Biography
Sarah began her academic journey at Napier University in 2004 as an undergraduate student enrolled in the BA (Hons) accounting programme. After graduation, she was awarded a fully-funded studentship with the Transport Research Institute of Edinburgh Napier University to undertake a PhD, entitled: the potential for ‘green’ fiscal policy measures to influence individuals’ vehicle purchasing decisions in Scotland. Sarah’s thesis was examined by Dr Tim Ryley and Prof Steve Stradling in late 2014, with the award given in 2015.
During her doctoral studies, Sarah engaged in part-time teaching in the Business School of Edinburgh Napier University and in September 2012, she became a full-time lecturer in accounting. Sarah’s teaching experience embraces financial reporting and taxation. She has also been involved in Edinburgh Napier University’s teaching programmes at both the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. Sarah is also a supervisor for both undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations on a range of subjects, also including doctoral candidates.
Sarah took up the role of deputy head of subject group for Accounting from 2018 and stepped up to lead the group in the interim towards the end of 2019. Sarah was programme leader for the BA (Hons) accounting and finance programme with City University of Hong Kong for three years. After deputising for the BA (Hons) accounting & joint degrees programme leader in the UK for several years, Sarah became programme leader from 2022/23. Sarah has been the Year I Tutor from 2013, having also looked after Year II during 2018/19. In 2019, she also launched a peer mentoring system for undergraduate students on the accounting suite of programme.
Sarah became the Business School Academic Lead (SAL) for Student Success in 2023, building upon her previous involvement in areas of student support / experience including being an induction and PDT coordinator for accounting and finance. She is also the joint SAL for the PDT role / student support. Sarah has been involved in the Employability Skills Programme (ESP) since its conception in 2020, stepping up to lead the endeavour / My Development going forward from 2023. Sarah became an academic integrity officer (AIO) for the Business School in 2022.
In 2016, Sarah became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy via a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning, Teaching and Assessment Practice in Higher Education studied at Edinburgh Napier University. In 2021, Sarah became a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Sarah was appointed an External Examiner at the University of Salford from 2019-2023 for their Audit Framework (level 6) and ICP Dissertation (level 7) module for finance related work. In 2021, Sarah was appointed an External Examiner for all Qatar level 1 courses on Business Management at AFG College with the University of Aberdeen. Sarah also undertakes work for ICAS, marking the Business Taxation and Financial Reporting module exams at TPS (test of professional skills) level.