Key Objectives

Pearson are on a journey to centralise certain local market tax compliance within the Group Tax function. We are unifying our approach across markets, ensuring greater consistency, efficiency, and oversight whilst maintaining flexibility to address local nuances with the support of external advisors. 

This role will assume day to day Indirect Tax responsibilities for selected overseas markets, and will be responsible (with the support of advisors) for delivering all related filings, including management of payments / refunds and overview of associated Indirect Tax Balance Sheet accounts. 

By bringing these activities together with the already centralised UK, US, Canadian and Australian tax compliance landscape, now all on a single ERP system, we plan to harness technology and data-driven insights to streamline processes, drive transformation, and better manage risks and opportunities. 

We are looking for someone with strong UK tax technical skills that can be applied to the international landscape (with support of local advisors), a desire for accountability and autonomy, and an enthusiasm for owning and optimising processes and driving an agenda of continuous improvement. 

You can read more about Pearson’s tax landscape and tax principles in our annually published Tax Report available on our website. 

 

Key responsibilities

Take charge of day-to-day indirect tax compliance activities across multiple overseas markets, leveraging UK tax technical expertise and external advisors to ensure timely and accurate filing of all returns.   Manage indirect tax payment processes, including optimising cash flow position and mitigation of interest costs.   Act as the primary point of contact between finance and business teams (whether in market, in regional hubs, or in our shared service centres) to obtain data and insights as needed.  Develop a deep understanding of Pearson’s business to enable you to effectively support compliance processes, and answer tax related business support queries.  Maintain awareness of local regulatory changes that could impact your markets.  Consider tax technology implications of business, product and regulatory changes and work with technology as needed to raise and implement changes.  Identify and react to tax risks and opportunities, including optimisation of VAT recovery. Analyse and maintain indirect tax balance sheet accounts. Ensure that all tax processes are well-documented and meet internal and tax authority control requirements. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance accuracy, efficiency and reduce manual intervention. Work with a wide range of internal stakeholders across legal, group finance, treasury and technology as needed.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

UK indirect tax professional, with practical hands-on experience managing an in-house VAT compliance process.  University degree or other higher education equivalent, and relevant professional qualification (accounting, tax or legal). Demonstrable experience gained in an in-house tax role and/or experience at Manager level or above in Practice. Strong Microsoft Excel skills and high level of comfort learning to use new systems. Experience with Oracle preferred but not essential. Proficient in VAT accounting Ability to interact with all levels and parts of an organisation on technical and non-technical matters, including Treasury, Legal, Finance and Business. Ability to manage external advisors to time and on budget.  A proactive, enthusiastic, team oriented individual with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Good project management experience and expertise. Ability to work independently to build connections and drive an agenda Strong organisational skills and documentation skills.

Location

Based anywhere in the UK. Role may be remote, with occasional travel to Pearson offices. Group Tax are based throughout the UK and US, with particular presence at our Corporate Head office in London (including Head of Tax) and Belfast. 

Your Reward & Benefits 

We know you’ll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all, so our workplace programs meet the different needs of our diverse teams and their families too. There are a range of options, too many to list here, but when you join our Pearson family you can look forward to: 

Starting holiday of 25 days plus UK public holidays and you’ll earn 1 additional day’s holiday per year you work with us; A generous pension scheme where we match and double what you contribute;  Maternity, paternity, and family care leave as well as flexible work policies;  Stock/share purchase options;  Healthcare and dental plans, and an employee well-being assistance program for you and your family to help balance work, family, and personal life;  Cycle to Work Scheme, gym membership concessions in selected office locations, along with retail and leisure discounts. 

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