Lead Specialist, Finance Business Partner

Hbcu Connect, Llc; Boston (MA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join our Enterprise finance team in the United States. You will lead core planning and performance activities and partner with HR, strategy, sales, delivery and product.

We value a proactive, commercially minded individual who can build clearer processes and provide decision-ready insights. This role supports a high-visibility business, reporting to the Finance Director, Enterprise, with opportunities to shape reporting, forecasting and governance

Qualifications

• Strong FP&A or financial advisory foundations with commercial judgement.
• Experience working with non-finance stakeholders and influencing senior decisions.
• Advanced Excel, financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Ability to turn complex data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Proactive in improving processes and delivering through ambiguity.
• Clear communication and dependable ownership.
• Bachelor's in Finance/Accounting/Economics or related field.
• MBA/CPA/CFA preferred.
• Experience with Essbase, Oracle or Salesforce; curiosity about AI is valued.

Responsibilities

• Own annual budgets, quarterly forecasts and long-term planning.
• Provide variance analysis, performance commentary and decision-ready insights.
• Partner with leaders on business cases, investments, pricing and cost optimization.
• Produce timely management accounts, KPI dashboards and month-end analysis.
• Support strategic and operational planning for the Enterprise business.
• Improve reporting, forecasting and finance workflows through standardisation.
• Build cross-functional solutions including workforce and hiring-data visibility.
• Maintain strong controls and alignment with group finance requirements.

Skills

FP&A experience

Stakeholder influence

Excel modelling

Data to insight

Education

Bachelor's in Finance/Economics/Accounting

MBA/CPA/CFA preferred

Tools

Essbase

Oracle

Salesforce

Job description

Description - Help shape the commercial finance capability of Pearsons growing Enterprise Learning & Skills business, combining planning, insight and stakeholder partnership with practical process transformation.

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

About the Role

Pearson is looking for a Finance Business Partner to join its Enterprise finance team in the United States. This role supports a newly consolidated, high-visibility business and reports to the Finance Director, Enterprise.

You will own core planning and performance activity while partnering with leaders across HR, strategy, sales, delivery and product. The environment is closer to a growth business than a mature corporate structure, so you will also help build clearer processes, reporting and decision support.

This role suits someone who combines strong FP&A or financial advisory foundations with commercial judgement, curiosity and the confidence to challenge constructively.

What Youll Do

• Own annual budgets, quarterly forecasts and long-term planning.
• Provide variance analysis, performance commentary and decision-ready financial insight.
• Partner with operational leaders on business cases, investments, pricing and cost optimisation.
• Produce timely management accounts, KPI dashboards and month-end analysis.
• Support strategic and operational planning for the Enterprise business.
• Improve reporting, forecasting and finance workflows through standardisation and automation.
• Build practical cross-functional solutions, including workforce and hiring-data visibility.
• Maintain strong controls, governance and alignment with group finance requirements.

What Were Looking For

• Strong FP&A or financial advisory experience, ideally in a large, matrixed or fast-moving organisation.
• Evidence of working effectively with non-finance stakeholders and influencing senior decisions.
• Excellent logical problem-solving, analytical and commercial judgement
• Advanced Excel skills, financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Ability to turn complex data into clear insight and recommendations.
• A proactive approach to improving processes and delivering through ambiguity.
• Clear communication, constructive challenge and dependable ownership.
• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related field.
• MBA, CPA or CFA is preferred rather than essential.
• Experience with Essbase, Oracle or Salesforce is helpful but not required; practical use of AI in work, or genuine curiosity to develop it, is valued.

Leadership Capabilities

This role would suit an individual looking to progress upwards within the finance organization into a Finance Director role or with longer term CFO track ambition - Pearson has an excellent track record of mobility within the finance organization.

Location & Working Pattern

United States, remote. East Coast location is preferred for working-time overlap, although strong candidates elsewhere in the US 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.

Why Join Pearson?

Join a visible growth business where finance is helping shape the operating model, not simply reporting on it. You will work across functions, improve how decisions are made and build experience that can support progression towards broader finance leadership.

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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: Enterprise Learning & Skills

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Remote

Req ID: 26343

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