Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner

Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner

Pearson Virtual Schools

Partner at the heart of a $200M+ Product & Technology portfolio, shaping investment decisions and driving financial performance at scale.

About the role

We’re looking for a Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner to provide strategic, commercial and financial leadership to the Product & Technology organisation within Pearson Virtual Schools. This is a highly visible role, partnering closely with senior leaders – including the Chief Technology Officer – and owning end‑to‑end financial performance and investment decision‑making across a $200M+ operating and investment portfolio.

You’ll play a key role in shaping financial strategy, driving rigorous planning and forecasting, and enabling confident, data‑driven decisions. Working closely with embedded FP&A analysts within Pearson Finance Services (PFS), you’ll bring clarity, control and insight to a fast‑paced, evolving technology environment.

This role suits a commercially minded finance leader who enjoys operating at senior level, influencing outcomes, and translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting for the Product & Technology organisation, aligned to strategic priorities and investment roadmaps
• Own monthly performance oversight, including results, KPIs and key variance drivers, providing clear executive‑level commentary and forward‑looking insight
• Act as a strategic partner to Product & Technology leaders, supporting data‑driven decision making across the portfolio
• Lead the development and evaluation of business cases for new investments, partnerships and product initiatives, including scenario analysis and risk assessment
• Identify and drive opportunities for cost optimisation, operating efficiency and revenue growth, turning insight into measurable outcomes
• Ensure strong financial governance and control, in line with global finance policies, internal controls and capital approval standards
• Drive implementation of global finance processes and the target finance operating model within the team
• Present clear, compelling financial insights to senior leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders
• Collaborate closely with Pearson Finance Services to enable efficient, scalable planning and reporting

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in a senior finance or finance business partnering role, supporting complex organisations and senior stakeholders
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including advanced financial modelling, scenario analysis and investment appraisal
• Ability to operate effectively in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments while balancing multiple priorities
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence influencing at senior leadership level
• Strong understanding of financial governance, controls and performance management
• Experience driving process improvement, standardisation and operating model change
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related field (MBA, CPA, CFA or similar is a plus)
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, with experience creating executive‑level financial insight
• Experience with enterprise finance systems such as Oracle, Hyperion/Essbase, SmartView or planning tools is highly desirable

Compensation:

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

The minimum full-time salary range is between $125,000 – $145,000.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience to https://pearson.jobs/.

Pearson is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Application Deadline:

Applications will be accepted through May.15th, 2026. This window may be extended depending on business needs.