Hybrid Senior Manager, Corporate Development

at Pearson VUE

• Job title: Senior Manager, Corporate Development
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, London, United Kingdom

About the role

• Senior Manager in Corporate Development working on M&A and corporate finance strategies. Evaluating acquisitions and managing transaction processes in a high-profile team.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• Candidates must have previous substantial (minimum 5-7 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
• Prior experience in the education industry is helpful but not required.