Mary Barrett

Mary joined University of Galway in 2004, having previously trained as a professional accountant with PWC and lectured for BPP Professional Education and University College Cork. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, holds a Master of Business Studies in Corporate Finance and Accounting and is currently undertaking doctoral research examining the emergence and evolution of management accounting systems in SMEs.

Mary is a committee member of the Irish Accounting and Finance Association, an academic organisation whose aim is to promote high quality research and teaching of accounting, finance and related subjects, particularly in the Irish third level education sector.

Mary lectures in Financial Accounting and Management Accounting at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. Mary has previously acted as Programme Director for B. Comm Accounting (a niche programme for students pursuing careers in accounting) and has worked closely with employers to place students on internship and international experience placement programmes.

Selected Publications:

• Kelly, T. and Barrett, M. (2011) “The Leading Causes and Potential Consequences of Occupational Stress – A Study of Irish Trainee Accountants.” Irish Accounting Review, Volume 18, Issue 2, pp. 31-55.
• Doran, M. (2006) “Bean Counter or Business Adviser? An Exploratory Study of Changing Times for the Accounting Practitioner in Ireland.” Irish Accounting Review, 13 (1), 23-46.

Mary is particularly interested in all aspects of accounting in SMEs. Currently, as part of her doctoral studies, Mary is examining the process of evolution and development of management accounting systems in SMEs.

In addition, Mary is working with colleague Natasha Caulfield on research on the student experience of learning accounting online during the second phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a member of the scientific committee of the European Network for Research in Organisational and Accounting Change, Mary co-chaired the 10th anniversary ENROAC conference in 2015 at University of Galway, welcoming international academics and practitioners to discuss all issues relating to organisational and accounting change and in particular, the conference theme: In search of Competitiveness and Sustainable Value: Designing Accounting practices to manage Business and Social Innovation.

Previous research undertaken by Mary examined the demand for non-compliance services in SMEs and potential barriers to uptake of these services. In addition, Mary has undertaken research with Gearóid O’Fátharta on the demand for voluntary audit in SMEs and with Teresa Kelly on the leading causes and potential consequences of stress amongst Irish trainee accountants.

Financial Accounting, Management Accounting.