Senior Research Officer – Financial Sector Research

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Position

ShareAction’s Financial Sector Research team works towards holding financial institutions accountable for their impact on climate change, human rights, biodiversity, and other important issues.

Asset managers, insurance companies and banks hold a huge amount of influence over the world’s largest companies through their investment, lending and underwriting activities. While many of these financial institutions publicly claim to be taking environmental and social issues seriously, often, these claims do not hold up to scrutiny.

In this role, you will have many opportunities to challenge the financial sector by contributing to:

• Our financial sector benchmarks, covering insurance companies, banks and asset managers.
• Coordination with civil society allies to maximise our combined impact.
• Engagement with relevant institutions and providing them with detailed recommendations for improvement.
• Communication of our research findings externally, for example, on webinars.

Working alongside the rest of the Financial Sector Research team, you will contribute to ShareAction’s key reports ranking financial institutions. This involves collecting information from institutions and databases, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, producing engaging graphics to communicate results and translating this analysis into actionable steps for financial institutions to take. You will collaborate with teams across ShareAction and may join meetings with financial institutions, other NGOs, or regulators to discuss this research. We will ensure that you receive sufficient support and oversight to ensure you feel comfortable and knowledgeable in delivering this bold and challenging work.

This is a very exciting time to be joining the team. In 2025, we are undertaking our comprehensive benchmarks of the insurance sector and reinvigorating the survey of the European banking sector. In this rapidly evolving field, we are looking for a person with excellent research and communication skills and a passion for making a difference to join our team.

Key responsibilities

• Analysing quantitative and qualitative data, primarily writing reports on insurance companies and/or banks in 2025.
• Using Excel to analyse and organise large data sets.
• Instigating, developing and managing relationships with financial institutions, inviting them to participate in our research, as well as answering technical questions.
• Presenting findings of our work to external and internal stakeholders, most frequently through webinars and presentations, including the coordination of these events.
• Instigating, developing and managing relationships with civil society stakeholders.
• Organising and planning work with a high level of autonomy and providing guidance to colleagues across workstreams where relevant.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of relevant projects, as well as contributing to funding bids and reporting on KPIs to funders where appropriate.
• Keeping up to date on relevant news and information on the financial sector and the thematic areas covered by our work.

What you’ll bring to the team

We welcome anyone who shares our passion for environmental and social justice through the transformation of the financial sector. Please feel free to apply even if you’re not sure you tick every box.

Essential

• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and a proven ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research.
• A broad understanding of how the financial sector works and how financial institutions can have an impact on environmental and social issues.
• A keen interest in driving the finance sector to better serve people and planet.
• Excellent organisational skills and a proven ability to manage competing demands while still meeting deadlines.
• Strong communication skills in written and spoken English.
• Competency with Microsoft Excel, including writing formulae and building charts.
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to work collaboratively.
• A passion for ShareAction’s vision and mission.

Desirable

• Subject matter knowledge in climate change, biodiversity or human/labour rights.
• Experience in or with the finance sector; an understanding of responsible investment and its implications for different types of financial institutions.
• Experience giving presentations.
• Any experience in programming, particularly an interest in learning Python for data processing.
• Experience with managing relationships with external stakeholders.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365, particularly SharePoint.
• Experience with CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.

ShareAction currently operates a hybrid working policy, with staff permitted to work either in our office or remotely. The Financial Sector Research team normally meets in the office once a week, with some flexibility possible.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension, invested with NEST and their green funds.
• A healthcare cash plan with Westfield that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay: starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9 am on Monday 17th March 2025.
First-round interviews: w/c 24th March 2025 (online).
Second-round interviews: w/c 31st March 2025 (online). 

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.