Finance Director, ELL Strategy and Commercial Finance (Global)
Posted 19 hours 31 minutes ago by Pearson
About the Role
We are seeking a seasoned and Strategic Finance Director to join our global team in the ELL (English Language Learning) Division. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in helping drive finance leadership over the ELL strategy, long range plan, translation into near term financial roadmaps, driving business performance and bringing best in class Strategy, FP&A, Analysis/Analytics capabilities into ELL Finance. This individual will also support the VP Finance on various special projects covering ELL in support of delivering our strategy. This is a unique opportunity for a finance leader who thrives in a global context, working closely with various regions worldwide.
Responsibilities:
- Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), and Strategy:
- Lead the development and execution of ELL's financial plans and strategies in collaboration with divisional and function group leaders.
- Work closely with divisional leaders to develop and manage long range plans, annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
- Monitor performance against budgets and provide actionable insights to drive financial discipline and accountability.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimization and efficiency improvements.
- Provide comprehensive financial analysis, forecasts, and insights to support strategic business decisions.
- Driving Business Performance:
- Implement an improved business performance management framework that helps drive ELL to its full potential.
- Implement a driver based view of the ELL business that enables better understanding of what is driving performance and how to improve.
- Leading the monthly review of business performance, with help of the PFS FP&A team including submission of key reporting to Pearson Group Finance.
- Develop and deliver regular, insightful global financial reports to aid decision-making.
- Deputise the VP Finance ELL on review of material business cases for key initiatives and investments.
- Investor Relations:
- Working with Pearson Investor Relations on crafting a compelling external story for the market on ELL's strategic direction and performance.
- Lead financial input at half year and full year into Investor Relations on ELL performance.
- Support the ELL President on understanding key trends in analyst reports and how we address them.
- Advanced analytics and insights:
- In partnership with ELL and Group Technology teams implement a data lake, AI, digital tools and reports that enable faster, deeper insights on what is driving ELL business.
- Leveraging external insights and networks, bring into Pearson best in class capabilities in Strategic Finance, FP&A and Performance Management.
- Process improvement:
- Working with regional finance leaders, drive simplification in our ongoing long range planning, reporting and forecasting processes to create space for more insightful analysis.
- Special projects:
- Support VP Finance on special projects that will occur from time to time at request of ELL President or Pearson Executive Leadership. This will involve co-ordinating/leading wider business teams and can include updates on overall ELL strategic and business performance, deeper dives on specific divisions and other themes impacting ELL strategy.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in Strategic Finance and/or FP&A director level roles covering similar areas to the above.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable global insights. Powerful storytelling capability.
- Experience of taking innovations externally and translating internally to drive improved capabilities in the areas outlined above.
- Experience in extracting, transforming, and translating data into insights using tools such as Excel, Tableau, and/or Power BI.
- Good communication and presentation skills.
- Experience working in a global context and collaborating with diverse teams across different regions.
If you are a strategic finance leader with a passion for making an impact, possess expertise in diverse business models, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.