Research Principal
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Minimum 1 year contract | Full Time or Part time considered | Remuneration commensurate with role and FTE | Melbourne based | Hybrid work arrangements |Travel may be required
Job Description and Summary:
As Research Principal at the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB), you will be responsible for strengthening the evidence base that supports high-quality, independent standard-setting. Evidence-informed decision-making is at the heart of every standard-setting project, enabled through a combination of stakeholder engagement and research. You will identify, assess and synthesise relevant external research and perform ad hoc internal research to support the delivery of standards that are globally coherent and locally relevant, enabling entities in Australia to deliver comparable, transparent, and decision-useful general purpose financial reports.
The AASB will be merged with the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and the Financial Reporting Council to form External Reporting Australia from 1 December 2026. The Research Principal role will continue through this merger.
Key Responsibilities:
As the AASB Research Principal, you will be expected to support technical teams to:
- Embed research evidence throughout the standard-setting lifecycle through:
- Identifying, assessing and synthesising external research that is relevant to standard-setting projects
- Undertaking limited scope internal research that is relevant to standard-setting projects in collaboration with technical teams
- Preparing high-quality literature reviews, research summaries, briefing papers and board papers that clearly communicate complex evidence and implications for decision-making
- Engage with academics, professional bodies and other stakeholders to source evidence, test findings and build research capability across the standard-setting ecosystem
- Maintain accessible research resources, evidence repositories and knowledge-sharing processes to support timely and consistent use of research across standard-setting projects.
About You:
The ideal candidate will bring strong research capability, a wide network in the academic community (domestically and internationally) and an ability to translate complex evidence into clear insights that support high-quality standard-setting. Additionally, it is desirable that you have:
- Strong ability to identify, assess and synthesise relevant academic literature, external research and other market evidence
- Demonstrated experience designing, conducting and synthesising research to inform policy, regulatory, technical or standard-setting decisions
- Experience preparing high-quality literature reviews, research papers, briefing materials or board papers that present evidence and implications clearly
- Sound understanding of Australian Accounting Standards, International Financial Reporting Standards and the role of evidence in developing globally coherent and locally relevant standards
- Strong analytical judgement, including the ability to evaluate the quality, relevance and limitations of different sources of evidence
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex research findings to technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to engage effectively with academics, professional bodies and other stakeholders to source, test and communicate evidence
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver research outputs within agreed timeframes
- Demonstrated commitment to acting with integrity, taking accountability and fostering a collaborative culture in a multidisciplinary standard setting organisation
- CPA, CA, PhD or Masters or equivalent relevant qualifications
- The right to work in Australia
- Relevant experience in research, accounting, policy, regulation, standard-setting or a related field
Applications:
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in the role to [email protected] . Applications to be submitted by 5.00pm (Melbourne time) on 11 September 2026.
The AASB is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
