Assistant Professor in Business Administration, specialising in Corporate Finance

The University of Gothenburg offers a research environment where internationally recognised excellence meets an open and collaborative culture. Here, early-career researchers are given the conditions to grow, build networks, and contribute to research with global relevance.

This position is part of the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment initiative Gothenburg Global Scholars. Learn more about the initiative and the University here: Gothenburg Global Scholars.

The Swedish Research Council will announce an attractive funding opportunity for Assistant Professors with an international background at the end of 2026. The University’s ambition is to nominate strong candidates from this recruitment initiative to the Swedish Research Council.

With approximately 3,700 full-time students, 470 employees, 160 international partner universities and four departments, the School of Business, Economics and Law offers exceptional breadth and is Triple Crown accredited through EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. The Department of Business Administration is the School’s largest department and conducts extensive research and education at first-cycle, second-cycle and doctoral levels. The position is based in the Industrial and Financial Management & Logistics (IFEL) section, which conducts research and education in areas including corporate finance and collaborates closely with research environments such as the Centre for Finance (CFF), Northern Lead and Lighthouse.

Business Administration, specialising in Corporate Finance.

Subject area description

Corporate Finance examines firms’ financial decision-making, with a focus on investment decisions, financing strategies, and mechanisms for ensuring a market-based return for both shareholders and lenders. Central to the field is the development of theoretically and empirically grounded frameworks that facilitate profitable investments and efficient financing while taking risk and the cost of capital into account.

Particular emphasis is placed on analyzing the factors that influence firms’ choices of capital structure and investment strategies, especially in environments characterized by asymmetric information and transaction costs. A clear grounding in financial theory is essential for understanding, explaining, and analyzing these decisions and their consequences. The field has a strong methodological orientation, employing quantitative tools such as discounted cash flow models, real and financial option models, as well as statistical and econometric methods, to analyze how external market conditions affect firms’ financial decisions.

Duties

The position comprises a maximum of 50% teaching and a minimum of 50% research. Research is expected to focus on Corporate Finance, align with the subject area description above, and be of a quality suitable for publication in high-quality international scientific journals. Research is also expected to be actively disseminated through research seminars and academic networks.

The Assistant Professor will teach at first-cycle and second-cycle (Master’s) levels and is also expected to contribute to doctoral education and contract education, as well as course development and administrative duties. Teaching will primarily concern courses in Corporate Finance, including Corporate Valuation, Advanced Corporate Finance, Financial Management, or similar courses, as well as supervision of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in finance and within Accounting and Financial Management.

The position also requires active efforts to apply for external research funding during the employment period and to contribute to the development of the department’s educational and research environment.

Eligibility

Eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg GU 2024/3252.

To be eligible for appointment, the candidate must have been awarded a doctoral degree in Business Administration specialising in Corporate Finance, or have corresponding research competence. Primary consideration should be given to candidates who were awarded their doctoral degree or achieved equivalent competence no more than five years before the application deadline. Candidates who achieved such competence earlier may also be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, or similar circumstances. The reason, dates, and extent of the absence must be clearly specified in the application and supported by documentation/certificates.

The ability to teach in English is a requirement.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as Assistant Professor are governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg GU 2024/3252.

We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated the ability to independently initiate, develop, and conduct high-quality research in Corporate Finance. Assessment will be based primarily on research expertise, secondly on teaching expertise, and thirdly on collaborative and administrative competence.

Research expertise

Research expertise is demonstrated through scholarly publications and current participation in national and international research collaborations. Particular emphasis will be placed on high-quality theoretical and/or empirical research in Corporate Finance and publication in respected international peer-reviewed journals. The quality, originality, and impact of publications are given greater emphasis than the total number of publications. The ability and potential to conduct further high-quality research during the appointment, and the ability to obtain external research funding in competition, are meritorious.

Teaching expertise

Teaching expertise is demonstrated through documented experience of planning and delivering teaching in various forms, including lectures, seminars, and supervision, at first-cycle, second-cycle and/or doctoral level within the subject area. Particular emphasis is placed on the quality of teaching, potential for continued pedagogical development, and documented contributions to the development of courses, study programmes, or teaching methods.

Collaboration with the community at large and Administrative Competence

Expertise in collaboration with the wider community may be demonstrated through the ability to develop existing collaborative relationships or establish new collaborations between academia and relevant societal stakeholders, and through communicating research findings to the public. Administrative competence includes experience of academic leadership, such as coordinating research or educational activities, and contributions to the development of the department or faculty. Personal qualities, including the ability to collaborate effectively within the department and with external partners, will also be considered when assessing suitability.

Overall Assessment

An Assistant Professorship is a career-development position targeting researchers and teachers who defended their doctoral thesis relatively recently. The position will be offered to the candidate who, based on an overall assessment of expertise and development potential, is considered suitable and to have the best prospects for carrying out the duties of the position, collaborating with other staff, and contributing positively to the development of the department.

Extensive experience in academic environments outside Sweden is highly meritorious.

Employment

An appointment as Assistant Professor is a fixed-term career-development position. The purpose is to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to develop independence as a researcher and strengthen scientific and pedagogical qualifications in order to meet the requirements for eligibility for appointment as Senior Lecturer. The appointment may be extended, but for no more than a total of two years, if additional time is required to fulfil the purpose of the appointment due to sick leave, parental leave, or other special circumstances.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor is entitled to be considered for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer in the same subject area, provided that the individual is qualified for such an appointment and is deemed suitable following an assessment based on the established promotion criteria (GU 2025/3441). An application for promotion must be submitted to the department no later than six months before the end of the appointment period.

At the time of application for promotion, the applicant must demonstrate research expertise and clear progression in research qualifications and achievements during the appointment. The assessment considers familiarity with the subject area and prior research, creativity and originality, analytical depth and breadth, scientific quality, independence, and forward-looking development. Active participation in the scientific community, academic service, constructive research collaboration, and societal impact of research may also be taken into account.

For teaching qualifications, the applicant must have completed higher education teaching and learning training in accordance with University requirements, or have equivalent documented knowledge, and must demonstrate substantial high-quality teaching experience at first-cycle and/or second-cycle level during the appointment. The assessment includes documented teaching qualifications, pedagogical reflection and development, experience from different educational environments and teaching formats, and, where relevant, course and programme leadership and production of teaching materials.

For internationally recruited Assistant Professors, promotion to Senior Lecturer requires successful completion of Swedish language studies at a minimum of level B2 according to the CEFR, in accordance with the Vice-Chancellor’s decision (Ref. GU 2022/1887).

Moving to Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, beautifully situated on the west coast. The city is well known for its friendly atmosphere and high quality of life. Choosing a career in a new country is a major step. Gothenburg offers a welcoming environment and strong support for international talent relocating to the region. Internationally recruited staff are offered a contracted relocation package and tax advisory services (Global Mobility support).

Other information

The position of Assistant Professor is a career-development appointment and constitutes a step in an academic career path designed to enable researchers to develop their independence and establish their own research profile, with the right to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. At the University of Gothenburg, Senior Lecturers are also eligible to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Full Professor.

To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer academic freedom, flexible working arrangements, and generous annual leave. Employees are also entitled to a range of benefits, including a wellness allowance, supplementary parental benefits, and an occupational pension scheme. Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

If you do not have formal training in academic teaching, you will be given the opportunity to undertake such training as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory. If you do not have proficiency in Swedish at a minimum of level B2 according to the CEFR, you will be offered language courses as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

Selection process

Eligibility screening of applicants will take place after the application deadline. The application documents of eligible candidates will subsequently be submitted to external reviewers for assessment. As part of the selection process, in addition to expert assessment and interviews, trial lectures and reference checks may also be conducted. Interviews are planned after completion of the external expert assessment.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Taylan Mavruk, Professor and Head of the IFEL Section, taylan.mavruk@handels.gu.se, +46 (0)31 786 5958, or Jonas Flodén, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the IFEL Section, jonas.floden@handels.gu.se, +46 (0)31 786 5131.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Officer Natalie Axell at natalie.axell@gu.se.

Unions

Information about union representatives at the University of Gothenburg is available on the University website.

Application

You apply for the position through the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and submitted no later than the application deadline. Please submit your application in English, as it will be reviewed by external reviewers whose working language is English.

The application must include:

All merits must be documented and certificates attested. Attachments should be named so that their content is clearly identifiable.

Application deadline: 30 October 2026

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.