Advanced Specialist, Commercial Finance

About the Role

The Advanced Specialist, Commercial Finance role is critical to the success of Pearson Virtual Schools (PVS), as the business continues to grow and expand. You will work closely with the Deal Desk, Finance, and other stakeholders to ensure that commercial decisions are informed by rigorous financial analysis and modelling. Your ability to bring financial rigour to deal processes will be essential in enabling high-impact strategic opportunities across new business, renewals, and complex commercial scenarios.

What You Will Do

• Build, evaluate, and maintain detailed financial models supporting new business opportunities, renewals, and complex commercial deal structures
• Analyse key performance drivers including margin, revenue per student, pricing structures, and cost base to assess overall financial sustainability
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Deal Desk, Sales, and operational stakeholders to support deal progression and alignment
• Manage deals throughout the full lifecycle, coordinating inputs, pressure-testing assumptions, and ensuring timely movement through approval stages
• Develop and model pricing scenarios for both new and existing products, supporting commercial strategy and decision-making
• Partner with Deal Desk leadership to build and enhance product-level costing frameworks and margin infrastructure
• Deliver ongoing reporting and insights related to pricing performance, deal outcomes, profitability trends, and key financial drivers
• Evaluate ad-hoc pricing requests and support non-standard or complex commercial structures
• Identify and implement process improvement initiatives to enhance Deal Desk scalability, governance, and operational efficiency
• Own the integrity and accuracy of deal inputs and outputs, ensuring consistency and alignment with pricing frameworks and commercial policies

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field
• 3-6+ years of relevant professional experience, including exposure to pricing, deal desk, or commercial finance environments
• Strong financial modelling capability, with the ability to independently build and maintain models in Excel
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Strong analytical and commercial mindset, with a high level of attention to detail and data accuracy
• Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders such as Sales, Finance, and Operations
• Ability to translate complex financial data into clear, structured insights and recommendations
• Experience working with large or complex datasets, and structuring models to support ongoing analysis

Nice to Have

• Exposure to tools such as Tableau, Alteryx, or other data visualisation/workflow tools
• Experience with process improvement initiatives and change management
• Knowledge of the education sector, particularly in relation to virtual schools and online learning platforms

Benefits and Perks

• Flexible remote working model, with expectations aligned to business and team needs
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within a fast-scaling business
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork and stakeholder engagement
• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies, including data visualisation and workflow management software
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, reflective of the company's commitment to attracting and retaining top talent
• Opportunities for networking and knowledge-sharing with colleagues across the business, including experts in finance, sales, and operations
• A culture that values innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement, with a focus on driving commercial success through data-driven decision-making

• Develop a strong foundation in Excel, including advanced modelling and data analysis capabilities, to succeed in this role.
• Showcase your ability to communicate complex financial data in a clear and structured manner, using real-world examples or case studies to demonstrate your skills.
• Highlight your experience working with cross-functional stakeholders, including Sales, Finance, and Operations, to demonstrate your ability to influence and collaborate with others.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to process improvement and change management, including any experience you have with implementing new tools or workflows.
• Consider creating a portfolio of your work, including examples of financial models, pricing strategies, and data analysis projects, to share with potential employers.
• Research the company and the role thoroughly, including the company culture and values, to ensure you are well-prepared for interviews and can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.
• Practice your negotiation skills, including discussing salary and benefits, to ensure you are prepared to advocate for yourself in the hiring process.