Who are we?
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We also create incredible assessment clinical and professional tests to help people to growth in their personal and professional lives. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large, and small.
What you’ll do
The Operations Associate provides critical financial and operational coordination to Pearson’s Global Payroll team. This role ensures accurate budget tracking, vendor payment processing, and financial variance resolution, while also supporting teamwide operations such as team meetings and executive presentation preparation.
Success in this position requires the ability to communicate in a mature and professional manner, adapt to different audiences, and collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds.
This is an excellent early-career opportunity for someone eager to gain broad exposure to business operations, finance, and team coordination within a global enterprise.
Who you will work with
This role reports directly to the Vice President of Global Payroll. You will work closely with the Regional Payroll Leaders, HR leaders, members of Finance, and external vendors.
Responsibilities
Budget Monitoring & Analysis
Compare monthly budget versus actuals and identify key variances
Partner with Finance Business Partners and Accounting to research and explain discrepancies
Assist in preparing variance commentary and reporting for leadership review
Vendor Purchase Orders & Invoice Management
Create and maintain purchase orders for payroll vendors
Code and submit vendor invoices to Source-to-Pay (A/P) for processing
Track invoice and purchase order status
Vendor & Stakeholder Support
Act as the first point of contact for payroll vendors regarding payment status inquiries
Liaise with Finance, Accounting, and other internal stakeholders to resolve payment or charge-related issues
Financial Research & Problem-Solving
Investigate department charges that appear out of scope or misaligned with budget expectations
Analyze data and propose solutions, demonstrating sound judgment and critical thinking
Support ad-hoc financial and operational projects as assigned by the VP
Team & Presentation Support
Coordinate logistics for all-hands or team meetings, including agenda preparation, scheduling, and follow-up actions
Assist with the creation and formatting of PowerPoint decks, reports, and executive-level presentations
Required skills/experience
Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent work experience)
2+ years of experience in finance, operations, accounts payable/receivable, or business operations
Intermediate-level proficiency with Microsoft Excel (e.g. pivot tables, v-lookup, charts)
Comfortable working in ambiguous situations and exercising critical thinking to drive clarity
Highly organized with attention to detail and a proactive approach
Must be fluent in English
Preferred experience
Basic understanding of financial principles and accounting procedures
Experience with Oracle EBS
Experience with iProcurement or other spend management tools
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 TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
Job: Human Resources
Job Family: ENTERPRISE