Liang Xu

Liang Xu

Dr

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

generative AI/LLM/NLP

Personal profile

Biography

Dr. Alice Liang Xu is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Accounting at the Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. Since joining the faculty in September 2014, Dr. Xu has contributed significantly to both teaching and research. She completed her PhD at University College Dublin, Ireland, where she also received her Master of Accounting. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Shenzhen University, China, with a major in Accounting.

Her research intersects several critical areas of financial accounting and corporate finance, focusing on debt contract terms, debt covenants, information environment, ESG, environmental risk and environmental disclosures, and corporate culture, among other topics. Her works have been published in prominent journals such as Contemporary Accounting Research and the Journal of Corporate Finance.

Research interests

Dr. Xu’s research delves into critical areas of financial accounting and corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on:

Debt Contracting: Examining the nuances of bond and syndicated loan agreements to understand the complex dynamics between debt holders and corporate borrowers.

Debt Covenants: Exploring the role and impact of covenants in mitigating agency problems and enhancing the contractual environment between creditors and firms.

Information Environment: Investigating how the transparency and quality of information affect market perceptions and corporate policy.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Focusing on how ESG factors are integrated into corporate strategies and reporting.

Environmental Risk and Disclosure: Analyzing corporate disclosure practices related to environmental risks and the effectiveness of these disclosures in mitigating informational asymmetry.

Greenwashing: Critically assessing the discrepancy between corporate environmental actions and their promotional communications.

Behavioral Issues: Studying the influence of corporate culture on financial decisions and corporate performance.

Generative AI: Leveraging AI in research.

Teaching

BMAN73811 Quantitative Research Methods in Accounting

Course Coordinator

Period of time: Semester 1, 2020-present

Level: postgraduate taught

BMAN10750

Quantitative Methods for Accounting and Finance

Course Coordinator

Period of time: Semester 2, 2019- present

Level: first-year undergraduate

BMAN31000 Financial Analysis of Corporate Performance

Project Supervisor

Period of time: Semester 2, 2014-2015, 2020-2023

Level: third-year undergraduate

BMAN71132

Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation

Course Coordinator

Period of time: Semester 2, 2017-2018

Level: postgraduate taught

BMAN21020 Financial Reporting and Accountability

Lecturer & Workshop Leader

Period of time: Semesters 1 and 2, 2014-2018

Level: second-year undergraduate

BMAN20081 Financial Statement Analysis

Workshop Leader

Period of time: Semester 1, 2014-2015, 2016-2018

Level: second-year undergraduate

Supervision information

PhD Students

Current:

Ziye Huang (2023-2028, expected), co-supervised with Prof. Ning Gao.

Guo Lu (2023-2028, expected), co-supervised with Dr. George Voulgaris.

Completed:

Jiayu Dai (2020-2024), co-supervised with Prof. Ning Gao.

Further information

Professional Services

Deputy Director for The Centre for the Analysis of Investment Risk (CAIR).

ad-hoc reviewer for Accounting and Business Research, British Accounting Review, European Journal of Finance, International Journal of Finance & Economics, International Review of Financial Analysis, Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, European Management Review.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

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