Staff profile

Ghafran is an Associate Professor in Accounting at Durham University Business School. Ghafran holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield. His research interests lie in the area of governance and accountability, specifically focusing on the governance role of corporate boards and accountability practices of non-governmental organisations. 

Ghafran’s current research agenda develops a broader analysis and critique of governance and accountability for NGOs operating in the field of sustainable development.  He is also taking a critical perspective on the role of accounting in the marginalisation of communities.

He has published his work in world leading and internationally excellent academic journals. He serves on the editorial advisory board for the International Journal of Auditing. Ghafran is also a keen observer of pressing social issues of our times providing critical analysis in various media outlets. Ghafran is interested in supervising PhD students with innovative ideas in the field of governance and accountability.

• Corporate Governance
• Accountability and transparency
• Global Governance

Journal Article

• Ghafran, C., & Yasmin, S. (online). Reconceptualizing Accountability in NGO-Corporate Partnerships: An Institutional Logics Perspective. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-02-2023-6276
• Ghafran, C., & Yasmin, S. (online). Beyond conventional financialization: Intersectional insights and Indigenous responses to financial inequality in the UK. Critical Perspectives On Accounting, Article 102771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2024.102771
• Ghafran, C., & Yasmin, S. (2025). Participation Strategies and Ethical Considerations in NGO led Community-Based Conservation Initiatives. Journal of Business Ethics, 196(3), 659-675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05665-4
• Ghafran, C., O'Sullivan, N., & Yasmin, S. (2022). When does audit committee busyness influence earnings management in the UK? Evidence on the role of the financial crisis and company size. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 47, Article 100467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2022.100467
• Yasmin, S., & Ghafran, C. (2021). Accountability and legitimacy of non‐profit organisations: Challenging the current status quo and identifying avenues for future research. Financial Accountability and Management, 37(4), 399-418. https://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12280
• Yasmin, S., Ghafran, C., & Haslam, J. (2021). Centre-staging beneficiaries in charity accountability: Insights from an Islamic post-secular perspective. Critical Perspectives On Accounting, 75, Article 102167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2020.102167
• Ghafran, C., & Yasmin, S. (2020). Ethical Governance: Insight from the Islamic perspective and an empirical enquiry. Journal of Business Ethics, 167(3), 513-533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04170-3
• Yasmin, S., & Ghafran, C. (2019). The problematics of accountability: Internal responses to external pressures in exposed organisations. Critical Perspectives On Accounting, 64, Article 102070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2019.01.002
• Yasmin, S., Ghafran., C., & Haniffa, R. (2018). Exploring de-facto accountability regimes in Muslim NGOs. Accounting Forum, 42(3), 235-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2018.07.002
• Ghafran, C., & Yasmin, S. (2018). Audit committee chair and financial reporting timeliness : a focus on financial, experiential and monitoring expertise. International Journal of Auditing, 22(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijau.12101
• Ghafran, C., & O’Sullivan, N. (2017). The impact of audit committee expertise on audit quality: Evidence from UK audit fees. The British Accounting Review, 49(6), 578-593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2017.09.008
• Ghafran, C., & O’Sullivan, N. (2013). The governance role of audit committees: Reviewing a decade of evidence. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(4), 381-407. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2012.00347.x