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Staff Profile

Professor Simon Hussain

Professor of Accounting

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 1575
  • Address: Room 7.05
    Newcastle University Business School
    5 Barrack Road
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
    NE1 4SE
    United Kingdom
Background

Overview

I have held the posts of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Professor in Accounting since joining Newcastle University, following my PhD studies at Manchester University's Department of Accounting & Finance in 1992 (completed in 2 years). Prior to this I graduated with a BA(Honours) in Economics (CNAA, Sunderland Polytechnic,1988), followed by an MA by Research from Durham University (Department of Economics, 1990).

Major Roles at NUBS

  • Head of the Accounting & Finance subject group (full tenure): 2014-17. NSS 3-year average 91% (89%, 93%, 91%)
  • Deputy Head of Accounting & Finance subject group: 2013-14
  • Degree programme director for PG degrees (MSc AFFA - 4050F; MSc AFSI - 5156F): 2003-14
  • Director of Finance, Accounting Control & Evaluation research group: 2011-14
  • Asset Pricing research cluster convenor 2022 - present

Contribution to RAE/REF

I was submitted to the last five research assessment exercises on behalf of Newcastle University: RAE1996 (early career researcher); RAE2001, RAE2008, REF2014 & REF2021. 

Prior to the creation of NUBS, I had held the role of Examinations Convenor (1997-2002) and was RAE2001 Coordinator for the Accounting submission for which we gained a rating of ‘5’.

Esteem indicators

  • Ranked among Europe’s Top-15 accounting researchers in Chan, Chen and Cheng’s survey of European business schools’ publication records (Accounting & Business Research, 2006, Vol. 36(1), Table 5, Panel C, p.13).
  • Ranked in Top-14 list of researchers in accounting education in Bernardi, et al. (2016, Table 6, panel B) ‘Ranking accounting authors and departments in accounting education: different methodologies – significantly different results’ (Accounting Education: an international journal, 25:6, 568-597)
Research

Research Overview


I. Topics


1. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

My first research degree was an MA by Research at Durham University examining the accuracy of financial analysts’ forecasts of company earnings-per-share data, and how it changed over time. I then continued to work within this field when I began my doctoral studies under the same supervisor (Prof Len Skerratt) at Manchester University. This work focused on the role of segment disclosures in helping investors to gain superior insights into future corporate earnings numbers. 

During the late-1990s and 2000s I continued to work within related areas (e.g. analyst following, analyst overreaction) but also began to branch out into the earnings-management literature.

Recently I have returned to financial analysis via a new research theme examining the post-war history of financial education and training. Specifically, I have been researching the development of financial analysis as a professional activity within the US during the twentieth century. This led to the emergence of the Chartered Financial Analyst award in the early 1960s, now the premier qualification for analysts internationally. Another avenue for research in this field has been the impact of reputation effects of various actors (including analysts) across different markets (UK, Japan, US).

I also continue to research the role of segment disclosures in aiding analysts' forecasts of earnings, and the impact of analysts' reputation on investors' reactions to forecast revisions.


2. JOURNAL RANKINGS AND RESEARCH METRICS

Since the 2010s my work has developed to include a new branch of research activity related to how research is valued and rewarded within the HE sector, both at home and abroad (i.e. journal rankings). This is a highly policy-relevant theme, since it drives what kinds of research are likely to be produced and supported by universities.


II. Outlets

My work has appeared across a range of academic journals including British Journal of Management, Business History, Organization, JBFA, Accounting & Business Research, British Accounting Review, Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Journal of International Accounting, Auditing & Taxation, Accounting Education and the Applied Economics series of journals.

I have written occasional articles for professional journals (e.g. Accountancy) one of which (Accountancy, 2001) was chosen by CIMA for inclusion in their Study System materials for the professional exam “Financial Analysis”, used across Europe, Africa and Asia. 


III. Esteem indicators

  • Ranked among Europe’s Top-15 accounting researchers in Chan, Chen and Cheng’s survey of European business schools’ publication records (Accounting & Business Research, 2006, Vol. 36(1), Table 5, Panel C, p.13).
  • Ranked in Top-14 list of researchers in accounting education in Bernardi, et al. (2016, Table 6, panel B) ‘Ranking accounting authors and departments in accounting education: different methodologies – significantly different results’ (Accounting Education: an international journal, 25:6, 568-597)


IV. PhD Supervision

I have been primary or sole-supervisor for PhD and DBA students since 1995, researching topics including: Malaysian (KLSE) share price overreaction; accounting data and future cash flows; earnings management and dividend payments; IPO long-run performance and venture capitalist reputation; segment disclosures and analysts' forecasts; earnings management and remuneration; managers' education and corporate decisions in China.


V. Editorial Roles

Previous roles have included:

  • Accounting Education: an international journal: Editorial Review Board
  • Pacific-Basin Finance Journal: Associate Editor


VI: Recognition

US Recognition 

  • Paper [ABR 1992] was cited extensively in the American Accounting Association’s submission to the International Accounting Standards Committee, as supporting their own opinions on segmental disclosure – see Accounting Horizons, 1996, 10(1), pp.118-123. 
  • Paper [ABR 1997] was one of only 12 international papers chosen by the American Accounting Association as an item of special interest in their International Accounting Forum quarterly newsletter (Fall, 1997). Editors: Greg Trompeter and Tim Pearson.
  • Paper [ABR 2000] was one of only 14 chosen by American Accounting Association as an item of special interest in their International Accounting Forum quarterly newsletter (Summer, 2000). Editors: D. Herrmann and W.B. Thomas.
  • Paper [JBFA 2001] was one of only 16 chosen by American Accounting Association as an item of special interest in their International Accounting Forum quarterly newsletter (Summer, 2001). Editor: W.B. Thomas.
  • Paper [ABR 2002] was one of only 7 international papers chosen by Prof. Robert A. Olsen as being of special noteworthiness to readers of the Journal of Behavioural Finance, 4(1), 2003, p.50.
  • Papers [JBFA 1996] and [ABR 1998] selected for citation in the I/B/E/S Research Bibliography, 6th edition. Editor: Prof. L.D. Brown. (I/B/E/S, New York: 2000).

UK Recognition

  • Paper [BAR 2010] listed among important papers in “Personal reflections on editorship by Mike Jones” (British Accounting Review, 45(1): 2)
  • Paper [ABR 2012], cited in Martin Walker's (2013) review of important international evidence on earnings-management (Accounting & Business Research, 43(4): 445-81).
  • Paper [Accountancy, 2001] included in CIMA’s professional exam syllabus for their Financial Analysis paper (P8) 2005/2007. 
  • Papers [ABR 1998], [ABR 2000] and [ABR 2002] cited in Beattie's (2005) review of the most important UK contributions to accounting research (British Accounting Review, 37(1): 99).
  • Paper [ABR 1998] was awarded the ANBAR Management Database Citation of Excellence certificate, awarded to less than 10% of papers reviewed by its panel.
  • Book chapter [1996] contains original survey research: it was quoted directly by the UK’s Accounting Standards Board in their discussion paper “Segmental Reporting” (1996) and an article in Accountancy Age (14 Feb. 1996, p.8).
  • Paper [ABR 1992] cited in a range of important text books, e.g. Financial Reporting by Multinationals. Eds: C. Roberts and C. Adams (1996), Edward Elgar Publishing and Comparative International Accounting by C. Nobes & R. Parker (1995), Prentice-Hall.



Teaching

Teaching & Learning


I have been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) since 2007. Prior to this, I had been a member of the Institute of Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ILT) since 2002.

My teaching over the last two decades has covered quantitative methods, financial analysis, business economics, the PG dissertations and finance.

In recent years my teaching has focused on the following PG modules:

  • NBS8001: International Finance & Capital Markets (bond investments)
  • NBS8006: Accounting For Analysts (the work of financial analysts)
  • NBS8301: Managerial Economics & Organisational Architecture (Semester 1 lectures & seminars)

and the UG programme N00/1 via the Stage 2 module:

  • ACC2002 Managerial & Business Economics (Semester 1 lectures)


My sessions are Re-cap recorded and historical evaluation scores are typically within the range 4.3-4.6 out of 5.

Publications