The people making it happen.
Zaaid Ahmed - KTP Associate
Zaaid, Digital Transformation Lead and KTP Associate at Beever and Struthers and University of Manchester, blends technical expertise with an MBA distinction from Alliance Manchester Business School in 2023. With a background in software engineering, Zaaid innovates in healthcare, pharma, and finance sectors, enhancing SMEs' efficiency. Leading audit process reviews, he integrates cutting-edge technology, driving organizational change. As a KTP associate, Zaaid balances academic insight and business leadership, offering a unique perspective. His role ensures seamless transformation initiatives, leveraging both domains effectively.
Brian Nicholson - Academic Lead
Dr. Brian Nicholson, a pivotal figure in the University of Manchester's division of accounting and finance since 1999, transitioned from roles as a computing lecturer at the University of Salford and Anglia Ruskin University. With prior experience as a sales executive, he specialized in implementing business systems for time recording and enterprise solutions in the food and drink wholesale/retail sector. Brian's teaching encompasses digital platforms, Information Systems case studies, and financial analysis at MBA level. He supervises accounting MSc dissertations annually, focusing on digitalization. His research, funded by ICAEW, examines accounting outsourcing. Internationally, he consults, supervises PhD projects, and collaborates on impactful research in audit analytics.
George Salijeni - Academic Supervisor
Dr. George Salijeni, an experienced lecturer and Programme Director at Aston University, brings over two decades of expertise in UK higher education. As a qualified ACCA accountant with a PhD from the University of Manchester, he's a Fellow of Advance Higher Education. His focus lies in Big Data technologies, governance, auditing, and accountability, with publications in esteemed journals like Accounting and Business Research. Actively engaged in regulatory discussions, he integrates cutting-edge technologies like data analytics and AI into his teaching. A frequent presenter at prestigious conferences worldwide, he collaborates on projects exploring Big Data's role in financial statement audits with colleagues from the University of Manchester.
Sung Hwan Chai - Academic Supervisor
Dr Sung Hwan Chai joined Alliance Manchester Business School as a lecturer in accounting in 2020. He specialises in interdisciplinary research between management accounting and information systems. His research focuses on studying the impact of digitaltechnologies on organisational practices such as performance measurement and management, monitoring, and information communication practices. He supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate students on their academic progress and MSc dissertations. His supervision of accounting MSc dissertation projects focuses on studying the impact of different technologies in accounting practices. Sung's recent work includes a case study of a luxury hotel's digital transformation process, and data analytics in audit firms in UK. The recent collaboration with Brian Nicholson and George Salijeni was funded by AMBS and has led to a British Academy of Management conference paper and working paper in other accounting peer-reviewed journals.