Dr Syed Taqi Zaidi

Dr. Syed Taqi Zaidi is an Associate Professor in Accounting and Finance at the University of Leicester and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). With over 15 years of experience in higher education, he has held several academic leadership roles spanning programme leadership, curriculum development, international partnerships, and quality assurance. His work has involved leading transnational education initiatives, developing dual-degree programmes, and strengthening collaboration between universities and industry partners. Dr. Zaidi’s research interests lie in corporate governance, corporate finance, ESG and CSR, and board dynamics, with a growing focus on financial technologies and financial inclusion in emerging markets. His work aims to generate impactful insights that inform academic scholarship, policy discussions, and responsible business practice. He is committed to enhancing student experience, advancing inclusive academic environments, and contributing to institutional initiatives that promote research excellence and educational innovation.

My research interests lie in corporate governance, ESG performance and controversies, and their implications for firm value and financial decision-making. I am particularly interested in board dynamics, financial reporting quality, and sustainable finance.

Methodologically, my work focuses on panel data econometrics, causal inference techniques (including GMM and instrumental variable approaches), and the use of large-scale financial and ESG datasets such as Refinitiv.

I also have a strong interest in FinTech, digital banking, and financial inclusion, particularly in emerging markets.

In teaching, I focus on applied corporate finance, research-led education, and experiential learning approaches, including consultancy-based projects. I am also interested in digital and AI-enhanced learning and assessment design in higher education.

1. Putri, N.F., Hameed, A., Akin, M., Akin, I., Khan, M.Z., Banerjee, S., & Zaidi, S.M.T. (2024). Analysing the modest fashion market: an empirical study of e-commerce best-selling products. Journal of Islamic Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-03-2024-0142
2. Decoding eWom’s Role in Financial Engagement: Insights on Information, Facilitation, and Argument Quality. Journal of Contemporary Marketing Science. DOI: 10.1108/JCMARS-12-2024-0048
3. Boosting Financial Appetite: How eWOM, Information Usefulness, and Argument Quality Shape Consumer Decisions. International Journal of Services Technology and Management (Under Review)
4. Institutional Isomorphism and Legitimacy. Can Brexit Metaphors From Society And UK Retailers’ Annual Reports Reframe Discourse? Olushola Ibikunle Fashola, Staffordshire University, UK and Syed M. T. Zaidi, Staffordshire University (Programme Link), 35th EBES Conference – Rome, Italy (2021)
5. Zaidi, S.M.T., Nadeem, F. Impact of overboard directors on the firm performance: evidence from Pakistan. International Journal of Advances in Science, Engineering, and Technology. Vol-5, Iss-3, Spl. Issue-2 Sep.-2017. 
6. Wajid, R.A., Zaidi, N.R., Zaidi, M.T., & Zaidi, F.B. (2011). Relationship between demographic characteristics and work engagement among public sector university teachers of Lahore. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 3, 110–122.
7. Zaidi, N.R., Wajid, R.A., Zaidi, F.B., Zaidi, G.B., & Zaidi, M.T. (2013). The Big Five Personality Traits and Their Relationship with Work Engagement among Public Sector University Teachers of Lahore. African Journal of Business Management, 7(15), 1344–1353.

Research Papers in Progress
1. Neo-Banks, Challenger Banks, and Financial Inclusion: The FinTech Revolution in Emerging Economies. — Target Journal: Journal of Financial Innovation & Technology

2. Too Busy to Care or More Is Better? The Impact of Multiple Directorships on Firm Behaviour. — Target Journal: International Journal of Management Reviews

3. The Impact of Multiple Board Seats on Firm Performance. — Target Journal: British Accounting Review

4. Overboarded Directors and Firm Performance: Evidence from Pakistan. — Target Journal: British Accounting Review

5. Corporate Governance Theories and Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. — Target Journal: International Journal of Management Reviews
Conference Participation and Presentations
• Topics in Micro-Econometrics Summer School – Professor William Greene, Hull Business School (2013)
• Young Finance Scholars' Conferences – University of Sussex (2014, 2015)
• International Corporate Governance Society Inaugural Conference – Copenhagen Business School (2015)
• Northern Group of British Accounting & Finance Association (BAFA) Annual Conference – Loughborough University (2016)
• ISERD Conference – Wellington, New Zealand (2017)
• 35th EBES Conference – Rome, Italy (2021)
Presentation: Institutional Isomorphism and Legitimacy: Brexit Metaphors from UK Retailers’ Annual Reports (Programme Link)

Published Blogs:

• https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/business/2021/07/29/finance-and-business-enterprise/

• https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/business/2020/11/20/fintech-a-ray-of-light-in-the-dark/

I supervise postgraduate research in corporate governance, ESG performance and controversies, corporate finance, and financial reporting quality. I have successfully supervised three PhD students to completion and over 200 MSc dissertations.

I particularly welcome empirically driven projects using panel data econometrics and causal inference methods (including GMM), as well as research in FinTech, digital banking, and financial inclusion.

I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in accounting and finance, with particular expertise in corporate finance, investment analysis, financial reporting, and financial management. My teaching includes modules such as Corporate Finance, Investment and Portfolio Management, Financial Analysis, and Accounting and Finance.

I adopt a research-led and applied teaching approach, integrating real-world financial data, case studies, and contemporary developments in ESG and FinTech. I also emphasise experiential learning through consultancy-based projects and aim to develop students’ analytical, decision-making, and employability skills.

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of British Accounting and Finance Association
Member of American Finance Association
Member of International Corporate Governance Society

PhD Scholarship
Awarded a competitive doctoral scholarship in Accounting and Finance in recognition of academic merit and research potential.

MBA Scholarship (Prestigious Award)
Recipient of a competitive and prestigious scholarship during MBA studies, awarded for outstanding academic performance.

Internal Research Grant Awards (x2)
Awarded competitive internal research funding in recognition of high-quality research proposals in accounting and finance.

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Recognised for sustained excellence and leadership in higher education teaching and learning.

Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE)
Awarded by the Chartered Association of Business Schools for professional standards in business education.

Available for media commentary on corporate governance, ESG and sustainable finance, corporate finance, and financial markets.

Also provides expert insights on FinTech, digital banking, and financial inclusion in global and emerging market contexts.

PhD from Loughborough University
PhD Thesis Title/Topic: ‘An Impact of Directors’ Busyness on Firm Performance: Evidence from the United Kingdom’
MS (Finance) from Lancaster University
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education
MBA (Banking and Finance) from Lahore School of Economics, Lahore, Pakistan
BBA (IT) with specialisation in Finance from University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan