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Associate Professor

Dr. Khakan Najaf, PhD

600 500606
Liwa College, Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba Street (Al Najda Street previously), Al Danah, Baniyas Tower B, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Professional Summary

Dr. Khakan Najaf, PhD

Dr. Khakan Najaf is an accomplished academic with over 15 years of experience in the field of accounting and finance. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at Liwa College, UAE, Dr. Najaf has previously held senior academic roles at Monash University, Sunway University, and the University of Lahore. He earned his PhD from Taylor’s University, Malaysia, specializing in corporate governance, dual-board structures, and risk management. His research interests include sustainability accounting, financial technologies, and corporate governance, with over 20 publications in Scopus Q1 journals between 2022 and 2024.

Dr. Najaf is recognized for his contributions to curriculum innovation, where he integrates industry-relevant learning with academic rigor. He has supervised numerous PhD and undergraduate students and secured several internal and external research grants. Professionally, he is a Chartered Accountant (Intermediate) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and an Associate Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from Malaysia. Additionally, he serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious academic journals and has actively contributed to the acxademic community through conferences, seminars, and industry collaborations.

Short Bio

Dr. Khakan Najaf is an accomplished Associate Professor of Accounting at Liwa College, UAE, with a distinguished career spanning over 15 years in academia. He has previously held senior academic positions at Monash University, Sunway University, and the University of Lahore. Dr. Najaf earned his PhD from Taylor’s University, Malaysia, specializing in corporate governance and risk management. He is a Chartered Accountant (Intermediate) and an Associate Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from Malaysia. His research focuses on sustainability practices, fintech, and corporate governance, with more than 20 Scopus Q1 publications to his credit. He is actively involved in curriculum innovation and mentoring future accounting professionals.

Core Qualifications

  • Over 15 years of academic experience in accounting and finance.
  • Proven track record in publishing high-impact research in Q1-ranked journals.
  • Expertise in sustainability accounting, fintech, and corporate governance.
  • Chartered Accountant (Intermediate) from ICAP and Associate CPA from Malaysia.
  • Strong leadership in curriculum design and innovation.
  • Extensive experience in supervising PhD and undergraduate students.
  • Editorial board member for several top-tier academic journals.
  • Secured multiple research grants from international institutions.

Education

  • Taylor’s University, Malaysia (2017-2020)
    Thesis: Dual Boards of Conglomerate-Affiliated Firms: A Study of Governance Issues Supervisors: Dr. Md Hamid Uddin and Dr. Nor Shaipah Abdul Wahab
    Ph.D. in Business (Accounting & Finance)
  • Met stringent academic and professional criteria, endorsed by a long-standing MICPA member and the Dean of the Faculty of Business at Monash University.
    Associate Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) (2023)
  • The University of Lahore (2014-2016) CGPA: 3.85/4.00
    Thesis: An Empirical Investigation of the Causal Relationship among Monetary Variables and Equity Market Returns: Cross Country Analysis
    MS in Accounting & Finance
  • The University of Lahore (2013-2014) CGPA: 3.95/4.00 (Gold Medalist)
    Thesis: The Impact of Terrorism and Political Events on Karachi Stock Exchange
    Master of Science in Accounting & Finance
  • University of Punjab (2006-2008)
    First Division, Majors in Financial Accounting, Auditing, Business Taxation
    Bachelor of Commerce

Publications

  • Najaf, K.,* Ali, M., Asiaei, K., & Dhiaf, M. (2024) The Impact of carbon emissions on market performance: fintech versus non-fintech. Electronic Commerce Research, DOI: 10.1007/s10660-024-09866-x (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-A) (ABS-2) (SSCI)
  • Uddin, M, H*., Najaf, K., Hassan, K., Wahab, N, S, A. (2024) Dual-board governance and board independence: conglomerate affiliate vs standalone firms, International Journal of Finance and Economics. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-B) (ABS-3) (SSCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Chin, A., Fook, A, L, W., Dhiaf, M., & Asiaei, K. (2024) Fintech and Corporate Governance: At Times of Financial Crisis. Electronic Commerce Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-023-09733-1 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-A) (ABS-2) (SSCI)
  • Ataya, O., Najaf, K.,* Ali, H., & Marashdeh, H. (2024) Sustainability, market performance and FinTech firms, Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 317-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-08-2021-1405. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-A) (ABS-1) (ESCI)
  • Khalifa, A, H.,* Najaf, K., Ataya, O., & Dhiaf, M. (2024) The Impact of Electronic Word of Mouth (Ewom) on corporate performance during COVID-19. Electronic Commerce Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-023-09750-0 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-A) (ABS-2) (SSCI)
  • Najaf, K., Sinnadurai, P., Suppiah, S, D, K., & Dhiaf, M.* (2024) Does Electronic Economics matter for Financial Technology Firms? Electronic Commerce Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-022-09578-0 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-A) (ABS-2) (SSCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Kee, H, W., Singh, J., Gultom, N, D., Chin, A. (2024) Board Characteristics and ESG Performance: An Evidence from Malaysia, Journal of sustainable Finance and Investment. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/20430795.2024.2401360 (Scopus-Q1) (ABS-1) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, A., Dhiaf, M.M., Najaf, K.* (2024) PhD versus non-PhD female directors and firm performance in digital era, Discover Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00465-2 (Scopus-Q2) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, R., Chin, A., Chin, A., Najaf, K.,* Jeyanthi, T. (2024) Women on Board and Business Performance, Foresight Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-10-2023-0217 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (ABS-1) (ESCI)
  • Chin, A., Lye, O, C., & Najaf, K.,* (2024) The corporate risk-taking and performance of politically connected firms: evidence from Malaysia, Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-05-2021-0189 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C)(ABS-1) (WOS)
  • Dhiaf, M., Najaf, K.,* Ataya, O., Marashdeh, H., Rim, E. (2024) The role of FinTech for Manufacturing Efficiency and Financial Performance: In the era of Industry 4.0, Journal of decision systems. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-B) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Yiwei, W., Najaf, K.,* Guilherme, F., Ataya, O. (2023) Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Tourism Sector: Evidence from China and United States Stocks, Current Issues in Tourism, https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1972944. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDCA) (ABS-2) (SSCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Dhiaf, M., Ataya, O., Marashdeh, H. (2023) The Social Role of Supply Chain firms during the Pandemic Period, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-B) (ABS-2) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K., Joshipura, M., Alshater, M, M.* (2023) War build-up and stock returns: Evidence from Russian and Ukrainian stock markets, Journal of Risk Finance (Scopus-Q2) (ABDC-B) (ABS-1) (ESCI).
  • Dhiaf, M., Marashdeh, H., Ataya, O.*, & Najaf, K., (2023) Sensitivity of Market Performance to Social Risk Index: Evidence from Global Listed Companies in Logistics and Transportation Industry, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (ABS-2) (SSCI).
  • Toumi, A., Najaf, K.,* Dhiaf, M.M., Ng S.L., & Shenba K. (2023) The role of Fintech firms’ sustainability during the COVID-19 period. Environment Science and Pollution Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356023-26530-3 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (SSCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Haji, K.A, Obaid, S., Rashidi, A., Ataya, A. (2023) Does Sustainability Matter for Fintech Firms? Evidence from United States Firms, Journal of Competitiveness Review, https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-10-2021-0132. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (ABS-1) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Ataya, O., Devi S. (2022) Ten years of Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-03-2021-0089. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-B) (ABS-2) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K., Subramaniam, R., & Ataya, O.* (2022) Understanding FinTech Peer-to-Peer lending (P2P) implications for sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic, Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2021.1917225 (Scopus-Q1) (ABS-1) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Dhiaf, M., Marashdeh, H., Ataya, O. (2022) Role of ICT for workers' safety at the workplace during pandemics: Evidence from Global Data, Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, DOI 10.1108/JHLSCM-12-2021-0129. (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (ABS-1) (ESCI)
  • Subramaniam, R., Najaf, K., & Thangarajah, M.* (2022) Board Governance, Dividend Payout and Executive Compensation in Malaysian Firms, Capital Markets Review 30(1), 17-35 (ABDC-C) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K., Schinckus, C.,* & Liew, C. Y. (2021) VaR and Market Value of Fintech Companies: An Analysis and Evidence from Global Data. Journal of Managerial Finance. Vol. 47 No. 7, pp. 915-936. https://doi.org/10.1108/MF-04-2020-0169 (Scopus-Q2) (ABDC-B) (ABS-1) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Dhiaf, M., Najaf, K., Ataya, O., Marashdeh, H., Guilherme, F*, (2021) The role of project’s initiatives focused on the reduction of environmental footprints during COVID-19: Evidence from the United States firms, Operations Management Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-021-00206-y (Scopus-Q2) (SSCI) (ABDC-C) (ABS-1)
  • Ataya, O., Najaf, K.,* Subramaniam, R., & Chin, P., (2021) The ascension of executives' tenure, corporate risk-taking and corporate performance: Evidence from Malaysia, Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-05-2021-0189 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (ABS-1) (WOS)
  • Ataya, O., Mohammad, D.,* Najaf, K., Guilherme, F. (2021) Impact of COVID-19 on Financial Performance of Logistics Firms: Evidence from G-20 Countries, Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing, https://doi.org/10.1108/JGOSS-03-2021-0028 (Scopus-Q1) (ABDC-C) (WOS) (ESCI)
  • Najaf, K.,* Mostafiz, I., & Najaf, R. (2021) FinTech Firms and Banks Sustainability: Why Cybersecurity Risk Matters? International Journal of Financial Engineering, 8(2), 2150019, https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424786321500195 (ABDC-C) (WOS) (ESCI)

Additional Information