Jan van Helden

Jan van Helden is a Professor at the University of Groningen, specializing in public sector accounting, performance management, and governance. His research focuses on financial resilience, budgeting, and fiscal policy in public institutions, with a particular emphasis on Dutch governance and emerging economies. He has authored over 190 publications, including studies on the impact of cutbacks in government workforce, ethical challenges in public financial management, and the practical relevance of accounting research in policy-making.

Van Helden’s work bridges academic research and practical policy, addressing topics such as outcome-based budgeting in emerging economies, the role of consultants in fiscal advice, and accountability mechanisms during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. His contributions include datasets on public sector accounting in emerging economies and media engagements critiquing government fiscal policies, such as his analysis of recent Dutch coalition spending cuts.

His research highlights the tension between ambitious policy goals and implementation realities, particularly in public sector reform and financial management. He has also explored the evolving identity of public sector accounting researchers amid pressures from publication metrics and journal rankings.