PhD in Auditing

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Department Business, Research Group B4S is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

Your research

You conduct research with a view to obtaining a doctoral thesis. This vacancy's research component is situated in the field of auditing. Auditors play a crucial role in business by providing independent assessments of the reliability of financial reporting. For companies facing financial difficulties, where continuity is uncertain, it is essential that stakeholders such as creditors and investors are well informed. Bankruptcies cause considerable societal harm. This doctoral research centres on one key question: does the way auditors report on a potential bankruptcy in their audit report influence the decisions of stakeholders? You will examine whether and how the layout and form of audit reports of companies with uncertain going concern status can influence stakeholder decision-making, using complementary research methods including observational data research, eye-tracking and experimental research. The research has both academic value and societal relevance: recent changes in audit reporting regulations call for evidence-based insights.

At the start of the doctoral work, you will further elaborate the doctoral theme and research tasks in consultation with the supervisor and, if applicable, the co-supervisor(s).

You will disseminate your research findings by publishing in academic journals and presenting at (inter)national conferences.

Your teaching responsibilities

You will be involved in the teaching of the department and in particular for the guidance of exercise sessions and the preparation and evaluation of exams for courses in financial accounting, financial statement analysis, auditing and management accounting (in English-language programmes, and preferably also in Dutch-language programmes).

Your contribution to the team

You will contribute to the daily functioning of the department and the research group.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You hold a master’s degree in (applied) economic sciences, business economics, business engineering, or equivalent.

• You can demonstrate excellent academic results;
• You have an excellent command of English; knowledge of Dutch is an asset;
• You are motivated to teach and have a strong interest in research;
• You have strong analytical and communication skills;
• You work independently: you are organised, take initiative and can set priorities;
• You are resilient and approach challenges constructively.

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 15/09/2026. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 07/06/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• your CV;
• your motivation letter;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Our application process is as follows (subject to change):

• step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; 
• step 2: a job interview.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Diane Breesch at diane.breesch@vub.be.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.