Senior Finance Manager (MRPA) - Education (FTC)

Senior Finance Manager (MRPA), Education

Role Overview

As Senior Finance Manager, you will act as a key business partner across Central Publishing, Commercial Development, and the Global ELT publishing teams.

You will own the financial processes related to Investment in Content (IIC), lead forecasting and reporting activities, and ensure strong financial governance and analysis to support high‑quality decision‑making.

You will also support the development of new business models, pricing decisions, and publishing investment cases.

The position is offered on a fixed‑term maternity cover basis and is based in our London office on a hybrid working model.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary finance business partner to the Central Publishing Management Office (CPMO), providing financial support across all activities with a strong focus on Investment in Content.
• Partner with the Commercial Development team and Western Europe Sales, supporting pricing, commercial evaluations, and new business model development.
• Support global ELT Publishers in preparing and evaluating Investment Approval (IA) cases, including IA P&L and financial summaries for LLMB review when required.
• Partner with the Customer Publishing team, including oversight of sub‑rights and licensing revenue performance.
• Own the financial elements of the IA process, including P&L structure, financial metrics, methodologies, data collection, and approval routes.
• Ensure Publishing teams understand IA requirements, assessment criteria and timelines; maintain a clear IA pipeline.
• Consolidate and analyse global monthly Investment in Content spend, providing insight, commentary and recommendations to ensure cost control, compliance with budget, and identification of opportunities to reinvest savings.
• Lead forecasting and reporting for central IIC costs and develop robust Anaplan forecasting methodologies across the Education Group.
• Consolidate total Education IIC and amortisation, working with all ELT and Curriculum regions to gather accurate and timely forecast submissions.
• Conduct Actual vs. IA variance analysis for Birthday Reviews.
• Lead all planning and forecasting cycles for indirect costs across central Education functions, working closely with relevant business teams to ensure accurate, timely and well‑supported submissions to MRPA Education including Anaplan (system) updates for all forecasts.
• Prepare high‑quality budget and forecast presentations for senior leadership, providing clear insight into central function cost trends and drivers.
• Own the modelling of central depreciation and amortisation, including monthly reconciliations, variance analysis and clear reporting of movements.
• Maintain strong knowledge of publishing and content cost systems; ensure accuracy of product master data through regular review with Publishing teams.
• Support systems development work, including input into Edflux requirements and improvements.
• Act as SAP S4 super user for the Projects (Prepress) module and Order‑to‑Cash processes.
• Work with Financial Reporting Services (FRS) and Publishing teams to ensure strong controls and reliable reporting.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACMA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) with strong track record of achievement.
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills, with experience in investment appraisal, commercial evaluation, P&L analysis, business partnering, and supporting commercial teams.
• Significant post‑qualification finance experience in a complex organisation.
• High level of accura
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