Lead Specialist - Tax

Job Title - Lead Specialist, UK Corporate Tax Compliance (Senior Tax Manager)

Description - Own Pearson’s UK corporate tax compliance and reporting cycle across a complex group, combining deep technical expertise with commercial judgement and process improvement. Also known in the market as: Senior Corporate Tax Manager; UK Corporate Tax Senior Manager; Senior Manager, Corporate Tax Compliance and Reporting.

About the Role

The UK is Pearson’s second largest market, with complex businesses across multiple business units, central corporate functions and group financing activity. This role has direct responsibility for managing the UK corporate tax compliance process and associated matters.

You will deliver the annual cycle from year-end tax provisions and statutory accounts disclosures through to tax computations and filings. You will also identify effective tax rate and cash-tax risks and opportunities, support business decisions and contribute to wider tax projects.

This role suits someone with strong UK tax technical skills who enjoys accountability, autonomy and improving how work gets done.

What You’ll Do

• Lead UK year-end tax reporting, provisions, prior-year adjustments, SOX controls and tax journals.

• Own statutory tax reporting, tax numbers and disclosure notes with finance teams.

• Manage timely UK corporation tax returns and related filings through a Big Four outsource, including RDEC claims.

• Provide day-to-day tax support on new initiatives, supply chains, contracting models and group projects.

• Assess UK tax law changes and lead Pillar 2 strategy and compliance activity.

• Deliver cash-tax forecasting, HMRC payments and contributions to group ETR forecasting.

• Partner with Treasury on tax-efficient intragroup financing, derivatives and foreign exchange matters.

• Act as a key HMRC contact for audits, SAO, Business Risk Review and general correspondence.