planning activities.
Leadership Behaviours
- Customer Centricity: Build strong internal partnerships to deliver tailored finance solutions.
- Raising the Performance Bar: Drive transformation across FP&A using automation and AI, to enhance the quality of insights and planning rigour.
- Exceptional Collaboration for Value: Support cross‑departmental synergy and resolve issues escalated from multiple teams.
- Our Leaders Inspire: Advocate for ethical, transparent financial practices and nurture a culture of high performance and modernisation of FP&A.
Qualifications & Experience
- Essential due to regulatory reasons – this role must be occupied by a fully qualified accountant (we cannot accept applications from partially qualified accountants).
- Essential due to regulatory reasons – Professional finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent.
- Essential – 10+ years in FP&A or related finance leadership roles, ideally within global operations.
- Essential – Demonstrable strong people management experience, and knowledge of UK and Northern Ireland people management processes and practices.
- Essential – Demonstrable behaviours and leadership in line with the Pearson essential behaviours and professional interpersonal skills as a senior accountant and people manager.
- Essential – Proven ability to lead complex planning cycles and influence senior stakeholders.
- Essential – Proven ability to transform FP&A and modernise adopting new technologies, standardising processes, using data and statistical techniques.
- Essential – Strong analytical, modelling, and communication skills.
- Desirable – Data engineering, coding, intelligent automation, and AI.
- Desirable – Process standardisation and continuous improvement.
If you think you could be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply today - we look forward to hearing from you and speaking soon.
Head of Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis in Belfast employer: Pearson Education
Pearson is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture in Belfast that prioritises employee growth and development. With a strong focus on fostering a positive and inclusive environment, employees benefit from hybrid working arrangements, comprehensive talent development programmes, and the opportunity to lead transformative financial initiatives within a global organisation. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis in Belfast
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work at Pearson or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Pearson values collaboration and innovation, so think of examples from your past that showcase these traits. We want to see how you can fit into our team!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills during the interview! Bring along a portfolio or examples of your previous work in FP&A. This is your chance to demonstrate how you've transformed financial processes and led teams to success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the Head of FP&A position.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis role. Highlight your relevant experience in FP&A, people management, and any transformation initiatives you've led. We want to see how you align with our goals!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven financial insights and collaborated with teams to achieve results. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves managing a high-performing team, be sure to highlight your leadership experience. Talk about how you've developed talent and fostered a culture of accountability and improvement. We love seeing strong people managers!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pearson Education
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis, you’ll need to demonstrate a solid grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators relevant to FP&A, and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decision-making in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role involves managing a large team, so it’s crucial to articulate your leadership philosophy. Prepare examples of how you've developed talent and fostered a high-performance culture in your past positions. Highlight your experience in people management and how you’ve navigated complex labour markets.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Planning
Expect questions around budgeting and forecasting. Prepare to discuss your approach to scenario planning and how you’ve implemented dynamic financial models. Think of specific instances where your insights led to significant business outcomes.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Collaboration is key in this role, so be prepared to share examples of how you’ve worked with cross-functional teams. Discuss how you’ve embedded financial insights into operational decisions and how you’ve influenced resource allocation and investment decisions in the past.
