Sarah Swift

Profile

Sarah is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Accounting and Finance Department, specialising in Management Accounting. Sarah’s work is defined by her commitment to academic rigour, student achievement, and the advancement of accounting education.

As Head of Year 1, she oversees academic support for first-year students. She is committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment and providing structured guidance to support students’ transition to higher education.

In her role as Academic Personal Tutor, Sarah integrates career-focused skills development into her practice. She collaborates with students to enhance both their academic performance and professional readiness, maintaining a clear focus on student development and achievement.

Sarah employs an innovative pedagogical approach, combining theoretical frameworks with practical applications, technology integration, and critical reasoning. Her courses prepare students to address real-world challenges in accounting, ensuring they develop both technical proficiency and strategic problem-solving abilities. Her contributions to student education were acknowledged through the prestigious Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2024) for her effective module leadership and commitment to student progress through constructive feedback.

Prior to joining Leeds, Sarah accrued seven years of teaching experience at the University of Huddersfield and over fifteen years of public-sector accounting experience as a Senior Finance Officer at Kirklees Council. This combination of professional and academic expertise informs her student-centred pedagogical approach. Sarah is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CPFA) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Responsibilities

• Head of First Year, Accounting and Finance