Lead, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis

Job title: LeadFinancial Reporting Planning and Analysis

Reports to:Executive Partner Financial Operations
Location:Belfast(Hybrid)

This role aligns to industry level titles such as: Head of Financial Planning & Analysis / Senior Director FP&A / Director of Financial Planning & Analysis

RolePurpose

• TheLeadFP&A in PFS will lead the financial planning and analysis functionacross Pearson within a shared services role ensures strategic alignment between operational performance and financialobjectives driving insight-led decision-making and supporting Pearsons global finance transformation agenda.
• This FP&A role willleadthebusiness unitfacing FP&A teams whilst working closely with theGlobal Lead Finance Operationsto reimagine services as we evolve our Finance strategy towards greater Data Science Advanced Analytics and Agent Ops AI-enabled ambitions.
• This isa highly complexpeople management role and whilst delivering the FP&A agendaa large amount of time and capacity within this role is spentdelivering world-class people management.
• Furthermore givenmost ofthis teamis inBelfast this leaderwillalso support the delivery of a talent acquisitionand developmentagenda in a complex labourmarket.
• The role will collaborate with the Head of PFS Financial Control as a site lead for engagement people and culture - not as an overall management role - working in partnership with Pearson stakeholders such asPEM FLT MembersHR Business PartnersandWorkplace teams to foster a positive and inclusive environment.

Role Dimensions

• Approximately80roll-up employeesacross the PFS FP&A finance organisation.
• Approximately10 direct reports including senior FP&A managers and analysts.
• Accountable forGallup Q12 engagement outcomesand driving a culture of inclusion and high performance.
• Responsible forperformance management processes ensuring clarity ofobjectives regular feedback and development planning for direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic& TransformationLeadership

• Own the FP&A strategy for PFS aligning financial planning with operational and corporateobjectives working in collaboration with Group FP&A and Business Partner FP&A leaderstodesign a transformation agenda tomodernise FP&A.
• Partner with senior leaders to influence resource allocation investment decisions and cost optimisation initiatives.

Planning & Forecasting

• Lead annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles for PFS ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Develop dynamic financial models for scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
• Standardise and automate FP&A processesand reportingwhere possible to modernise FP&A.

Performance Analysis

• Deliver actionable insights through variance analysis trend identification and risk/opportunity assessments.
• Produceconsolidatedmanagement reports for executive leadershipadopting automationAIand agentic ops to modernise reporting.
• Deliver comprehensive KPIs as a FP&A service including forecasting accuracy cycle time reductionautomationand productivity metrics.

DataGovernance & Compliance

• Support with build of a governed data modelto integrate multiple data sources to support automation and advanced analytical techniques.
• Ensure adherence to SOX audit standards and internal control frameworks.
• Maintain compliance across global FP&A processesin partnership withData PrivacyTechnologyand Audit.

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop a high-performing FP&A team fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Develop and buildcareer paths and skills to support FP&A of the future and build finance talent.
• Act as a mentor for emerging finance leaders within PFS.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with cross-functional teamsto embed financial insight into operational decisions.
• Act as a site engagement lead in partnership withFRC LeadHRBP Workplace and Property teams to promote culture and collaboration.

Change Management

• Lead and embed finance transformation initiatives across FP&A driving adoption of new tools data capabilities and AI-enabled processes while ensuring minimal disruption to planning and reporting cycles.
• Guide teams and stakeholders through organisational and process change building engagement capability and resilience while maintaining strong operational delivery and performance outcomes.

Tier M38 Expectations Operational Manager

This role sits withinOperational Manager tier the leader is accountable for the overall performance ofthe FP&Adepartment settingobjectivesin alignment with business unit goals. They oversee multiple teams or managers ensuring operational excellence the integrity of financial reports and delivery of reliable forecasts and actionable analyses for senior leadership.

This tier requires:

• Anticipating risks and guiding departments through change initiatives
• Representingfinance in business partnership meetings.
• Balancing resource constraints with long-term planning needs with risk extending to department-wide impacts on financial performance and planning cycles.

Performance Deliverables:

• Timelyaccuratereporting and analysis packages for the business unit supporting operational and financial targets.
• Identification and mitigation of risks in planning/reporting processes reducing variance from forecasts and improving responsiveness to business shifts.
• Oversight of professional development for department staff resulting in sustained improvements in quality and speed of deliveryand finance of the future talent.
• Leading successful implementations of process improvements standardisation and use of automation AI Agents to deliver operational excellence ensuring minimal disruption to reporting or planning activities.

Leadership Behaviours:

• Customer Centricity:Build strong internal partnerships to deliver tailored finance solutions.
• Raising the Performance Bar:Drive transformationacross FP&A using automation and AI to enhance the quality of insightsand planning rigour.
• Exceptional Collaboration for Value:Support cross-departmentalsynergyand resolve issues escalated from multiple teams.
• Our Leaders Inspire:Advocate for ethical transparent financial practices and nurture a culture of high performanceand modernisation of FP&A.

Qualifications & Experience

• Essential due to regulatory reasons- this role must be occupied by a fully qualified accountant (we cannot accept applications from partially qualified accountants)
• Essential due to regulatory reasons -Professional finance qualification (ACA ACCA CIMA) or equivalent.
• Essential-10 years in FP&A or related finance leadership roles ideally within global operations.
• Essential -Demonstrable strong people management experience and knowledge of UK and Northern Ireland people management processes and practices
• Essential -Demonstrable behaviours and leadership in line with the Pearson essential behaviours and professional interpersonal skills as a senior accountant and people manager.
• Essential-Proven ability to lead complex planning cycles and influence senior stakeholders.
• Essential Proven ability to transform FP&A and modernise adoptingnew technologies standardising processes using data and statistical techniques.
• Essential-Strong analytical modelling and communication skills.
• Desirable Data engineering coding intelligentautomationand AI
• Desirable Process standardisation and continuous improvement

If you think you could be a great fit for this role we encourage you to apply today we look forward to hearing from you and speaking soon.