Senior Manager, Corporate Development

The Corporate Development team at Pearson is a small, high-profile team reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, based across Pearson’s London and Hoboken, NJ offices. The team drives all group strategy, strategic partnership, and M&A activity across the Pearson group. It is responsible for setting the M&A strategy and managing all acquisitions, disposals, and corporate joint ventures (end-to-end), as well as supporting corporate finance matters such as shareholder returns, defence, and activism.

This role offers an opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment and gain experience across various transaction types and corporate finance projects. You will be a self-starter capable of driving tasks autonomously while also being a willing team player who works closely with our businesses to achieve shared goals. You will bring your existing transaction experience to solve deal problems and be accountable for driving projects to their conclusion.

Main Activities / Responsibilities Of Role:

• Working with business units to evaluate potential acquisitions, disposals, and corporate joint ventures – reviewing the business case against Pearson’s strategy, building and reviewing valuation models, and preparing documentation for CEO/CFO and, if required, Board approval.
• Taking a senior role on all elements of transaction execution:

• Appoint and manage advisors such as lawyers, investment bankers, and financial due diligence providers.
• Manage the internal Pearson team during due diligence or carve-out processes and challenge findings.
• Manage the development of the business case and internal approval process, including writing approval papers for the Board and senior management.
• Review and negotiate contracts and legal agreements.
• Represent Pearson in meetings with counterparties.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Minimum 7–10 years of substantial relevant experience gained in an investment bank or M&A advisory firm, a large accounting or consulting firm’s corporate finance or strategy division, or within the M&A/strategy function of a multinational corporate organization.
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field, ideally business, finance, or accounting; advanced qualification (e.g. MBA, CFA) is a plus.
• Experience in leading transactions from start to finish.
• Able decision-maker with strong commercial, analytical, and business problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyse and shape both wider strategy and detailed execution while applying sound judgement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing ability.
• Able to establish credibility with senior management and advise and influence them.
• Ability to distil complex information into simple conclusions.
• Good understanding and experience with contract law.
• Strong project management skills; able to handle a high volume of work in a short period and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ideally prior experience in the technology and/or education industries.

Additional Requirements:

• This role requires presence in the London office 1–2 days per week.

Who We Are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe every learning opportunity is a chance for personal breakthrough. We are the world’s lifelong learning company and learning is who we are.

EEO Statement:

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, colour, 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.