Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner
Pearson, Hartford, CT, United States
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 organization 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 organization, 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.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Pearson is an equal opportunity employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 organization 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 organization, 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.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Pearson is an equal opportunity employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr