Steven Toms

Professor Steven Toms is a Professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Leeds' Faculty of Business. He holds a BA (Hons) in Modern History from Trinity College, Oxford, a Chartered Accountant qualification, an MBA from CNAA, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. Previously, he served as Head of the York Management School and held senior leadership roles at Nottingham University, including Head of Undergraduate Programmes and Research Director.

• Education:
  • BA (Hons) Modern History, Trinity College, Oxford (1982)
  • MA, Trinity College, Oxford (1985)
  • Chartered Accountant (1986)
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Leicester University (1987)
  • MBA, CNAA (1991)
  • PhD, University of Nottingham (1996)

His research focuses on accounting, corporate governance, and business history, with a particular emphasis on historical perspectives of organizational development, financial models, and textile industry dynamics. Key areas include forensic accounting, financial fraud analysis, and the evolution of corporate strategies in industries like cotton textiles. He served as Editor of Business History (2007–2013) and actively supervises doctoral students in accounting and related fields.

Professor Toms's recent work explores post-Brexit and post-pandemic challenges for UK fashion and textiles, historical financial scandals, and the interplay between governance and organizational performance. His publications frequently integrate historical case studies with contemporary economic theories.

He currently serves as Departmental Director of Research at Leeds and is involved in collaborative research initiatives. His work bridges historical analysis with modern business challenges, emphasizing lessons from past crises to inform current strategic decisions.