FACULTY STAFF

Profile

Qualifications

Academic

• Post Graduate Diploma in Research Methods (Distinction), Bradford University School of Management
• Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, Leeds Metropolitan University
• First Class Honours Degree in Accounting and Finance, Lancaster University

Professional

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Other Scholarly Societies

• Member of the British Academy of Management
• Member of the European Accounting Association
• Member of the British Accounting and Finance Association

Experience

John is a Chartered Accountant and spent 14 years in professional practice based in Leeds and London where he specialised initially in corporate taxation, before moving into tax efficient reward structures, share incentive plans and executive compensation. John developed and subsequently led a successful regional compensation consulting practice before taking on national practice management responsibilities with two large firms. His experience as a partner in Andersen, at the time of the firm's collapse in 2002 following the Enron scandal, initiated his interest in audit failure, professional ethics and corporate accountability.

After a spell establishing a specialist practice at RSM Robson Rhodes, John decided on a career change and moved into accounting education in 2005. Since then he has taught most areas of accounting and finance at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the UK, Hong Kong and China. He is also an active and published early career researcher in corporate sustainability assurance practice and accounting education. Before taking up his current appointment at Leeds University Business School, John was a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and a Teacher Fellow at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Research

John's primary research interest is corporate sustainability reporting-assurance which he is pursuing as part of his doctoral studies at the Bradford University School of Management. His research focuses on the nature of the institutional interactions which shape policy and engagement practice in this new and rapidly developing professional field. He has a subsidiary scholarly interest in developing accounting education and especially in exploring the role of feedback both in improving the student experience and in promoting reflective teaching practice.

Teaching

Undergraduate Programme Director - Accounting and Finance

International Foundation Year

• Introduction to Accounting and Finance (LUBS0040)

Undergraduate

• Understanding Finance (LUBS1030)
• Introduction to Management Accounting (LUBS1925)
• Business Finance (LUBS 2200)
• Financial Accounting Theory (LUBS 3470)
• Taxation (LUBS 3695)

Postgraduate

• Financial Reporting and Regulation (LUBS5016M)

MBA

• Business Accounting (LUBS 5769M)

Student Feedback

• ‘Sessions led by John are of a high standard and interesting’
• 'This module has really helped me understand issues surrounding financial reporting. I have also learned to be able to stand before colleagues and contribute during discussion'
• ‘The lecturer made each topic interesting by relating it to current news and he is so enthusiastic!’
• ‘Excellent lecturer’
• ‘I liked that the teaching of the module was very interactive and that the tutor was always giving us feedback to enhance our work’
• 'I have enjoyed participating in the module; the level of teaching was excellent with plenty of references and extra materials. . .'
• 'The participation has been excellent'
• ‘Excellent lecturer who was friendly, informative and interesting’
• 'Listening to students and giving them a chance to view their opinions has been a very effective way of teaching'
• 'Well organised, well delivered, a fantastic learning experience'
• 'Excellent module. Very clear instruction, dynamic presentation, and wonderful resources - full marks!'
• 'Very helpful. The lecturer was fully prepared and well organised'
• 'A very good tutor who is dedicated to help students achieve the very best'
• ‘John was extremely enthusiastic about his course, engaging and listening to everyone in class and always ready with a solution to your problem’
• ‘John Smith is a fantastic lecturer and explains things very well and he has a very encouraging classroom presence’
• ‘John was very enthusiastic and structures his lectures well. He makes learning fun’
• ‘John Smith was exceptional with his enthusiasm’

Publications

Refereed Articles

1. 'A Conceptual Framework for Investigating 'Capture' in Corporate Sustainability Reporting Assurance', Journal of Business Ethics, 2011, 99(3): 425-439, (with R. Haniffa and J. Fairbrass).
2. 'Scousers, Traffic Lights and the 'Red' Bits of Peer Observation of Teaching', Leeds Metropolitan University Assessment, Learning & Teaching Journal, 2010, No 9: 3-7, (with F. Chapman, B. Cooke, D. Moore, B. Rotheram, C. Sanderson, I. Timmis and J. Tum).
3. 'A Pilot Study Investigating the Relationship Between Tutorial Participation and Assessment Performance', Leeds Metropolitan University Assessment, Learning & Teaching Journal, 2007, No. 3:37-42.

Conference Contributions

1. ‘Formative feedback and student surveys: Implications for accounting education and research’, Conference paper presented at the British Accounting and Finance Association Accounting Education Special Interest Group Conference, Winchester, UK, 24-26th May 2011, (with J. Clarke).
2. ‘Embedding employability skills in a research-led undergraduate curriculum: a work in progress’, Conference paper presented at the British Accounting and Finance Association Accounting Education Special Interest Group Conference, Winchester, UK, 24-26th May 2011, (with C. Myles).
3. 'Staff Perceptions of the Role of Peer Observation of Teaching as a Strategy for Quality Enhancement', Conference workshop at the International Consortium for Educational Development (ICED) Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 28-30th June 2010, (with C. Sanderson, J. Tum and F. Chapman).
4. 'Using Institutional Teacher Fellow Networks to Implement Quality Enhancement Strategies', Conference workshop at the International Consortium for Educational Development (ICED) Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 28-30th June 2010, (with C. Sanderson, J. Tum and F. Chapman).
5. 'A Conceptual Framework for Investigating 'Capture' in Corporate Sustainability Reporting Assurance', Conference paper presented at the European Accounting Association 33rd Annual Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 19-21st May 2010, (with R. Haniffa and J. Fairbrass).
6. 'Researching Corporate Sustainability Reporting Assurance: Arguments for an Engagement Focus and a New Question', Conference paper presented at the British Accounting Association Joint Conference of the Northern Region Accounting Group and the Interdisciplinary Perspectives Special Interest Group, Bradford University School of Management, 16th December 2008, (with R. Haniffa and J. Fairbrass).
7. 'The Audit of Corporate Social and Environmental Reports in the UK', Research proposal presented at the British Accounting Association Doctoral Colloquium, Blackpool, 31st March 2008.

Other Publications

1. 'Using Peer Observation to Enhance Teaching', Leeds Met Press: Leeds, 2008, (P. Race, F. Chapman, B. Cooke, D. Leggott, D. Moore, S. Morris, J. Mothersdale, B. Penson, S. Rawnsley, C. Sanderson, J. Smith, J. Stapleford, I. Timmis and J. Tum).

Other

• Regular specialist reviewer for Journal of Business Ethics
  
• Ad hoc referee for Accounting Education: An International Journal
• Former Editorial Board Member, Leeds Metropolitan University Assessment, Learning & Teaching Journal