Aneesa Tahir is a dedicated and highly motivated academic with over 10 years of experience in the fields of Accounting and Finance. Currently pursuing a PhD in Accounting and Finance at the University of Central Lancashire, Aneesa's research focuses on the relationship between audit quality, corporate governance, and financial reporting practices, offering valuable insights into the regulatory and auditing landscape. With a strong academic foundation, Aneesa holds a master’s degree in accounting and finance, awarded with distinction and business school awards, as well as a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Oxford Brookes University.
In addition to academic excellence, Aneesa has gained significant professional experience in higher education, having spent nearly four years as a lecturer and module leader. At Arden, Aneesa is responsible for the design, delivery, and assessment of key accounting modules, and ensuring a positive student experience. Prior to this, Aneesa lectured at institutions including the University of Bolton and the University of Central Lancashire, consistently employing innovative teaching methods to engage students and enhance their academic performance.
Aneesa is committed to both academic research and teaching, with a deep understanding of accounting principles and a strong passion for student success. Her work contributes to shaping the next generation of accounting professionals and advancing the field of accounting research.
Mark spent several years working at EY, auditing clients in the banking and capital markets, insurance, and wealth and asset management sectors, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He's worked across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, Channel Islands, and Luxembourg, accruing a plethora of experience with IFRS, FRS 102, and LuxGAAP financial reporting standards.
In addition to time in professional practice, Mark worked within a “Mayor Combined Authority”, investing in projects that contributed economic benefits to the city region. His investment portfolio included business resilience programmes, local authority-owned assets, digital and innovation, transport, and social capital investment funds.
At Arden University, Mark lectures in Financial Reporting, Audit and Assurance, and Taxation.
He has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years both in UK and internationally teaching accounting and business management qualifications at all levels. He is a qualified Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) professional. He has served as lecturer in several accounting training programmes for executives in UK.
His first degree is in accounting. He holds three Masters’ degree qualifications from the University of Plymouth (MSc Oil and Gas Management), Anglia Ruskin university (MBA), and University of Bolton (MSc Accountancy and Financial Management).
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management (CMI), a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA), a Member of Association of International Accountants (AIA). A member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). He is currently working towards his Doctorate degree.
In addition, he is a prolific writer and author of Bookkeeping Made Simple, Accounting Companion (Book one) The Verdict, The Forgotten Child, Great Decision, Andrew the Delinquent, A-Z learning book for nursery and primary school and Love &andSacrifice.
Dr Safia Mahmood is an academically grounded and industry-seasoned finance lecturer with over 22 years of combined experience in higher education and international banking. She holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Salford and brings a rare fusion of research-driven teaching, strategic leadership, and extensive expertise in credit risk management.
Her academic work focuses on integrating sustainability and entrepreneurship into finance education, drawing from both her doctoral research on SME financing and her professional experience leading credit risk functions at senior levels. As an Associate Lecturer at Arden University, Dr Mahmood has been instrumental in designing and delivering Accounting and Finance programmes aligned with the standards of ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, and CFA. She supervises undergraduate dissertations on sustainable financial strategies and works closely with academic and administrative teams to enhance student success and employability.
Dr Mahmood is currently engaged in writing academic research papers focusing on sustainable finance, credit risk, and fintech. Her research aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge that links financial practice with responsible and inclusive growth.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr Mahmood made history as the first female Head of Credit at Habib Bank Ltd in Pakistan, where she led a 45-member team across multiple hubs. She has also held senior roles in institutions such as Royal Bank of Scotland and Habib Metropolitan Bank (subsidiary of Habib Bank AG Zurich), where she shaped credit policies and led risk control measures in compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Dr Mahmood is a founding member of the E2W Risk Professionals Group, where she continues to advocate for inclusive leadership and contributes to shaping best practices in the financial sector. Her expertise spans credit risk, stakeholder engagement, corporate lending, and policy development.
Dr Mahmood is committed to academic excellence, student development, and the advancement of inclusive, sustainable finance education.
Ian joined Arden University as an Accounting and Finance lecturer in October 2020. He has over thirty years’ experience lecturing under-graduates and post-graduates in all the finance and accounting disciplines. His experience spans across teaching on academic and professional courses in numerous international institutions
Ian is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
He has also worked in private practice for a similar time, which has served him well in providing relevant examples in the application of concepts.
Ian’s philosophy on education is that students are empowered to become competent, confident and ethical contributors to industry and society as a whole; achieved by their hard work and commitment to reach their academic goals, supported by student-centred practices and academic support.
Dr. Thejo Jose brings over 19 years of international experience in teaching and research. His academic journey has taken him across the UK, Middle East, and India, where he has held a variety of roles in higher education. He holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Aberdeen, with his doctoral research examining audit quality and the effects of EU audit regulation on UK companies.
Before joining Arden, he served as a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield’s Audit Reform Lab, contributing to high-impact reports on audit failures and regulatory reform—work that gained national attention in outlets such as the Financial Times and Bloomberg. His previous teaching appointments include roles at Wrexham University, the University of Aberdeen, and King Abdulaziz University, as well as serving as a visiting class teacher for the London School of Economics through 2U.
His research interests lie in audit failures, sustainability assurance, financial reporting quality, and accountability in public sector audits. He is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and an ACCA affiliate.
Tanzeela joined Arden University as a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, where she brings academic expertise and a passion for innovation in financial education. She holds a PhD in Finance and Fintech from the University of Birmingham, and an MSc in Finance with distinction from Heriot-Watt University. Her research explores the intersection of Finance and Technology, fostering collaboration across disciplines and bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. Tanzeela is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is dedicated to creating a dynamic, inclusive learning experience that empowers students to thrive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.