Head of Sustainability Reporting

Job type: Full-time, permanent position with flexibility to work remotely or in a hybrid capacity. Occasional travel may be required.

Team: Finance | Sustainability

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Sustainability Reporting to support in driving our sustainability and corporate responsibility agenda within a leading FTSE 100 organisation. This high-impact leadership expert role will be responsible for shaping and implementing our sustainability reporting strategy, ensuring alignment with our corporate vision and global best practices. Reporting to SVP, Group Finance (with dotted lined into Chief Legal Officer) this role will develop and implement all the internal and external sustainability reporting (including, financial and non-financial metrics) and will determine strong narratives around these. This role will also lead on reporting updates (as well as have key interaction) to the ESG Steering Committee on a regular basis including the Group CFO and General Counsel. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference at scale, guiding sustainability reporting initiatives that deliver long-term value for our company, stakeholders, and the wider community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Sustainability Controls, Reporting & Compliance
• Lead Pearson's Sustainability reporting strategy, ensuring accurate, transparent, and impactful disclosures across financial and non-financial sustainability metrics.
• Anticipate and proactively address emerging Sustainability reporting regulations and standards (CSRD, IFRS, TCFD, ISSB), ensuring compliance and leadership in corporate sustainability reporting.
• Oversee internal sustainability controls and sustainability data governance, driving enhancements in reporting accuracy, risk management, and operational efficiency.
• Conduct sustainability risk assessments to identify gaps, opportunities, and process improvements in sustainability data collection and management.
• Ensure robust external assurance and audit processes for ESG disclosures, reinforcing credibility and investor confidence.
• Lead reporting updates to the sustainability Steering Committee, including the Group CFO and General Counsel, and provide strategic insights to senior leadership and the Board.

• Strategic Sustainability Integration & Financial Planning
• Ensure sustainability targets are aligned with Pearson's business strategy, driving measurable impact across climate, social, and governance priorities.
• Model and assess climate-related financial risks and opportunities, embedding sustainability considerations into Pearson's financial planning, risk management, and capital allocation strategies.
• Strengthen the link between Sustainability and financial performance, integrating metrics into corporate decision-making, reporting, and investor communications.
• Serve as the key conduit between sustainability, finance, risk, and controls.

Qualifications and preferred skills:

Alongside your passion for sustainability and the want to make a difference you will have:

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in accounting, audit, financial analysis, or a related role, with a strong focus on corporate reporting, sustainability, and ESG governance.
• Ideally from Big 4 accounting firm or coupled with FTSE250 businesses with scale/complexity.
• Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks, regulations, and global standards (CSRD, IFRS, TCFD, ISSB) with ability to stay ahead of any new standards on the horizon.
• Strong controls mindset, with the ability to derive actionable insights from complex, multi-source ESG and financial data, delivering a clear and compelling narrative.
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, influence senior stakeholders, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving Sustainability landscape.
• Experience designing and automating reporting processes, streamlining workflows, and embedding operational efficiency into sustainability and financial reporting structures.
• Proactive and results-driven leadership style, demonstrating initiative, accountability, and a strong work ethic to ensure high-quality execution of sustainability reporting and compliance activities.

Your Rewards & Benefits

We know you'll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business. We know one size doesn't fit all, so our workplace programs meet the different needs of our diverse teams, and their families, too. We offer:

• A competitive salary
• Hybrid working model
• 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
• 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.

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.

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.