The Centre for Research into Accounting and Finance in Context (CRAFiC)'s doctoral researchers are central to our mission to address some of the most pressing questions in finance, accounting, sustainability and governance. They generate new knowledge that challenges orthodox thinking, amplify the voices of the marginalised and reposition accounting and finance as tools for social and environmental justice.
The recent Doctoral Conference at Sheffield University Management School saw CRAFiC-affiliated PhD students present their projects that reflect the diversity and innovation of our research culture, combining methodological rigour with real-world relevance.
Arwa Althagafi (supervised by Dr Ali Gerged and Dr Mengyu Zhang) is conducting an investigation into the multi-level determinants of post-merger and acquisition (M&A) performance in the banking sector of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Her mixed-methods study bridges internal factors such as governance and forecasting with external institutional forces, including regulatory quality and cultural dimensions. Drawing on Bloomberg data, annual reports and in-depth interviews, her work examines both short-term financial and long-term sustainability outcomes, providing strategic insights for policymakers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as they navigate economic transformation agendas, such as Vision 2030.
Eva Andriani (supervised by Dr Olga Cam and Dr Ozlem Arikan) is designing a transformative model of financial education for street vendors in Indonesia, embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles within a participatory learning framework. Informed by Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Eva’s study brings together vendors, educators, regulators, and investors to co-develop tools such as comic-based guides and ESG-aligned budgeting resources. Her work not only fills a gap in financial literacy research but also supports the empowerment of marginalised entrepreneurs, contributing to the achievement of broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Pengcheng Shao (supervised by Dr Olga Cam and Dr Juliana Matos De Meira) addresses sustainability performance management systems (SPMS) in the agribusiness sector - an area often plagued by data fragmentation and shallow stakeholder engagement. His work proposes a novel Human–GenAI collaborative model that marries the analytical power of artificial intelligence with the ethical reasoning and contextual understanding of human actors. Drawing on emancipatory accounting and symbiotic business theory, Pengcheng’s project aims to build systems that are not only efficient but also inclusive and transformative.
Tackling the issue of corporate greenwashing from a critical lens, Muhammad Akbar Annahl (supervised by Professor Kelum Jayasinghe and Dr Danson Kimani) is using cultural, political economy and counter-accounting frameworks to interrogate the gaps and misrepresentations in corporate sustainability disclosures in Indonesia. His research combines document analysis with interviews involving local communities, NGOs, and regulators, surfacing the power dynamics that often silence marginalised stakeholders. Akbar’s work is a bold call for transparency, justice, and accountability in sustainability reporting.
Salma Baabbad (supervised by Dr Olga Cam and Dr Ozlem Arikan) brings a pedagogical and technological focus to the conversation. Her project examines how artificial intelligence can be effectively integrated into management accounting education, particularly to enhance sustainability learning outcomes. Salma’s research bridges current theoretical and practical gaps, examining how digital tools can foster critical thinking and support student-centred approaches in professional education.
Lu Guo (supervised by Professor Sabur Mollah and Dr Beat Reber) investigates the intersection between ESG performance and firm-level productivity in BRICS countries, introducing green innovation as a key moderating factor. Using panel data and fixed-effects modelling, her study uncovers how ESG strategy—when paired with innovation—can enhance resource allocation and efficiency. Lu’s work offers fresh insights for both firms and policymakers navigating the sustainability transition in emerging markets.
In the corporate governance space, Songhui Li (supervised by Dr Junhong Yang and Dr Jiao Ji) explores how CEO organisational identification (CEO OI) influences M&A outcomes. Analysing data from thousands of public acquisitions, his study finds that CEOs with high OI lead to better acquisition performance and integration success by prioritising long-term value over short-term managerial interests. Songhui’s findings reinforce the idea that leadership identity is a powerful driver of strategic decisions and stakeholder value.
Yuhan Zhao (supervised by Dr Beat Reber and Dr Junhong Yang) brings a technological edge to M&A research by investigating the growing trend of AI-related acquisitions. Her project focuses on how firms create value through the acquisition of AI capabilities, examining both stock market reactions and long-term operational gains. Her innovative method combines AI dictionary matching with financial performance analysis, contributing to emerging debates on digital investment strategies.
Silun Wang (supervised by Professor Shuxing Yin and Professor Sabur Mollah) addresses a classic question in labour economics with a modern lens: does technological innovation cause unemployment? Drawing on Acemoglu’s task-based framework, Silun examines the dynamic interplay between automation and the creation of new tasks. His modelling shows that while automation may initially reduce labour demand, it also triggers adaptive responses that rebalance employment in the long term. His work is a valuable reminder that economic systems often contain self-correcting forces and that policy responses must be equally dynamic.
Finally, Sara Saeed Alharbi (supervised by Dr Ali Gerged and Dr Sharmin Rahman) is investigating the link between corporate sustainability disclosure, governance, and earnings management in Saudi Arabia. Her study compares foreign and local firms to assess how institutional differences shape disclosure quality and managerial behaviour. Sara’s work brings a comparative dimension to ESG research in the Global South, contributing to ongoing debates around transparency, risk, and performance.
Together, these doctoral projects exemplify the CRAFiC ethos: accounting and finance as instruments for justice, innovation and sustainability. Each study brings a fresh perspective to familiar challenges, offering new tools, frameworks and insights that are urgently needed in a rapidly changing world. As a research centre, we are proud to support these scholars, and we look forward to seeing their ideas continue to shape academic debates, policy reform, and professional practice in the years to come.
The Accounting and Financial Management subject group also offers a range of world-leading undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes:
These courses are accredited by professional bodies including the ICAEW, ICAS, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA and CPA Australia, which provides graduates with exemptions and eligibility for Associate membership.
We are proud to be based at a Triple Crown accredited Management School, holding prestigious accreditations from AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB - a status held by fewer than 1% of business and management schools worldwide.