Manager Financial Planning and Analysis

Job Description

Role SummaryThe Finance Manager is responsible for acting as a Business Partner for the Pearson Property Function and reporting overall financial performance of Pearsons Property Portfolio. This position will partner with both the Finance, Technology and Property &Facilities teams to ensure business cases are reviewed and contain input from all relevant areas of the business as well providing Financial Analysis on a monthly and ad-hoc basis to support decision making.Responsible for supporting the Pearson Property Team and their Finance Business Partners in modelling business cases for the properties within the Future Workplace Strategy Program and wider property portfolio and tracking of the costs and benefits achievedfrom the project.Performing various scenarios for each location and analytics thereon in line with data provided by property, technology and brokers which can be presented to the monthly Property PEM to enable decision making around the size and requirements of propertiesand locations in the future.All business cases to prepared in line with IFRS16 guidance to provide P&L, Cash and Discounted ROI analysis and outputs for PEM review.Collaboration, partnership, and active stakeholder management are foundational to success in this role.Thriving in an evolving environment, working to drive innovation, and embed industry best practice is key.The Manager will also lead a small team of finance professionals that will also support the Pearson Property function.Key Responsibilities:Strategic Planning

• Assures a strategic thinking and insight beyond managing the numbers, supporting the business in developing business cases to meet strategic direction and requirements.
• Contributes to an effective resource allocation of Pearson funds, connected with the best investment opportunities, financial performance and anticipating risk and reducing uncertainty.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Supports planning & forecasting processes, by keeping up to date tracking of program financial status in terms of costs and benefits in order to provide updates to original budgets/previous monthly forecasts.
• Provides the business and Director Finance BP with relevant financial business case analysis to support them to enable effective planning.
• Provides reasoned advice on modelling, with reference to cost, time and quality which incorporate the programs and Pearson as an organizations strategic direction.

Financial Analysis

• Provides analysis to support decision-making, including presenting economic outcomes, identifying the key value drivers, benefits, sensitivities and risks, accounting and fiscal implications.
• Communicates financial results to SLG members and their leadership teams for presentation to Property PEM on a monthly bases.
• Sets standards for business analysis to support strategic direction and comparison.
• Sets up an improved automated (based on key inputs) excel modelling template to be used for property business case analysis for this program and continuing.

Investment Analysis & Allocation

• Understands the strategic nature of assets in property and facilities in the creation of long-term business value.
• Valuation of investment proposals for the property & facilities business area.
• Communicates investment analysis criteria to non-finance professionals in a clear and concise manner to support decision making to drive cost savings.

Cost Management

• Prepares analysis and business case presentations that enable the business management to effectively challenge costs and inform decision-making.
• By preparing and analyzing business cases with the business area, participate in waste elimination efforts and understand key drivers and cost reduction opportunities to be included in the Future Workplace Strategy program.

People Management

• Manage direct reports by motivating, developing and leading them in accordance with Pearson policies.
• Conduct regular Personal Development Reviews as per Pearson policy
• To communicate honestly with your team, providing constructive feedback
• To effectively implement positive change within the department, lead and motivate employees.

Required Skills:Communication:

• Strong verbal and written skills within finance, across the organization and with external parties.
• Communicates financial information and concepts in a clear, precise, thorough manner to meet the needs of both finance and non-finance audiences.
• Appreciates the diversity of stakeholder interactions and adapts personal style as well as approach accordingly.

Influence:

• Presence and confidence to interact with senior management. Ability to leverage influence across teams and cultures.
• Identifies the agendas, concerns, and motivations of interested others, and is persuasive when positioning ideas and arguments to address them.
• Ensures that all proposals or arguments are fully supported by strong logic and a compelling business case, addressing all relevant factors.

Emotional Intelligence:

• Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skill, and the ability to apply it to work successfully in a matrix environment.

Collaboration:

• with other internal teams and third-party providers.

Decision Making:

• understanding materiality, complex and uncertain situation, prioritization
• Critically and logically evaluates potential short and long-term costs, risks, and benefits.

Performance focused:

• In terms of self & others

Time Management:

• ability to work under pressure and to tight timelines, producing a high standard of work with attention to detail.

Analytics focused:

• organizing information and manipulates data, develops reporting to identify/explain trends, problems and mitigating actions.

Driving change:

identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation Understands the change management process. Able to influence and lead others