Head of Alliance Manchester Business School

Ken McPhail is Head of Alliance Manchester Business School and Professor of Accounting at The University of Manchester. He was previously Deputy Head and Research Director at Alliance Manchester Business School. Before this, Ken was Vice Dean for Social Responsibility (2014-2017) within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester. As Vice Dean, Ken oversaw the strategic development and implementation of the University's distinctive social responsibility agenda across five schools, 36 disciplines, 18,000 students and 1,800 academic and support staff. In addition, Ken also sat on the University's Social Responsibility Governance Group, chaired by the Vice Chancellor and Principle.

As Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, Ken delivered a new strategic relationship between the University and Greater Manchester City Council with a co-funded Economic Advisor to the new City Mayor. He was involved in the New Strategic Inclusive Growth Unit partnership with Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Prize-winning “Policy @ Manchester” platform for turning research into impact. He initiated the New Ethical Grand Challenges program and facilitated the Sustainably Challenge delivered to 5000 new students in 2016.

Prior to joining the University of Manchester, Ken McPhail was the Head of School at La Trobe University Melbourne. Ken was responsible for managing a complex departmental structure with staff across five campuses and was active in delivering the biggest change management process in the school's history. Ken was also the Chair of the Business School’s newly established 2017 Committee tasked with blue-sky thinking around delivering the universities strategic vision and beyond.

Preceding his role at La Trobe University Melbourne, Ken was the Director of Undergraduate Studies and The Scottish Centre for Professional Ethics at the University of Glasgow. His role involved managing some major changes in undergraduate provision across Glasgow University. Ken was also part of a team that secured grant funding of £50,000 to establish a Scottish forum for Professional Ethics.

Ken's roles have involved liaising with key professional bodies, professional service firms and other institutions, including The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland; The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Scotland; the BBC; The Scottish Science Centre, The Royal Academy of Edinburgh, The General Medical Council, the Law Society, The Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

Ken's work is focused on various aspects of accounting ethics and corporate accountability. He has a PhD from the University of Dundee and a MA (Honours) in Accountancy & Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University.