Professor Lecturer, PhD, at University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Florentina Olivia Balu is a seasoned academic and researcher currently based in Geneva, Switzerland. As a Senior Researcher (Maître assistante) from 2024 to 2025 and former Senior Lecturer in Financial Accounting (2019–2020) at the University of Fribourg, she brings over two decades of expertise in finance, accounting, and higher education. She also served as a Visiting Professor in Managerial Accounting at the Hospitality University of Lausanne (EHL) between 2018 and 2020. With a PhD from the University of Geneva and earlier doctoral studies at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, her work spans university teaching, empirical research, commodity market analysis, and policy advising. Fluent in English, French, and Romanian (with basic Russian), she is skilled across quantitative methodologies and economic modelling. Her career combines roles in academia, government, and international research networks—demonstrating commitment to advancing financial understanding and education globally.
Professional Profile
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🎓 Education
Florentina earned a PhD in Business Administration (2008–2014) from the University of Geneva’s prestigious HEC department, following earlier doctoral research in Finance and Money (2004–2008) at the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest. Her academic trajectory began at the same Bucharest institution, where she completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in finance, risk management, banking, and investments. During her doctoral years in Geneva and Bucharest, she focused on empirical and applied research in international finance, monetary and fiscal policy, econometric modelling, and management accounting. Her coursework included advanced studies in monetary theory, financial markets, investment analysis, and managerial accounting. She also gained early quantitative skills through studies in mathematics and physics, reinforced by awards in national Olympiads. Certified in strategic balanced scorecard design (University of Geneva, 2012), Reuters 3000xtra (2013), and Swiss Trading & Shipping Association (2014), Florentina blends rigorous academic foundations with applied expertise in analytics and pedagogy.
💼 Experience
Florentina’s professional journey began with internships at Romania’s National Bank and commercial banks (2000–2004), where she contributed to monetary policy discussions and asset-liability management. As a PhD candidate and Research/Teaching Assistant at HEC Geneva (2008–2014), she taught finance, accounting, macroeconomics, and advanced methods, while serving on faculty and doctoral committees. From 2017 to 2020, she held a financial analyst role at the Department of Social Affairs, Geneva, analyzing subsidized entities’ finances. Concurrently, she taught managerial and financial accounting at EHL Lausanne (2018–2020) and in 2019–2020 lectured at the University of Fribourg. Since 2024, she has held a senior research position at Fribourg. In each role, she has coordinated theses, developed course materials, participated in executive education, and advised on governance and quality processes within universities—showcasing her versatility in academic leadership, research, and public policy.
🔬 Research Interests
Florentina’s research encompasses finance and commodity markets, banking risk management, sustainability, ESG regulations, and digital governance. She specializes in empirical analysis using advanced quantitative techniques: structural equation modelling (PLS), time-series, GARCH models, and multivariate statistics. She examines Basel II/III frameworks, monetary–fiscal policies, and their regulatory implications, with a focus on sustainable finance, CSR, and ESG-aligned investments. Her work explores digital transformation in education and corporate governance, investigating the role of AI and blockchain in internal audit and control. In the commodity domain, she models price behaviour and volatility, particularly in Swiss and global contexts. She also studies macroeconomic trends driven by crises (e.g., Ukrainian war), clean water access, environmental taxation, and European fiscal strategies. Her applied policy work supports government and industry decision-makers in shaping strategies in finance, trade, and sustainability.
🏆 Awards
Florentina has received notable recognition for her research contributions. In 2006, she earned the Nicolae Georgescu‑Roegen distinction for outstanding scientific research in nationally and internationally funded projects. The prior year, 2005, she was awarded a Cum Laude distinction for her debut research efforts. In 2003, she achieved Magna Cum Laude and was titled “Best Student in Economics” at the National Concourse. Earlier, between 1994 and 1998, she earned multiple prizes in national mathematics and physics competitions: a major award from her college (1998), first prize in the Economics Olympiad (1997), third prize in the Mathematics Olympiad (1995), and various honors in STEM competitions. These awards reflect her longstanding academic excellence and early aptitude in quantitative disciplines.
📚Top Noted Publication
Here are selected key publications of Florentina Olivia Balu, including journal titles, years, and citation lines:
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Gole, I., Balu, F.O., et al. (2023).
Economic Implications of the Effects of the Ukrainian War.
European Journal of Sustainable Development, 11(4), 17–24.
Cited in: Studies analyzing geopolitical and macroeconomic impacts, particularly the economic consequences of the Ukrainian conflict on European sustainability frameworks.
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Balu, F.O., Radulescu, C.V., et al. (2021).
Cost Modelling and Computation in the Healthcare Industry. Case Study on a Swiss Medical Care Organization.
Economic Computation and Economic Cybernetics Studies and Research, 55(1), 73–88.
Cited for: Contributions to healthcare cost-management frameworks, especially in computational modeling for institutional efficiency.
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Dumitrache, V., Gole, I., Balu, F.O. (2020).
Entrepreneurial Competences in the Training of Future Technicians in Economic Activities.
Proceedings of the 6th BASIQ International Conference on New Trends in Sustainable Business and Consumption.
Focus: Vocational training and entrepreneurship education in economic curricula.
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Balu, F.O., Froidevaux, J., Bran, F. (2018).
Independent Assets Managers in Swiss Financial Market. Modelling IAM Performance.
Economic Computation and Economic Cybernetics Studies and Research, 52(2), 51–68.
Focus: Quantitative performance modeling of Independent Asset Managers (IAMs) in the Swiss financial sector.
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Morard, B., Balu, F.O., Brasoveanu, L.O. (2016).
Using PLS Methodology for Understanding Commodity Market Behavior.
International Journal of Management and Applied Science, 2(7), 193–201.
Focus: Application of Partial Least Squares (PLS) methods to analyze commodity market dynamics.
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Obreja, L., Balu, F.O., Morard, B. (2015).
Applied Strategies for Fiscal Policy Adjustments: Empirical Analysis of EU Countries.
International Journal of Economics and Finance, 7(7), 131–138.
Focus: Fiscal policy strategies and macroeconomic stability within the European Union.
Conclusion
Dr. Florentina Olivia Bălu presents a compelling and well-rounded profile for the Best Researcher Award. She combines deep theoretical knowledge with a strong practical focus, as evidenced by her interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, and active academic leadership roles. Her consistent publishing record, commitment to teaching excellence, and involvement in both academic and public institutions reinforce her candidacy.