Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner

Description - Provide strategic financial support to Pearson’s US Higher Education Portfolio and Content teams, combining disciplined FP&A ownership with commercially focused analysis that shapes investment and growth decisions. 

Also known in the market as: Senior Finance Business Partner; FP&A Manager; Strategic Finance Manager; Commercial Finance Manager.

About the Role

Pearson is seeking a Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner to provide proactive and strategic financial support to its US Higher Education Commercial Portfolio and Content teams. You will own foundational planning and reporting processes while developing the analytical insight that helps the business assess opportunity, profitability, and performance.

This role is embedded in the business and works across Portfolio, Content, Finance, and cross-functional partners. It blends core FP&A, financial modelling and commercial strategy, with autonomy to improve models, automate reporting, and develop forward-looking views.

What You’ll Do

• Own the annual operating expense budget and rolling forecast.

• Own capital investment budget and forecasting, including risks, trade-offs and prioritization.

• Build, maintain and present monthly reporting for business stakeholders.

• Support revenue planning and analysis. Own the core revenue model.

• Build and improve revenue, gross-margin and profitability models.

• Provide ad hoc analysis that puts numbers around strategic and commercial decisions.

• Partner directly with business leaders across investment, pricing, channel and growth decisions.

• Use advanced Excel, data and AI-enabled approaches to improve speed, quality and insight.

• Proven experience in FP&A, finance business partnering, corporate finance or comparable experience.

• Strong budgeting, forecasting and business-planning experience.

• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability, including driver-based models.

• Commercial curiosity and confidence working directly with business leaders.

• Strong communication and financial storytelling for non-finance audiences.

• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership and autonomy.

• Experience operating across multiple stakeholders in a matrix or global organization.

• Practical experience using AI tools to improve finance work.

• Education, publishing, subscription, platform or SaaS experience is helpful, not essential.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in FP&A, finance business partnering, corporate finance or comparable experience.

• Strong budgeting, forecasting and business-planning experience.

• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability, including driver-based models.

• Commercial curiosity and confidence working directly with business leaders.

• Strong communication and financial storytelling for non-finance audiences.

• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership and autonomy.

• Experience operating across multiple stakeholders in a matrix or global organization.

• Practical experience using AI tools to improve finance work.

• Education, publishing, subscription, platform or SaaS experience is helpful, not essential.

Location & Working Pattern

United States, remote. East Coast time zone is preferred, but candidates in other US locations may be considered.

Salary / 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 $89,600 - 166,400

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

Applications will be accepted through October 25th. This window may be extended depending on business needs.