Hybrid FP&A Specialist — Financial Reporting & Planning in Belfast

Deliver financial reporting, forecasting, and performance analysis that supports strategic decision-making across Pearson's Enterprise Learning & Skills division.

About the Role

At Pearson, we are the world's learning company operating in more than 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment with services and technology to enable more effective teaching and personalised learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes, so do people.

We are seeking an Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis person to join Pearson Finance Services and support the Enterprise Learning & Skills (EL&S) division. This role is responsible for delivering financial planning, forecasting, and performance reporting that provides business leaders with a clear view of financial performance and enables informed decision-making.

Working closely with finance business partners and operational stakeholders, this role supports budgeting and forecasting cycles, prepares management reporting, and provides financial insight to support commercial performance across the division.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Planning & Forecasting
  • Support the budgeting and forecasting process for one or more business areas within the EL&S division.
  • Partner with business stakeholders to develop compensation, discretionary spending, and capital expenditure plans.
  • Contribute to the annual strategic planning process through financial modelling, sales margin planning, and supporting analysis.
• Financial Reporting & Performance Analysis
  • Prepare monthly management reporting packs to support internal decision-making and performance tracking.
  • Consolidate financial performance across business areas and provide analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year.
  • Review financial data throughout the reporting cycle to identify and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Commercial Insight & Decision Support
  • Provide financial analysis to support business decisions, identifying key drivers of performance, risks, and opportunities.
  • Interpret financial and non-financial data to deliver meaningful insight to stakeholders.
  • Present financial outcomes and analysis to finance and business partners to support decision-making.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Build effective working relationships with stakeholders across finance and the wider business.
  • Respond promptly to requests for financial information and maintain high levels of stakeholder satisfaction.
  • Support collaboration across teams and geographies to ensure consistent financial reporting and analysis.
• Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
  • Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting, and data accuracy.
  • Support the transition of finance activities into Pearson Finance Services where required.
  • Ensure processes and documentation are maintained and aligned to corporate standards.

Skills & Experience

• Strong accounting knowledge, ideally supported by a recognised accounting qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience in financial reporting, planning, budgeting, and forecasting within a commercial environment.
• Strong analytical and variance analysis skills, with the ability to interpret financial data and explain results clearly.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, SUMIFs, and financial modelling).
• Experience working with finance ERP systems (Oracle experience preferred but not essential).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain financial concepts to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• A proactive, self-starting approach with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience working with stakeholders across multiple locations and time zones is advantageous.

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.