Specialist, Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst in Belfast

Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working toward a common purpose - to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high-quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world's leading learning company.

About Pearson Financial Services (PFS): PFS is Pearson's centre of excellence for all FP&A and financial control activity. We partner with the business, Finance business partners and group reporting to provide outstanding financial support and service.

About the role: Reporting to the Manager Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), the Financial Analyst will support the provision of a consolidated view of financial business performance and planning to business partnering teams across Pearson. This role will prepare and deliver financial planning and analysis to business areas enabling effective business decision making within Assessment and Qualifications. This role will also contribute to aspects of the budgeting and forecasting cycle. The role will be hybrid with our offices based in central Belfast.

Responsibilities:

• Complete the processing of all technical responsibilities in a timely, efficient and accurate manner.
• Manage/perform the preparation of ad-hoc analysis / production of reports as requested to support accurate reporting and business decisions.
• Preparing variance analysis against performance targets.
• Preparing monthly management reporting packs.
• Assist in providing value add financial analysis to Finance Business Partners.
• Manage the preparation of accruals / other adjustment journal entries as required.
• Supporting in the Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting cycles through preparation of analyses and system loads working with the BPO team to complete in line with strict deadlines.
• Ensure team performance targets are met and service is delivered to end users as expected.
• Take proactive involvement in determining and implementing best practices within PFS.
• Reconcile data between source ERPs and consolidated reporting tools (Oracle/Hyperion) and seek explanations for significant variances.
• Reviewing the output of our Bangalore based BPO team.
• Ad hoc reporting and analysis as required.
• Identify opportunities for continuous process improvement and innovative solutions and communicate these to your line manager.
• Contribute to team effort and assist co-workers across PFS and all business divisions as needed to enable effective delivery.
• Help to create a work atmosphere conducive to collaborative working.

About you: If you are a part qualified or recently qualified accountant and are a self-starter looking to join a business where you can drive continuous improvement and continue to develop your financial skills then we would love to hear from you.

Essential skills / capabilities:

• A self-starter who is motivated to work under own initiative when required demonstrating initiative and sound judgement.
• Ability to manage Stakeholders effectively.
• Analytical/variance analysis skills, proven ability to review and analyse financial data and explain the results.
• Providing analysis to support decision making.
• Intermediate user of Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel (v-lookups, sum-ifs, pivot tables etc.).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with both finance and non-finance professionals.
• Experience of finance ERP systems (Oracle preferred but not essential).
• Ability to work to strict financial deadlines and to be able to prioritise to meet those deadlines.
• A team player who is driven by customer service.

Desirable skills / capabilities:

• Experience of planning, budgeting and forecasting and producing management information for decision making.
• Advanced user of Microsoft Excel (Building macros, scripts, power queries and data models).
• Experience working with and partnering with stakeholders in a large organisation.
• Ability to coordinate the delivery of multiple priorities in parallel across disparate teams and locations.
• Experience using Oracle and Hyperion systems and Smartview tools.

Your rewards & benefits:

• A competitive salary.
• Flexible working.
• 25 days annual leave, which increases by 1 day each year up to 30 days (with the option to buy and sell up to 5 days per year on top of this).
• A fantastic pension plan, where Pearson doubles what you contribute.
• Worldwide Save for Shares in Pearson.
• Other benefits, including private dental care, private medical insurance, digital GP service, season ticket loan, eye tests, cycle to work scheme, volunteering days, employee wellbeing assistance, discounted retail and leisure products, services from leading companies and much more.