About

My role at Derby is multifaceted, combining teaching and learning, research, management and leadership and governance.

As Head of Accounting, I lead a team of passionate and dedicated professionals. We deliver a range of accounting, economics and finance programmes designed to give students choice, flexibility, and opportunity to progress from undergraduate to postgraduate/professional study, and ultimately enjoy a rewarding career in a profession of their choosing.

I am a professionally qualified accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA). Prior to joining higher education, I worked in the industry as a senior financial analyst for BT plc based in London.

Teaching responsibilities

I have substantial experience in teaching a range of modules from accounting for non-accounting students to teaching professional accounting qualifications. Some of the modules I have taught include:

• Introduction to Financial Accounting (Level 4)
• Management Accounting (Level 5)
• Financial Management (Level 5)
• Financial Strategy (Level 6)
• Corporate Reporting (Level 7)
• Mergers and Acquisitions (Level 7)
• Advanced Financial Management (Level 7)
• Financial Management F2 (CIMA)
• Financial Strategy F3 (CIMA)
• Financial Reporting F7 (ACCA)
• Financial Management F9 (ACCA)

My experience extends to work I have carried out with a number of international collaborative partners, independent education/training institutions and companies in the private and public sector. I have also delivered training to companies such as JCB, Marley Eternit and Derby City Council.

Professional interests

I have completed the Aurora Women in Leadership Programme and am now a mentor for this programme. 

I am very passionate about education, particularly Accounting education and am therefore interested in pedagogy practice and how it can influence the student experience. Whilst in Higher Education I have become a Senior Fellow of Advance Higher Education (Advance HE). 

My professional interest is closely aligned with my subject discipline and the changing nature of this discipline. I am also interested in how higher education aligns itself and delivers to both the ever-changing nature of the accountancy profession and the needs of the employer/market.

Research interests

My research interest lies in investigating accounting practices within SMEs, family-owned businesses and across international borders. In particular, focusing on Capital Budgeting and Governance Structure (at company level).

I am also interested in pedagogy practices across Accounting Education.

Membership of professional bodies

• Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA)
• Associate member of the Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA)
• Senior Fellow of Advance HE
• On the executive committee for CDAF (Committee of Department Heads of Accounting and Finance)
• On the executive committee for SiA (Sikhs in Academia)

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance
• CIMA
• SFHEA
• MRes (Masters in Research)

Recent conferences

• Johal, P (2017) ‘The Student Voice on Feedback’, working paper presented at the Learning, Teaching & Student Experience (LTSE) Conference, 25^th -26^th April, Bristol
• Hanson, J., Johal, P and Crighton, B (2013) ‘Ethnic Minority Business in Derby: A needs gap analysis’, paper to be presented at the twenty seventh BAM Annual Conference, 10^th-12^th September, Liverpool
• Johal, P (2013) 'Capital budgeting process and practice: A developed versus emerging country', paper presented at the forty ninth BAFA Annual Conference, 9^th-11^th April, Newcastle
• Johal, P (2012) ‘Comparing Capital Budgeting Practices in the UK and Emerging Markets’, IMRA (International Management Research Academy) International Conference, 17^th-18^th May, London

Experience in industry

Following my time in the private sector with BT plc and my transfer to HE, I have maintained a level of input to the industry through a combination of commercial activity and voluntary activity such as trustee board member role/governor roles.

Other activities that I have engaged in include:

• Case study review “Accounting in Action” for Pearson Publishers (Nov 2017) – providing feedback on Accounting teaching and learning material
• Participation in a focus group on “digital homework and assessment systems”. Led by Pearson Education – to consider how we might better us digital resource in our A&F provision
• Member of the ACCA Education Global Forum 2018/2019
• Professional marker for ICAEW - case study level

International experience

Teaching and learning activity/staff development/programme development at:

• Karl de Gote Hogeschool, Antwerp
• Trivandrum college in Kerela, India
• Inter college Tel Aviv, Israel
• Malawi Institute of Management, Malawi
• Botswana Accountancy College, Botswana

Additional interests and activities

My family and sport. I spend most of my free time on the netball court or walking.

Recent publications

• Johal, P and Smith, R (2023) 'Using a professional skills module to develop student confidence’, in Hansen, S and Daniels, K (ed) How to Enable the Employability of University Graduates, Edward Elgar, p100-108, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803926513
• Johal, P (2018) 'Corporate Reporting: From Numbers to Narrative', in Conway, E and Byrne, D (ed) Contemporary Issues in Accounting, Palgrave Macmillan, p105-123, ISBN:978-3-319-91112-0
• Johal, P. (2017). ‘Employer Engagement: Accounting Standards in Action’, in Horsted, A., Bartholemew, P., Branch, J., Nygaard, C. (ed) ‘New Innovations In Teaching and Learning In Higher Education’. Oxfordshire: Libri Publishing, pp53-68
• Eley,M., James, S., Johal, P., Midford, S., Pather, M. (2017). ‘Engaging Students Through Practice’, in Horsted, A., Bartholemew, P., Branch, J., Nygaard, C. (ed) ‘New Innovations In Teaching and Learning In Higher Education’. Oxfordshire: Libri Publishing, pp25-32
• Johal, P and Vickerstaff, B (2012) Financial Accounting, Routledge, London
• Hooley, T., Moore, N., Johal, P., Shepherd, C., Dodd., V and Hanson, J. (2016) Gatsby Benchmarks pilot – Interim report, ICeGS, University of Derby