Financial Planning & Analysis- Manager

Financial Planning & Analysis- Manager - ( 2113144 )

Description

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.

Role Summary

Responsible for managing a mid sized team - (11) providing full the FP&A support for the School Assessment division.

This position will work with the local BPM in partnering with the business, and through having an in depth understanding of the business areas supported will be able to support them in their operational activities and strategic objectives whilst maintaining integrity in their financial reporting. Collaboration, partnership and stakeholder management are foundational to success in this role.

This role will involve working in a changing environment, managing a team during transformational change in how Pearson operate their business.

In order to undertake this role you will need to:

• Understand where data comes from and how it is presented to enable application into the process in the right way
• Apply judgment and 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
• Ensure performance targets are met and service is delivered to end users as expected
• Identify opportunities for continuous process improvement and innovative solutions and communicating these to the Managers
• Deliver effective key outputs as a SME contributor not just as a team manager
• Manage competing demands and prioritise appropriately.

Key Responsibilities: Management of a team of 11 FTE's with responsibility for the following processes:

Financial Analysis (both at month end and on ad hoc basis)

• Review products & projects to ensure accounting is in line with policies
• Request accrual or other accounting adjustments that are judgement based
• Provide analysis to support decision-making, including presenting economic outcomes, identifying the key value drivers, benefits, sensitivities and risks, accounting and fiscal implications.
• Support problem solving using sensitivity analysis and other techniques; review variance analyses and account reconciliations, and identify significant items requiring the attention of higher-level management.
• Prepare analysis and reports that enable the business management to effectively challenge costs and inform decision-making.
• Participate in efforts with the business to understand key drivers and cost reduction opportunities.
• Review and QA various outputs including month end accounts and reporting packs prepared in PFS for Senior Management in the business and the local BPM
• Support the resolution of problems identified through the review and quality assurance processes
• Provide additional commentary based on the business knowledge on packs to be provided to the business and local BPM, and work with the business to resolve queries in the accounts
• Deliver project-based work alongside 'business as usual' in an environment of ongoing change and development
• Deal with auditors during interim testing and at year end reviewing SOX controls carried out by the team and ensure they are completed correctly.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Support in the preparation of the Strategic Plan financials and targets
• Monitor the financial progress against the Strategic Plan submitted, giving analysis where relevant of deviations to plan.
• Support the Annual Operating Planning and Rolling Forecasting processes
• Review current performance of business & assess major risks & opportunities
• Prepare profitability analysis and variance analysis and report on findings with documented conclusions
• Prepare and review Project Accounting budgets and incorporate into consolidated op plan pack for review with the business
• Provide reasoned advice on modelling, planning and forecasting with reference to cost, time and quality which incorporate the organization strategic direction.
• Work with the Local BPM and Business to ensure all submissions are received in a timely manner to PFS
• Compile documents and prepare supporting documentation including presentations for review with the Local BPM and key business stakeholders.
• Track the Business financial targets through transfers and between planning cycles, clearly and simply explaining movements in the targets

Team 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 manage the time and attendance of all Employees in your area, setting and achieving of deadlines/targets.
• To effectively implement positive change within the department, lead and motivate employees.

Communication - Communicate financial information and concepts in a clear, precise, thorough manner to meet the needs of both finance and non-finance audiences. Appreciate the diversity of stakeholder interactions and adapt personal style as well as approach accordingly.

Accountability and Ownership - Prioritise and balance, organize, and allocate time, action, and resource to generate significant positive results and achieve critical goals. Anticipate and decisively intervene, addressing and removing obstacles, and redirecting efforts to accelerate work, improve quality, move the work forward, and/or get efforts back on track.

Collaboration and Partnering - Identify opportunities and take action to build relationships between own area and other teams/departments to help achieve business goals. Supporting the local BPM with ad hoc reporting and analysis questions.

Change Management Capability - Understand the change management process. Able to influence and lead others to embrace change positively in support of organizational objectives.

Prioritization - Juggle many priorities and competing demands for one's time. Understand the importance of materiality when prioritizing work. Pearson is an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate against employees or job applicants and select the best person for each job based on relevant skills and experience.We are also committed to building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce and encouraging equality and diversity.The information you provide will stay confidential, and be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Qualifications

Qualifications/Experience required.

• 5 years minimum experience in a Finance Management role/BPM role
• Strong accounting knowledge - holding a recognised professional accountancy qualification ( consideration will be given to candidates without a qualification who can demonstrate they meet the other experience requirements)
• Excellent understanding of materiality and ability to prioritize across competing demands
• Experience of finance ERP systems (Oracle preferred but not essential)
• Understanding of financial control, business performance management and process optimization and experience of working in more than one of these areas
• Advanced user of Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel (v-lookups, sum-ifs, pivot tables etc.)
• People Management Experience
• High commitment to quality to ensure reports are prepared accurately first time
• A self-starter who is motivated to work under own initiative demonstrating initiative and sound judgement;
• Ability to work as part of a wider management team, identifying and providing support to colleagues
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and to be able to prioritise to meet those deadlines

Desirable skills:

• Experience working in a multi-national matrix organization
• Awareness of multiple business models and experience of working with more than one
• Understand the principles of change management and demonstrated ability to champion and drive change.
• Participation in international projects.
• Experience transitioning finance activities between locations/groups

Primary Location : GB-GB-Belfast

Other Locations : GB-GB-Rotherham, PH-PH-Manila

Work Locations :

GB-Belfast-Millennium House

Millennium House, 1st FloorGreat Victoria Street

BelfastBT2 7AQ

Job : Finance

Organization : Finance

Employee Status : Regular Employee

Job Type : Standard

Job Level : Manager

Shift : Day Job

Job Posting : Sep 14, 2021

Job Unposting : Oct 14, 2021

Schedule: : Full-time Regular

Req ID: 2113144