MEMBERS

FMI SIG Annual Conference 2026

Thursday 8 - Friday 9 January 2026 Liverpool John Moores University

The conference will be hosted on 8–9 January 2026 by the Accounting and Finance for Society Research Group at the Liverpool Business School (LBS), at Liverpool John Moores University. The joint conference Chairs will be Professor John Ashton and Professor Mark Rhodes. The conference theme this year is 'Fragmenting Finance: Changing Channels and Technology in a Rapidly Developing Industry'.

The conference invites papers from academics, PhD students and practitioners on all aspects of finance. The conference theme is concerned with financial regulation and how regulation will deal with both new challenges such as the volatile world of cryptocurrencies, and longstanding questions from prudential regulation to consumer protection. The emphasis on financial regulation is broadly stated, recognising that the scope and focus of financial regulation is ever shifting and defies precise definition. This uncertainty has generated both positive and negative perceptions of the operation of financial regulation. We propose to explore this conflagration to provide further clarity as to the goals of financial regulation, comprehension of the assumptions underlying our regulatory models and enhanced methods to quantify regulatory performance. Topics of interest are broad, yet we are particularly interested contemporary topics including the evaluation of Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and forms of the regulation within digital asset markets.

The conference will be hosted by the Accounting and Finance for Society Research Group at the Liverpool Business School (LBS), at Liverpool John Moores University. LBS is an engaged and inclusive business school at the heart of the Liverpool City Region with social, environmental, and economic impact beyond borders.We are driven by our commitment to innovation and creativity, which permeates all aspects of our research and enterprise. The joint conference Chairs will be Professor John Ashton and Professor Andros Gregoriou.

Keynote Speaker

Professor Robert Hudson (University of Hull), Emeritus Professor of Finance at Hull University Business School. Over a long career, Robert has worked at the Universities of Leeds, Newcastle and Hull. Robert is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a Chartered Mathematician and has had extensive business experience in financial services prior to entering academe. His main research interests are in financial markets, the financial services industry, and the financial behaviour of individuals. This research has won several awards and has been featured in local and national media. A standout feature of Robert’s career has been the impact of his research work. Robert has been an advisor to the Financial Conduct Authority, the Actuarial Profession, and the Office of Fair Trading.

The Future of Financial Regulation Roundtable

The roundtable panel discussion will develop a dialogue as to the future of financial regulation. This discussion will engage with the dynamics of financial regulation, theoretically and practically. These discussions are important as the models of regulation applied to standardise, discipline and direct, financial markets and institutions are contested, often politicised and have been in a continual state of flux for many decades. These models have evolved through the neo-liberal revolution of the 1980s and market orientated regulation where scepticism as to the effectiveness and utility of regulation soared. Regulation has since witnessed the emergence of principles-based, outcomes-based approaches associated with light touch regulation. In the last decade we have observed increasing dissatisfaction with the subsequent management based, meta regulation allowing firms to shape their compliance systems, and the reemergence of non-market regulatory approaches have arisen including paternalistic approaches. These changes have both influenced both how and for whom we regulate. Combined with a revolution in scope of financial activities and financialization and tools and technologies available to regulators, financial regulation is at cross-roads. The roundtable will explore this contested terrain and examine contemporary thinking as to the future of financial regulation.  

Call for Papers

Deadline: 1 October 2025

We are pleased to invite academics, researchers, PhD students and professionals to submit research papers for presentation at the conference of the BAFA Financial Markets and Institutions Special Interest Group.

Established in 2007, the Financial Markets and Institutions Special Interest Group brings together academics with research and scholarly interests in financial markets and institutions, broadly defined. The group is inclusive by nature and open to contributions on financial markets and institutions from a range of disciplinary perspectives. We hope this forum can provide UK based opportunities to assist new and prospective academics together with more established scholars.

The purpose of the Conference will be to facilitate research through supportive debate discussion, and the generation of ideas and of course, to provide an opportunity to network, catch up with old friends and make new ones. 

Submission Guidelines

Submission of full papers will be considered in areas of Finance, Accountancy, Actuarial Science, Banking and other cognate fields. The conference is friendly and supportive in tenor and an early expression of interest is encouraged to avoid disappointment. We actively encourage new researchers and PhD students to present their work at the conference.

There are no strict style guidelines for the conference, but please ensure that all figures and tables are provided along with submissions in an accessible form and that work is fully referenced using one of the main accepted methods (e.g. Harvard, APA etc.)

Please forward all submissions for consideration to a.gregoriou@ljmu.ac.uk. The deadline is 1 October 2025.

Scientific Committee

  • Andros Gregoriou - Liverpool John Moores University
  • John Ashton - University of York.
  • Mike Franco - Liverpool John Moores University.
  • Ranadeva Jayasekera -Trinity College University of Dublin. 
  • Mark Rhodes -Leeds Beckett University
  • Jon Williams - University of Surrey. 

Important Dates

Deadline for Submission: 1 October 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 31 October 2025
Registration Deadline accepted author: 30 November 2025
Registration Deadline for everyone: 20 December 2025

Registration

Opens:  10 March 2025
Closes: for accepted authors on 30 November 2025; for everyone else 31 December 2025

Fees

Academics/Other Participants: £200
PhD students: £100 

The conference fee is inclusive of buffet lunches and tea, coffee and refreshments. All accommodation is to be organised by the participants at their own cost.

Registration will be via your BAFA membership account.

All delegates must be a member of the British Accounting and Finance Association.  Non-BAFA Members will need to join BAFA to attend the conference. Further details of the benefits of membership and where to join are available at  https://bafa.ac.uk/membership/. The BAFA membership fee is £30, or £15 for PhD students and retired academics.

Accommodation

Liverpool is home to many excellent and more affordable hotels. A quick google search will provide a comprehensive listing of the many accommodation options, but the following hotels may be of particular interest:

  • Best Western Premier Collection Richmond Hotel: 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L3 2AA, UK.
  • The Shankly Hotel, Millenium House, 60 Victoria Street, Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 6JD, UK
  • Liverpool Marriott Hotel City Centre, One Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RH, UK
  • The Liner at Liverpool, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, L3 5QB, UK
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Liverpool, 6 Sir Thomas Street, Liverpool, L1 6BR, UK
  • Ibis Styles Liverpool Centre Dale Street – Cavern Quarter, 67 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2HJ, UK
  • The Sir Thomas Hotel, 24 Sir Thomas Street, Liverpool, L1 6JB, UK
  • Holiday Inn Liverpool City Centre, Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1NQ, UK
  • The Nadler Hotel, 29 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AU
  • Hope Street Hotel, 40 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9DA
  • Best Western Feathers Hotel, 117-125 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5TF
  • The Printworks Hotel, 13 Renshaw Street, Liverpool L1 2SA
  • Hotel Novotel Liverpool Centre, 40 Hanover Street, Liverpool L1 4LN

BUDGET HOTELS - HOSTELS

  • Hatters Hostel, 56-60 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SD
  • Hoax Hostel, 54 Stanley Street, Liverpool L1 6AU
  • Cocoon International Hotel, 4 South Hunter Street, Off Hardman Street, Liverpool L1 9JG

Host City

Liverpool is an exciting destination both for a short visit and a longer stay. Liverpool's "buzzing atmosphere" and “fantastic cultural scene” has led to it being named the UK’s best large city break in a recent Which survey. The survey of 4,000 Which members placed Liverpool in top spot in the large cities category, and much higher than Manchester, London or Cardiff. For those looking to extend their stay, more much comprehensive information is available on the Visit Liverpool website.

Enquiries

Should you require any further information or assistance please contact: 

Andros Gregorio at a.gregoriou@ljmu.ac.uk  or John Ashton at John.Ashton@york.ac.uk