At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small. We are recruiting this role within Pearson Finance Services (PFS) to support the provision of a consolidated view of financial business performance and planning to business partnering teams across Pearson. This role will prepare and deliver financial planning and analysis to business areas enabling effective business decision making within School Assessment. This role will also be expected to contribute to aspects of the budgeting and forecasting cycle.
To undertake this role the following will be required:
- Complete all deliverables in a timely, efficient and accurate manner
- Understand data sources and data flows and how financial and non-financial data is presented
- Apply analytical skills to ensure the accuracy and relevance of outputs needed by the business
- Contribute to team effort and assist co-workers across PFS and all business divisions as needed to enable effective delivery.
- Help to create a work atmosphere conducive to collaborative working
- Maintain customer satisfaction by promptly following up on customers’ requests for information
- Identify opportunities for continuous process improvement and innovative solutions and communicate these to your line manager
Team Activities/Tasks
- Complete the processing of all technical responsibilities (see below) in a timely, efficient and accurate manner
- Manage/perform the preparation of ad-hoc analysis / production of reports as requested to support accurate reporting and business decisions
- Preparing variance analysis against performance targets.
- Preparing monthly management reporting packs
- Assist in providing value add financial analysis to Finance Business Partners
- Manage the preparation of accruals / other adjustment journal entries as required.
- Supporting in the Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting cycles through preparation of analyses and system loads working with the BPO team to complete in line with strict deadlines
- Ensure team performance targets are met and service is delivered to end users as expected.
- Take proactive involvement in determining and implementing best practices within PFS
- Reconcile data between source ERPs and consolidated reporting tools (Oracle/Hyperion) and seek explanations for significant variances
- Reviewing the output of our Bangalore based BPO team
- Ad hoc reporting and analysis as required.
Qualifications
Mandatory skills / capabilities:
- A self-starter who is motivated to work under own initiative when required demonstrating initiative and sound judgement
- Analytical/variance analysis skills, proven ability to review and analyse financial data and explain results. Providing analysis to support decision making
- Accounting knowledge – Part qualified or qualified accountant (or part/fully qualified by strong relevant experience)
- Advanced user of Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel (v-lookups, sum-ifs, pivot tables etc.)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with both finance and non-finance professionals
- Experience of finance ERP systems (Oracle preferred but not essential)
- Ability to work to strict deadlines and to be able to prioritise to meet those deadlines
- Ability to manage Stakeholders effectively
Desirable skills / capabilities
- Experience of planning, budgeting and forecasting and producing management information for decision making.
- Experience working with and partnering with stakeholders in a large organisation
- Ability to multitask; coordinating the delivery of multiple priorities in parallel across disparate teams and locations
- Experience using Oracle and Hyperion systems and Smartview tools
The great benefits Pearson employees include;
- Private Healthcare, Dental care, Eyecare, Employee assistance programme
- Pearson pension (double matched up to 8% dependent on age)
- Annual incentive plan bonus (dependent on grade)
- 25 days annual leave Additional annual leave day for each year of service – up to 30 days Buy and sell annual leave – up to 5 days
- Childcare vouchers, Bikes for work, Annual travel loan – Abellio; Discounted gym memberships
- Worldwide Save for Shares in Pearson
- Paternity leave – 4 weeks full pay, Maternity leave – 52 weeks total 4 weeks full paid 3/5s phased return to work, Shared parental leave
- GEMS Awards – Going the extra mile recognition scheme for colleagues
-
Volunteering days – 3 days paid per year
