Dr Frank Conaty
Lecturer in Accountancy & Finance
J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
Frank's research interest is performance management in the provision of public services through non-profit organisations; his particular interest is in the area of disability services.
The domains of "disability" services and supports for the "elderly" are fields of particular interest with perspectives on stakeholder engagement and inclusion a central focus. Corporate governance and ethics in the non-profit and public sector domains is a complementary area of research interest.
Frank is a former Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Frank's work contributes to these SDGs
Teaching
Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics Teaching, or I should say, introducing students to topics and concepts in these fields is very rewarding. At both undergraduate and post graduate levels my approach is to harness the external environment, bring it into the classroom, and engage with students' own experiences. This makes the material real in the context of their lives and brings into relief the importance of our collective responsibilities for advancing the ambitions of all of the UN SDGs.
Supporting Targets: This module by its nature directly supports many of the SDG targets identified below, in particular, however, Targets: 4.7 Education for sustainable development and global citizenship; 10.4 Adopt fiscal and social policies that promote equality; 12.6 Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting; 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions
Auditing and Assurance – Regulation, Oversight and Reporting Arguably, never before has the need for "Assurance" been more critical. Students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are introduced to the principles, practices and methods of auditing and assurance and reporting as a means of being accountable. While the reporting and assurance of financial information is central to the modules, the arrival of the EU (and international) sustainability reporting standards for corporate entities and the requirement for "audit and assurance" reports on what corporations disclose, has propelled what we do in these fields to the centre of the global sustainability agenda.
Supporting Targets: In emphasising the need for effective sustainability reporting and the principles of effective monitoring, audit and assurance, this module supports all of the SDG targets that the corporate world has an impact on and a reporting requirement in relation to. Apart from this broad support, the modules specifically talk to Targets: 4.7 Education for sustainable development and global citizenship; 12.6 Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting; 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions, 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
Engagement
As a former Commissioner of ten years on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and founder and board member of a number of civil society organisations in the area of disability rights, Frank has harnessed his professional background and research to bring positive impacts for the lives of people in Ireland.
Frank has also developed an international dimension to his work collaborating with colleagues and disability organisations in Portugal and the UK. Central to this work is exploring, drawing on the lived experiences of people, the dynamics of the effective delivery of personal support services for those whose circumstances mean that we, society, have a role in underpinning their basic human rights and dignity.
Direct impact SDG Targets
1.3 - Implement social protection systems
1.4 - Equal rights to ownership, basic services, technology and economic resources
3.7 - Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education
3.8 - Achieve universal health coverage
4.2 - Equal access to quality pre-primary education
4.3 - Equal access to affordable technical, vocational and higher education
4.5 - Eliminate all discrimination in education
4.7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship
5.4 - Value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities
5.A - Equal rights to economic resources, property ownership and financial services
8.5 - Full employment and decent work with equal pay
9.C - Universal access to information and communications technology
10.1 - Reduce income inequalities
10.2 - Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
10.3 - Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination
10.4 - Adopt fiscal and social policies that promotes equality
12.6 - Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting
16.6 - Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions
16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive and representative decision-making
16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
Indirect
1.B - Create pro-poor and gender-sensitive policy frameworks
3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
4.A - Build and upgrade inclusive and safe schools
5.1 - End discrimination against women and girls
5.2 - End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls
5.5 - Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
5.C - Adopt and strengthen policies and enforceable legislation for gender equality
8.1 - Sustainable economic growth
8.3 - Promote policies to support job creation and growing enterprises
8.6 - Promote youth employment, education and training
8.7 - End modern slavery, trafficking and child labour
8.8 - Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments
8.10 - Universal access to banking, insurance and financial services
9.1 - Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures
11.1 - Safe and affordable housing
11.3 - Inclusive and sustainable urbanization
11.7 - Provide access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces
16.2 - Protect children from abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence
Research
Featured Publications
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References |
SDGs |
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Conaty, F., Robbins, G. (2021). A stakeholder salience perspective on performance and management control systems in non-profit organisations. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 80. |
1.3; 3.8, 3D; 16.3 |
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Conaty, F., Robbins, G. (2023). Accountability logics in disability service NPOs – Incorporating the role of service user advocacy in accountability and management control systems. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 36(4), 1110-1136. |
1.3; 1.4; 3.4, 3.8; 10.3 |
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Conaty, F. (2021) Abduction as a Methodological Approach to Case Study Research in Management Accounting – an Illustrative Case. Accounting, Finance and Governance Review, 27(1), 21-35. |
16.6; 3.8, 3.D |