Editorial Assistant, Moscow

About us

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide.

At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world.

In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing.

Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere.

Build a newsworthy career at the FT.

 

The role

The Financial Times is looking for an editorial assistant to join the Moscow bureau. 

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has made Russia one of the most important stories for the FT in decades. The job is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Though the Kremlin’s crackdown on journalism has made covering Russia harder than ever, the huge interest in the Russia story offers an opportunity to do impactful, agenda-setting reporting.

The editorial assistant’s primary role will be to aid the Moscow bureau chief and other reporters covering Russia with editorial tasks. This will include researching topics, arranging interviews, identifying new contacts or themes, and contributing reporting to FT stories. Some administrative tasks will be required to support the reporters in the Berlin office. The editorial assistant can also expect, on occasion, to support reporters in other FT bureaus working on Russia-related stories.

The successful candidate can expect to assist reporters who cover all aspects of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as how the war is transforming Russia’s politics, economy, and society. New restrictions on internet use have made contacting people inside Russia a growing challenge, while the Russian government continues to police dissent aggressively. This makes the role of a researcher who can break through the firewall and talk to Russians about realities on the ground particularly important.

The FT’s strong preference is for the position to be based in Berlin with the Moscow bureau reporters.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist the Moscow bureau reporters and other colleagues on stories covering Russia

• Administrative tasks for the Moscow bureau such as transcription, translation, and various organizational duties will be required

• Identify potential sources, contacts, and stories

• Arrange and conduct interviews

• Monitor Russian news, social media, statistics, and open source data

 

Who we are looking for

The ideal candidate is passionate about exposing new Kremlin policies, cold calling ordinary people, building up a network of sources, and digging up documents that generate headlines. The successful candidate will be a quick learner who can do what it takes to track people down and get them on the phone. You should be well versed in the technical tricks Russia’s restrictions require to do that. You also should have experience exploiting the unique opportunities in Russia for using leaked data and other OSNIT tools.

An interest in business and finance is essential, though previous experience is not required. The ideal candidate should have a good grasp of the clashes in Moscow over monetary policy and regulation, as well as the elite’s rapacious hunger for assets. Familiarity with accounts, corporate records, statistics, and spreadsheets is a plus. But the breadth and depth of the Russia story mean the candidate will report on all other aspects of life in the country - the brutal realities of the battlefield as well as the bread and circuses distracting Russians from them.

Your skills:

• Russian and English language skills are essential for this role; experience working with international media, particularly in English, would be an advantage

• Experience covering news quickly and assuredly, breaking scoops, and writing authoritative analysis for a major news organisation

• Knowledge of Russian business and finance would be an advantage

• Demonstrate numeracy and proficiency in handling data

• Enterprising and creative in explaining a complex country which is often poorly understood in the west, using different media forms including data and video

 

Please submit your application by the end of the day, Sunday February 1 2026. 

 

The use of AI

Original reporting, great writing and intelligent commentary lie at the heart of FT journalism. Our readers trust us to produce quality journalism that is accurate, fair and insightful. This is why FT editorial staff do not by default use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write articles or create other reader-facing content. For specific and pre-approved cases, AI can be harnessed for certain tasks, such as assisting data research for investigations.  

We expect applicants to the FT newsroom to refrain from using AI in their test submissions, and any written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences. We encourage candidates only to employ AI as a tool to help with research and interview readiness for a role. 

Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process is monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion 

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

What’s in it for you? Our benefits

Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.

FT Newsroom staff are expected to work onsite a minimum of three days per week, subject to role requirements and regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for Editorial roles.

Accessibility

We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.

 

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