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The Finance Manager is responsible for acting as a Business Partner for the Pearson Property Function and reporting overall financial performance of Pearson’s Property Portfolio. This position will partner with both the Finance, Technology and Property & Facilities teams to ensure business cases are reviewed and contain input from all relevant areas of the business as well providing Financial Analysis on a monthly and ad-hoc basis to support decision making.

• Responsible for supporting the Pearson Property Team and their Finance Business Partners in modelling business cases for the properties within the Future Workplace Strategy Program and wider property portfolio and tracking of the costs and benefits achieved from the project.
• Performing various scenarios for each location and analytics thereon in line with data provided by property, technology and brokers which can be presented to the monthly Property PEM to enable decision making around the size and requirements of properties and locations in the future.
• All business cases to prepared in line with IFRS16 guidance to provide P&L, Cash and Discounted ROI analysis and outputs for PEM review.
• Collaboration, partnership, and active stakeholder management are foundational to success in this role.
• Thriving in an evolving environment, working to drive innovation, and embed industry best practice is key.

The Manager will also lead a small team of finance professionals that will also support the Pearson Property function.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Assures a strategic thinking and insight beyond managing the numbers, supporting the business in developing business cases to meet strategic direction and requirements.
• Contributes to an effective resource allocation of Pearson funds, connected with the best investment opportunities, financial performance and anticipating risk and reducing uncertainty.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Supports planning & forecasting processes, by keeping up to date tracking of program financial status in terms of costs and benefits in order to provide updates to original budgets/previous monthly forecasts.
• Provides the business and Director Finance BP with relevant financial business case analysis to support them to enable effective planning.
• Provides reasoned advice on modelling, with reference to cost, time and quality which incorporate the programs and Pearson as an organization's strategic direction.

Financial Analysis

• Provides analysis to support decision-making, including presenting economic outcomes, identifying the key value drivers, benefits, sensitivities and risks, accounting and fiscal implications.
• Communicates financial results to SLG members and their leadership teams for presentation to Property PEM on a monthly bases.
• Sets standards for business analysis to support strategic direction and comparison.
• Sets up an improved automated (based on key inputs) excel modelling template to be used for property business case analysis for this program and continuing.

Investment Analysis & Allocation

• Understands the strategic nature of assets in property and facilities in the creation of long-term business value.
• Valuation of investment proposals for the property & facilities business area.
• Communicates investment analysis criteria to non-finance professionals in a clear and concise manner to support decision making to drive cost savings.

Cost Management

• Prepares analysis and business case presentations that enable the business management to effectively challenge costs and inform decision-making.
• By preparing and analyzing business cases with the business area, participate in waste elimination efforts and understand key drivers and cost reduction opportunities to be included in the Future Workplace Strategy program.

People Management

• Manage direct reports by motivating, developing and leading them in accordance with Pearson policies.
• Conduct regular Personal Development Reviews as per Pearson policy
• To communicate honestly with your team, providing constructive feedback
• To effectively implement positive change within the department, lead and motivate employees.

Required Skills:

• Strong verbal and written skills within finance, across the organization and with external parties.
• Communicates financial information and concepts in a clear, precise, thorough manner to meet the needs of both finance and non-finance audiences.
• Presence and confidence to interact with senior management. Ability to leverage influence across teams and cultures.
• Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skill, and the ability to apply it to work successfully in a matrix environment.
• Critically and logically evaluates potential short and long-term costs, risks, and benefits.
• ability to work under pressure and to tight timelines, producing a high standard of work with attention to detail.
• organizing information and manipulates data, develops reporting to identify/explain trends, problems and mitigating actions.
• Understands the change management process. Able to influence and lead others to embrace change positively in support of organizational objectives.

Qualifications and experience required:

• Qualified Accountant with demonstrable experience.
• Fluent English speaker
• Team management experience
• Deep accounting knowledge including IFRS16 and other relevant accounting standards.
• Understanding of business performance management and process optimization.
• Experience working in a multi-national matrix organization
• Strong understanding of materiality and ability to prioritize across competing agendas
• Ability to conduct investment analysis and capital asset evaluation
• Ability to identify business risks and propose tactics to mitigate.
• Understanding of finance specialist areas: tax, treasury, compliance, corporate governance and ability to utilize proper judgement to involve them as necessary.
• Awareness of multiple business models and experience of working with more than one desirable.
• An understanding of putting internal financial results into an external market context.

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.

Please see our attractive UK benefits here: Pearson Jobs - Benefits

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All 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 strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

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 [email protected].

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: FINANCE

Organization: Corporate Finance

Schedule: FULL\_TIME

Req ID: 12616