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Paul Thambar

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Paul Thambar

Assoc Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0586-1796

Accepting PhD Students

20162026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

I am a global academic expert in performance and impact measurement in social businesses-cooperatives and mutuals and social enterprises. I have published my research in ABDC A* journals ( Monash Group 1+ and Group 1) and am regularly invited to speak with industry practitioners at conferences and workshops.

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting, Monash Business School and Founding Director of the Mutual Value Impact Lab at the Monash Business School which is the first and leading research lab focused on social businesses at the Monash Business School.

I am a leading researcher at the Monash Business School on Research Impact and Research income with multiple certified research outcomes relating to early impact (green box) and societal impact (red box) for my research projects and have brought in over AUD 1 million in ARC Category 3 research income.

My research has been recognised through global and Monash research awards including the 2024 VC's Award for Research Impact and Engagement (commendation) and the 2024 VC's Award for Research Enterprise and Commercialisation (commendation) and the 2024 Dean's Award for Research Impact and Engagement. I was also awarded the 2024 AMBA, UK Award for the Best Business School and Industry collaboration (commendation).

My research on performance and impact measurement with the cooperative and mutual enterprise (CME) sector has been commercialised with the research framework, the Mutual Value Framework (MVM), taken up by CMEs in Australia and the UK.

I am a passionate and engaged educator and have taught accounting and business units in the Monash MBA, PhD and Honours programs and in postgraduate and undergraduate programs. I have developed new units and cases based on current topics and my research and bring 'industry into the classroom' through the use of business cases, authentic and pragmatic assessments and industry presenters to provide students with an engaging and relevant learning experience. My education practice has been recognised through a Fellow membership with the Higher Education Association (HEA), UK and a global teaching excellence award (CIMA, UK).

Prior to joining Monash in Feb 2016, I was at UTS Business School from 2010 to 2015. 

Prior to academic appointments, I worked in industry in senior accounting and strategy roles in banking, insurance and health and aged care and in strategy consulting.

I completed a PhD in Accounting in 2015 at UTS. My thesis topic was examining the role of management control systems and practices in enabling strategy formation at the inter-firm level.

I am a Fellow member (FCMA) of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK and hold the CGMA designation. I am also an Academic member of the Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand.

 

 

Research interests

management accounting, performance measurement, management control systems and practices, accountability

organisational theories- institutional theory, institutional logics, sensemaking, resource dependence, paradox theory

Qualititative research including case studies, vignettes, interviews and observations

Field settings include non-governmental organisations, cooperative and mutual enterprises and inter-organisational relationships

Monash teaching commitment

BEX 2030 Social Businesses

BEX 5620-6200 Advanced methods in qualitative research

BEX 2000 Digital technology and business

ACF 5350 Applied Contemporary Accounting

ACF5510 Integrated Accounting

ACX4090 Issues in Management Accounting (Honours)

 

Community service

Independent Member, Academic Board, Graduate Insitute of Higher Education, Sydney

Regional Board Chair and member, CIMA (2007-2012)

Biography

Supervision

I am interested in future PhD students who want to investigate relevant issues in performance and impact measurement in social businesses (cooperatives and mutuals, social enterprises).

I have successfully completed PhD supervisions and have four current PhD students.

Research area keywords

  • Management Accounting
  • Strategy
  • Performance Management
  • Management Control Systems

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  3. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  4. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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View all 13 projects
View all 24 research outputs
  • 6 Peer review responsibility
  • 2 Contribution to conference
  • 1 Continuing Professional Development - development/presentation of external courses
View all 9 activities
View all 9 press/media