China Business and Finance Correspondent

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 seeking an enterprising and creative journalist to join our team covering business and finance in China. China has gone well beyond reshaping the global economy to shaking up the corporate world and the global financial system as well. The rise of Chinese automobile brands such as BYD, Chinese consumer phenomena such as Popmart and big Chinese financial players such as Ping An and Ant Financial are all examples of trends where we want to break ground for our readers.

We anticipate that this role will initially be based in Hong Kong but with the intention of moving to one of our bureaux in China - located in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - on receipt of the appropriate visa. The precise beat that the correspondent takes on is for discussion and the most active sectors change over time.

News is the heart of the job - and we will look for the correspondent to break stories with their reporting and interviews - but we also want and expect them to write across a range of formats, from sharp analysis to magazine features, with an eye for the big picture.

You will be working with a team of China experts; mutual support and teamwork is part of the role. There are many opportunities for travel across the varied landscapes of China. You may also be asked to represent the FT at events and work on podcasts or video. For an ambitious and talented journalist, keen to make their mark, few jobs could be better.

 

Your Skills

• This is a job for a writer and a reporter. The core of the role is to find and tell stories about business and finance in China.
• You will have the ability, working with local researchers, to identify the news that matters and then write it in a way that resonates with an audience of financiers, politicians, executives and professionals around the world.
• Government touches every area of business life in China so the ability to access and work with regulatory sources would be valuable.
• A correspondent with some years of experience reporting for a mainstream publication, ideally about China, would be preferable. 
• A level of resilience and tenacity is essential, given limits on the free flow of information in China, and pushback from the authorities.
• Good communication skills are vital. You will regularly pitch ideas to editors in Hong Kong and deliver copy when promised. 
• You are also collegiate: working closely with colleagues is one of the pleasures of FT life. 
• Good working knowledge of Mandarin would be extremely beneficial.

 

Please submit your application by the end of the day, Monday 26th October 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 [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to help.

*LI-RS1