Dr Laura McCann

Biography

Laura's research activity is in the broad area of corporate finance, and she has published various papers on corporate debt source for both companies and the UK university sector which have been published in leading international journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, The Journal of Business, Finance and Accounting, The Journal of Property Research, Land Use Policy, Studies in Higher Education and British Accounting Review. Other current research examines green financing. 

Laura plays an active role in the education focussed administration of the Business School; she is the Programme Director for Undergraduate Finance, the Senior Business School Exams Officer and is subject exams officer for Finance. Moreover, Laura is currently a member of University Senate and QAC.

Laura currently co-ordinates and teaches on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules including corporate finance, financial strategy and investment management and dissertations in finance.

In June 2017 Laura received the University Excellence in Teaching Award for undergraduate teaching in the Business School. 

In 2024 Laura received professional recognition by the Higher Education Academy and achieved the status of Senior Fellow Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). This followed her achievement of Fellowship (FHEA) in 2017. She has also attained CMBE (Certified Management & Business Educator).

Laura currently acts as external examiner for the UG Accounting and Finance programmes at Sussex and Edinburgh Napier and has experience of externally examining postgraduate research students. Laura has successfully completed the Advance HE Professional Development Course for External Examiners.

Laura has a PhD in Finance from Strathclyde University and also a first class honours in Finance from the same institution.

Prizes and Awards

University Excellence in Teaching Award for undergraduate teaching in the Business School (2017)

Nominated for Teaching Excellence since 2016 at both UG and PGT 

My paper Student Residences: Time for a partnership approach? co-authored with Norman Hutchison and Alastair Adair won an award for Outstanding Paper in the 2021 Emerald Literati Awards.

Research Overview

Corporate Finance: Debt Sourcing, Debt Specialisation, Trade Credits, Executive Compensation, Payout Policy

UK Higher Education Sector Real Estate: University Funding Options; Role of Town and Gown

My paper Student Residences: Time for a partnership approach? co-authored with Norman Hutchison and Alastair Adair won an award for Outstanding Paper in the 2021 Emerald Literati Awards.

Current Research

Laura’s research and teaching interests lie in the field of corporate finance. Her PhD research focused on the choice of debt source for UK companies and at present Laura has secured publications in The Journal of Banking and Finance, The Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, The British Accounting Review, Journal of Property Research, The Journal of Property, Investment and Finance and Studies in Higher Education. 

Current research interests also include the HE sector, corporate debt sources, payout policy, and trade credit.

Teaching Responsibilities

2024-25

Programme Director: Undergraduate Finance

Course Co-ordinator

• FI3004 Corporate Finance
• FI4002 Financial Strategy and Investment Management
• FI4501 Dissertations in Finance
• FI4504 Dissertation Prep (SCNU)
• QB4501 Dissertations in Finance (Qatar)

Co-Lecturer

• FI3004 Corporate Finance
• FI4002 Financial Strategy and Investment Management
• FI4501 Dissertations in Finance
• FI4504 Dissertation Prep (SCNU)

I am also involved with the Qatar Equivalents of the courses that I teach and co-ordinate.

Laura has previously co-ordinated and taught across a wide range of other courses at both UG and PGT level including:

• Financial Markets and Regulation
• Advanced Corporate Finance
• Dissertations in Accountancy
• Financial Analysis
• Issues in Corporate Finance

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

• Personal Tutor