Research Assistant (ESG Financial Reporting - Western Balkans)

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.

The main purpose of this role is to provide research support to academic team Dr Nereida Polovina and Dr Steven Wynne for the project titled: 

EU and UK initiatives on green agenda for the Western Balkans region. Their impact on local company practices in developing sustainable ESG financial reporting

The research assistant will be assisting with research data collection and analysis, and the dissemination of findings to appropriate contacts related to the project. They will support the development of new areas in the field of ESG financial reporting practices on the Western Balkans region.

Dates: 10 March 2025 – 20 July 2025
Hours: 16 hours per week, flexible around studies
Location: Hybrid - online/Business School

Key Tasks

Research Activities

• Undertake literature review, data collection and analysis using research skills.
• Plan and prioritise own work and resources, within research project framework, to determine the most effective way to achieve agreed research objectives.
• Conduct literature and database searches using standard techniques and methods.
• Write up results of own research and prepare for presentation to research team and relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
• Use initiative and judgement to develop appropriate techniques in order to facilitate research work and resolve problems affecting the achievement of objectives and deadlines.

Liaison and Networking

• Present research to the team and in appropriate articles for publication, such as academic/professional journals or conferences.
• Participate in internal and external partnerships and networks in order to aid the dissemination of research findings, to share best practice, and to enhance the reputation of the University.

Service Provision

• Proactively and effectively engage with quality assurance procedures to ensure that University standards are upheld.
• Collaborate with academic colleagues on research development and future direction.
  

Team Working

• Actively participate as a research member of team in this  research project.

• You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
• You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
• You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
• Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
• You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
• You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.

This role is only open to current Manchester Met students who meet the criteria below:

Essential

• Current postgraduate (Masters or Doctoral) student
• Having expertise on quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
• Ability to undertake research by preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments and/or field work.
• Ability to use initiative, creativity and judgement to develop appropriate approaches in order to further research.
• Proficiency in the use of software package STATA 
• Possess sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge to work within an established research team.
• Experience of data collection
• Experience of presenting and communicating complex information to a range of audiences, both orally and in writing
• Experience of prioritising work independently and as part of a team in order to deliver individual and team objectives
• Experience of data collection using secondary data from company websites and financial databases such as Bloomberg, Refinitiv and Orbis.

Desirable

• Knowledge of research skills, including an understanding of relevant research methods and techniques in the area.
• Knowledge of Western Balkans region or South Eastern European countries
• Knowledge of EU and UK engagement on Western Balkans region or South Eastern European Countries
• Knowledge of EU green deal and EU accession in Western Balkans or South Eastern European Countries
• Knowledge of econometric analytical techniques using Stata. 
• Knowledge of ESG financial reporting.
• Knowledge of SDG