As if to highlight the slightly perverse twists that life can throw up, on the same day that I am involved in launching the Accounting Streams project that represents a new approach to undergraduate accounting education, I also have to advise that I will be retiring as Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School at the end of February.
I have mentioned more than once during the course of this autumn that I had reached the point of feeling overstretched more often than I would wish for and felt that this was no longer desirable. I have, as a result, been in discussion with the University and once my work on producing a series of educational videos on tax transparency that I have primarily written and which are being produced in association with both the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency and the International Budget Partnership, comes to a close at around the time that I've indicated that my retirement will take place, I think it will be time to bring my employment in academia to a close.
Coincidentally, during the next month or so, I will also be concluding other work that I have been engaged in for some time with Copenhagen Business School on developing thinking around sustainable cost accounting.
That having been said, I have assured my colleagues that I am not disappearing entirely. There is work in progress on a number of academic papers and more to do on Accounting Streams, so it is my expectation that I will keep up ties with Sheffield but in a different role.
The good news, as far as I am concerned, is that I will have no further responsibility for any admin or compliance with admin procedures, none of which I much enjoy. Nor will I now be willing to take the lead on any academic work, as I have been doing. This will be the biggest change.
None of this will change my commitment to this blog or to the production of videos. If anything, once the pretty heavy work agenda that I have been engaged in this year reduces, I might look at producing more social media content, and we are developing ideas on how to do that.
There is, however, one idea that I previously discussed that I very much doubt I will pursue at present. When social media content can reach so many people, I am not convinced that writing another book is a good use of my time right now, and as a consequence, doing that is on hold for the time being, although that might change once I have had a chance to take just a little bit of a break next year.
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Buy me a coffee!
I’m sure that you’ll pack plenty in before February.
You will not have a title any longer..just plain old Richard Murphy
Who knows?
Do you?
There’s always the Emeritus Professor position, Richard. Most of my colleagues who became professors over the years decided to apply for that title – and got it. Just a thought, which I dare say has been suggested to you already.
It has been discussed…..
“You will not have a title any longer..just plain old Richard Murphy”
@Andrew
Why in the world would anyone want a title? One’s work is what history will judge.
If Winston Churchill did not want a title, why would Richard Murphy care two hoots about a title.
However, I would have no problem with Richard Murphy sitting in the House of Lords (or US Senate) as it now exist and/or reformed and reconfigured.
I have never used the title Prof socially. So for example, in all those drop down menus on the web I have never once used Prof as my title. Iy has been my job description for 10 years – and may still be in the future, but it does in no way deine who I am.
@Richard,
My comment was not really addressed to you. If I offended anyone, I humbly apologize.
I was trying to make an underhanded snarky Yank remark regarding the obsession the English appear to have with all types Titles.
However, I am serious about you sitting in the House of Lords! LOL!
No thank you
I didn’t want it when it was discussed once upon a time and don’t do so now
“I didn’t want it when it was discussed once upon a time and don’t do so now”
John Mcdonnell says it differently he says you wanted to be made a lord as recompense for advising Jeremy Corbyn but he and others would not sanction your appointment as an advisor. Why would he lie?
I was there
You weren’t
I was the person who made it clear I would not work with John McDonnell – the Corbyn team talked about a peerage for several months after that. Maybe John shouild talk to them.
It’s not just the environment. You have to be sustainable. Your work is invaluable.
Best of luck in your rearranged career structure. Sounds eminently sensible move.
Thanks
Richard I am pleased for you. I still think you do too much. Please make sure you look after yourself all the time.
That’s my aim
Thank you, Richard.
One hopes not just you, but your family, too, will be fine. Warmest regards and good wishes for the new chapters.
Thanks
Richard,
I wish you a long, happy and productive retirement.
Funnily enough like you (I think!) I have an autumn birthday, in so far as I have a plan and its 5 years away so a lot can happen in the meanwhile my intention wasnt to ‘retire’ or at least set up my post retirement arrangements until the following March as you cant do much in the garden until then and the heritage railways are closed over the winter.
I am amused
The reality is that my retirement is more from academia than from work, and even then the links with academia will remain in some areas, albeit with considrably less required of me, I hope.
Some also already seem to think I might have too much time on my hands. I have already been offered some new work today, just in case I had nothing to do. All going well, my actual final retirement is many years away as yet, but I definitely want more free time next year.
My father underwent forced “retirement” ie redundancy from academia many years ago. He was a lecturer. Today he writes, reads, researches, visits public libraries and record offices frequently, gives talks, converses with others of similar interest, publishes books and (recently) has taken to ordering my husband around to take the photographs his unsteady hands can no longer do. And he will be 90 in April next year. Retirement pah! And the best bit for him (as it could well be for you) is those were the bits of the “job” he loved, and leaving the “job” simply left all the bits he really didn’t love at all. And his title? Still dad. The very best wishes to you and your family.
I like that, a lot
As my wife out it, my agenda will now be udner my control, and that means the stress will be as well.
Congratulations! Go for the Emeritus, it’ll shut the trolls up. Just a word of warning – I retired at 62, still working (part time) at 73 🙁
The emeritus is not in my gift.
That said, I have reasons to think it will happen
Bravo, Richard !
Enjoy a good break next year, I trust you’ll find a good balance and enjoy the freedom.
The freedom from other organisations agendas is what I am looking forward to