Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis

Job Title - Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and AnalysisDescriptionSupport business performance through financial reporting, planning, forecasting and analysis, helping leaders make informed decisions through accurate financial insight and data-driven recommendations. This role aligns with market titles such as FP&A Analyst, Financial Analyst, Financial Reporting Analyst, Finance Business Partner, Commercial Finance Analyst or Management Accountant.About the RoleAs an Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis within Pearson Finance Services (PFS), you will play a key role in delivering high-quality financial reporting, planning, forecasting and performance analysis to support Corporate Functions.You will own core planning and performance management activities, producing accurate, decision-ready financial insight while helping stakeholders understand business performance, risks, opportunities and future outlook.Working closely with Finance and business teams, you'll support month-end reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis while continuously improving processes, controls and reporting capability through automation, standardisation and AI-enabled tools.This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys combining technical finance expertise with business partnering, analysis and continuous improvement.What You'll DoFinancial Reporting & AnalysisDeliver month-end financial reporting, rolling forecasts, annual budgeting and ad-hoc financial analysisProduce accurate, timely and decision-ready financial outputs supported by clear commentary and insightDevelop and maintain driver-based financial models to explain performance and support planning decisionsPerform detailed variance analysis to identify risks, opportunities and performance driversPlanning & ForecastingSupport annual planning, forecasting and performance management cyclesPartner with stakeholders to align assumptions and improve planning accuracyContribute to financial narratives that support decision-making across Corporate FunctionsAnalyse financial and operational performance trends and recommend actionsBusiness PartneringBuild strong relationships with Finance and business stakeholdersProvide financial guidance and support business decision-makingTranslate complex financial information into clear, actionable recommendationsSupport executive-level reporting and performance reviewsProcess Improvement & AutomationDrive standardisation, simplification and continuous improvement across finance processesLeverage automation and AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency and reporting qualityDesign and improve dashboards, KPIs and self-service reporting solutionsWork with Finance Systems, Data and BI teams to enhance reporting capabilityGovernance & ControlsMaintain robust governance, controls and audit trails across reporting and planning activitiesEnsure financial and operational data remains accurate, reconciled and reliableSupport data quality improvement initiatives and reporting integrityContribute to development of best practice across planning, reporting and financial management activitiesWhat We're Looking ForEssential Experience & SkillsRelevant accountancy qualification (or equivalent finance experience)Experience within Financial Reporting, FP&A, Management Accounting or Commercial FinanceStrong planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting experienceProven ability to produce clear financial analysis, insight and commentaryExperience partnering with senior stakeholders across multiple teamsAdvanced Excel skills including PivotTables, Power Query and financial modellingStrong variance analysis and performance management capabilityExperience working with ERP and financial reporting systems (Oracle preferred)Demonstrated ability to improve processes, controls and reporting efficiencyExcellent communication skills with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholdersStrong attention to detail, ownership and accountabilityNice to HaveExperience with AI-enabled reporting or finance automation toolsExperience building dashboards and self-service reporting solutionsExposure to Power BI, Tableau or similar reporting platformsKnowledge of KPI development and reporting governance frameworksExperience working within a global organisationLocation & Working PatternHybrid – BelfastThis role follows a hybrid working model, with an expectation of two days per week in our Belfast office and the remainder working remotely.You'll work closely with Finance and business stakeholders across multiple teams and geographies, supporting a global organisation while benefiting from the flexibility of hybrid working.Why Join Pearson?At Pearson, we're transforming learning for millions of people around the world. As part of Pearson Finance Services, you'll play an important role in helping business leaders make informed decisions through accurate reporting, insightful analysis and forward-looking financial planning.You'll join a collaborative team that embraces innovation, automation and continuous improvement while offering excellent opportunities for professional growth and career progression within a global organisation.Whether you're looking to deepen your FP&A capability, strengthen your reporting expertise or broaden your business partnering experience, Pearson provides the scale, support and development opportunities to help you achieve your goals.Full timePosting Date: 2026-08-03