Edtech.com's Summary

Pearson is hiring a Senior Manager, Corporate Development. This role leads and manages mergers and acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures across Pearson, while supporting corporate finance activities such as shareholder returns and activism. The position requires driving deal execution, collaborating with business units, preparing business cases for approval, and providing strategic analysis to senior leadership.

Highlights

Lead evaluation and execution of acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures aligned with Pearson's strategy.
Manage advisors, due diligence teams, contract negotiation, and internal approval processes including Board submissions.
Provide strategic analysis for the Board, CEO, CSO, and CFO on matters like defence planning and balance sheet strategy.
Collaborate closely with Group Strategy and Corporate Development teams on strategic projects.
Minimum 7-10 years of relevant transaction experience in investment banking, M&A advisory, corporate finance, or strategy.
Undergraduate degree in business, finance, or accounting; advanced qualifications like MBA or CFA preferred.
Strong decision-making, commercial, analytical, communication, and project management skills.
Experience leading transactions end-to-end and a good understanding of contracts law.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Preferably experience in technology and/or education sectors.
Requirement to be present in the London office 1-2 days per week.

Senior Manager, Corporate Development Full Description

Team

Corporate Development is a small, high-profile team reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer based across Pearson's London and Hoboken, NJ offices. The team works hand-in-hand to drive all group strategy, strategic partnership, and M&A activity across the Pearson group. The team is responsible for i) setting the M&A strategy and managing all acquisitions, disposals and corporate joint ventures (end-to-end) and ii) supporting on corporate finance matters (e.g. shareholder returns, defence & activism). We have a significant amount of exposure to the Pearson CEO, CFO and other Board directors, and we work very closely with the Pearson Executive team and senior management in all our business units, together with a small central Deal Operations team who drive integration and separation activities resulting from our transactions.

Main activities / responsibilities of role

This is an opportunity for you to work in a fast-paced environment and gain experience across a variety of transaction types and corporate finance projects. You are a self-starter and able to drive your tasks autonomously, however also a willing team player - working closely with our businesses to achieve shared goals. You will bring your existing transaction experience to the role - to solve deal problems and be accountable to drive projects to their conclusion.

Working with the business units in evaluating potential acquisitions, disposals and corporate joint ventures - this includes reviewing the business case against Pearson's strategy, building and reviewing valuation models and preparing the documentation to take the business case for approval at CEO/CFO level and eventually Board level (if required)
Taking a senior role on all elements of transaction execution, which include:
Appoint and manage advisors as necessary such as lawyers, investment bankers and financial due diligence providers;
Manage the internal Pearson team during the due diligence or carve-out process and challenge findings,
Manage the development of the business case and internal approval process (including writing approval papers for the Pearson Board and senior management);
Reviewing and negotiating contracts and legal agreements; and
Representing Pearson in meetings with counterparties
Provide assistance on specific strategic analysis for the Board, CEO, CSO and CFO, for example, defence & activism planning, balance sheet strategy, including dividend and share buy-backs
Work closely with the wider Group Strategy and Corporate Development team ensuring Corporate Development input into our various strategic themes and projects

Qualifications and experience required

Candidates must have previous substantial (minimum 7-10 years) relevant experience gained working in an investment bank or M&A advisory firm, the corporate finance or strategy division of a large accounting or consulting firm, or within the M&A / strategy function of a multinational corporate organization
Undergraduate degree in a relevant field, ideally in business, finance or accounting. Relevant advanced qualification (e.g. MBA, CFA) a plus
Experience in leading transactions from start to finish essential
Able decision maker with strong commercial, analytical and business problem-solving skills
Ability to analyse and shape both the wider strategy and focus on the detail whilst applying the right judgement
Strong interpersonal and communication skills (including strong writing skills)
Able to establish credibility with senior management and advise and influence them
Ability to distil complicated information and detail into simple conclusions
Good understanding & experience with contracts law
Strong Project Management skills. Ability to handle a high volume of work in a short period of time as well as multiple priorities simultaneously is important
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Ideally prior experience in the technology and/or education industries.

Please note that this role carries a requirement to be present in the London office 1-2 Days per week.

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: Strategy

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

#LI-REMOTE

Original Job Description

Team

Main activities / responsibilities of role

Working with the business units in evaluating potential acquisitions, disposals and corporate joint ventures - this includes reviewing the business case against Pearson's strategy, building and reviewing valuation models and preparing the documentation to take the business case for approval at CEO/CFO level and eventually Board level (if required)
Taking a senior role on all elements of transaction execution, which include:
Appoint and manage advisors as necessary such as lawyers, investment bankers and financial due diligence providers;
Manage the internal Pearson team during the due diligence or carve-out process and challenge findings,
Manage the development of the business case and internal approval process (including writing approval papers for the Pearson Board and senior management);
Reviewing and negotiating contracts and legal agreements; and
Representing Pearson in meetings with counterparties
Provide assistance on specific strategic analysis for the Board, CEO, CSO and CFO, for example, defence & activism planning, balance sheet strategy, including dividend and share buy-backs
Work closely with the wider Group Strategy and Corporate Development team ensuring Corporate Development input into our various strategic themes and projects

Qualifications and experience required

Candidates must have previous substantial (minimum 7-10 years) relevant experience gained working in an investment bank or M&A advisory firm, the corporate finance or strategy division of a large accounting or consulting firm, or within the M&A / strategy function of a multinational corporate organization
Undergraduate degree in a relevant field, ideally in business, finance or accounting. Relevant advanced qualification (e.g. MBA, CFA) a plus
Experience in leading transactions from start to finish essential
Able decision maker with strong commercial, analytical and business problem-solving skills
Ability to analyse and shape both the wider strategy and focus on the detail whilst applying the right judgement
Strong interpersonal and communication skills (including strong writing skills)
Able to establish credibility with senior management and advise and influence them
Ability to distil complicated information and detail into simple conclusions
Good understanding & experience with contracts law
Strong Project Management skills. Ability to handle a high volume of work in a short period of time as well as multiple priorities simultaneously is important
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Ideally prior experience in the technology and/or education industries.

Please note that this role carries a requirement to be present in the London office 1-2 Days per week.

Job: Strategy

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

#LI-REMOTE

Let me find your next job.

Thanks - you're signed up.

Senior Manager, Corporate Development

Edtech.com's Summary

Senior Manager, Corporate Development Full Description

Team Lead, Admin Support

Associate Portfolio Manager - Higher Education

AI Content Strategist

European Senior Editor, The Lancet Weekly (m/f/d)

Vice President - Professional Services