Advanced Associate, Internal Audit, Controls, Compliance, and Risk

Pearson; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Hybrid working

Permanent role after programme

Job summary

Pearson Internal Audit invites graduates to join a 3-year programme in Belfast or London, hybrid. You will work on audits across financial, operational and IT areas, including AI, turning analysis into practical insights for senior leaders.

From day one, Pearson funds and supports your ACCA qualification. Successful completion leads to a permanent role within the team, with salary announced for Belfast (£28,000) or London (£30,000) plus annual bonus.

Qualifications

• Recent graduate with a degree in Finance, Accounting or STEM.
• Keen interest in internal audit, risk management and governance.
• Analytical, detail-oriented and able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally.

Responsibilities

• Work on audits across financial, operational and IT areas including AI use.
• Test controls, identify risks and recommend improvements.
• Use data analytics to plan audits and draft workpapers.
• Draft clear audit reports and present findings to senior stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Finance, Risk, Legal and Technology teams.
• Contribute ideas to improve audit processes and controls.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Clear communication

Teamwork

Self-motivation

Education

Finance, Accounting or STEM degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Belfast or London (Hybrid)

• Finance, Accounting and STEM graduates

Are you curious to understand a global organisation end to end?

Join Pearson Internal Audit and build a broad understanding of how a global organisation operates. Over three years, you will work on audits spanning financial processes, technology and cyber, HR, AI and major transformation programmes-turning your analysis into practical insights for senior leaders.

From day one, we will fund and support you towards your ACCA professional qualification. Successfully complete the programme and you will be offered a permanent role within the team.

SALARY

£28,000 Belfast / £30,000 London, plus annual bonus

LOCATION

Belfast or London, hybrid

PROGRAMME

3 years, then permanent role

QUALIFICATION

Fully funded (ACCA)

START DATE

By July 2027

CLOSING DATE

6 November 2026

About Pearson

Our purpose is simple: to help people realise the life they imagine through learning. We are bold thinkers and innovators who push the boundaries of technology to empower learners across the globe.

Internal Audit gives independent assurance and advice across Pearson's global business units. You will be based in Belfast or London and work with colleagues across the organisation.

What you will do

• Work on audits across financial, operational and IT areas, including audits over the use of AI in our business, as part of our annual audit plan.
• Test how well controls work - identify risks and recommend improvements the business can act on.
• Use AI and data analytics to plan audits and draft workpapers, and to analyse complete data populations for fuller insight than traditional sampling allows.
• Write clear audit reports and present your findings to senior stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Finance, Risk, Legal and Technology teams on assurance and advisory engagements.
• Contribute ideas to how the audit function works through continuous improvement initiatives.

What is in it for you

• Breadth of experience - a structured 3-year programme across a wide range of internal audit topics.
• A professional qualification - full funding and support for ACCA qualification.
• A clear next step - a permanent role on successful completion of the programme.
• Salary and bonus - £28,000 a year in Belfast or £30,000 in London, plus an annual bonus scheme.
• Hybrid working - in our Belfast or London office at least one day a week, with remote working the rest of the time.
• Visibility - a view of the global Pearson organisation and a professional network across the business, including colleagues at our head office at 80 Strand, London.
• Benefits - Pearson's wider benefits package, learning resources and employee networks.

About you

You are a recent graduate, or due to graduate in 2027, with a degree in Finance, Accounting, a closely related discipline or a STEM subject. You are also:

• interested in internal audit, risk management and corporate governance
• analytical, a good problem-solver and careful with detail
• a clear communicator, in writing and in person
• curious, proactive and keen to learn
• comfortable working on your own and as part of a team
• confident with using MS Office tools (Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint)

Inclusion

We value diversity in all its forms and are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

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 [e-mail].

Job: Finance

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

Organization: Corporate Finance

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Req ID: 24740