Opening public sector pathways: Business School students connect with alumni, practitioners, and research
By: Serena Mitchell
Last updated: Monday, 16 June 2025
CIPFA networking event
CIPFA networking event
CIPFA networking event
Earlier this spring, the University of Sussex’s Accounting and Finance department partnered with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA, UK) to host an event that highlighted the power of connecting education, industry, and research.
Designed to help students better understand career opportunities in public sector finance, the event brought together second- and third-year BSc Accounting and Finance students with practitioners and alumni—including Sussex graduates Tom Alty and Adam Thomlinson—who shared their career journeys and offered practical insights into working in public financial management.
In addition to career discussions, students engaged with current faculty research that demonstrated how academic inquiry drives real-world impact.
- Dr. Faruk Bhuiyan presented findings on auditor attributes and audit effectiveness, using Australian data to highlight how professional traits influence audit outcomes.
- Dr. Agata Kocia (University of Warsaw) and Dr. Malgorzata Sulimierska introduced a cross-national study on AI applications in digital health, comparing the UK and Poland to explore how technology is transforming healthcare delivery.
These research presentations not only enriched the conversation but also invited students to consider how evidence-based insights shape public policy and service innovation.
International collaboration was another key theme, strengthened by the participation of Dr. Kocia from the University of Warsaw, demonstrating the global dimension of today’s accounting challenges and solutions.
Reflecting on the day, Dr. Bhuiyan described it as “highly engaging and fruitful,” noting the strong industry participation and student curiosity. Matthew Walsh added, “It was a great day bringing together students, employers, professional bodies, research, and alumni—all aligned around a lecture on public sector management accounting.”
CIPFA’s Kirsty Wall echoed this, highlighting how valuable it was to see students actively involved in the research conversations.
Events like this show how Sussex is committed to equipping students not only with technical skills but with an understanding of the broader context in which those skills matter. By bridging the gap between study, research, and professional life, we prepare our students to lead with impact.
This event was supported by the University of Sussex Business School’s Engagement Facilitation Fund (EFF) and organized with the energy and dedication of Dr. Sulimierska, Matthew Walsh, Prof. Hans van der Heijden, Professor Gonul Colak, and the engagement team.