Advanced Associate, Internal Audit, Controls, Compliance, and Risk

About the Role 

We are excited to offer an outstanding opportunity for ambitious finance and accountancy graduates to join our Internal Audit team, part of which is in Belfast.  

This graduate position is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and diverse experience across our internal audit function. Over the course of three years, you will develop deep expertise across key areas of audit, risk, and internal controls while building a strong professional network across the business. 

Whilst much of our work is done remotely, you will get a great view of the global Pearson organisation and have an opportunity to learn about most areas of our business. There may also be opportunities for travel to our Head Office at 80 Strand, London, to connect with colleagues and other stakeholders. 

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be offered a permanent appointment within the team — making this a fantastic launchpad for a long and rewarding career at Pearson. 

What You'll Do 

As a graduate in our team, you will work on a wide range of audits covering topics as diverse as financial processes, cyber, payroll and HR, AI, and large transformational change.   

Responsibilities will include: 

• Supporting the delivery of the annual internal audit plan across financial, operational, and compliance audits 

• Assisting in the evaluation and testing of internal controls, identifying risks and recommending improvements 

• Contributing to advisory and assurance engagements across Pearson's global business units 

• Preparing clear, well-structured audit reports and presenting findings to senior stakeholders 

• Leverage data analytics and cutting-edge AI tools to analyse complete data populations, identify trends, and provide more comprehensive insights than traditional sampling allows. 

• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including Finance, Risk, Legal, and Technology 

• Participating in continu