Email: [email protected]

Office: ABS 421

Phone: 0121 204 3641 

I am a Senior Academic at Aston University with over 20 years’ experience in higher education, specialising in fraud, auditing, governance and forensic accounting. My work brings together academic research, education, knowledge exchange, professional practice, public policy and public engagement, with an overarching goal of improving how fraud is understood, prevented and detected.

Research

My principal research area is fraud against individuals and organisations across sectors. I examine the different forms and methods of fraud; the psychological, behavioural and organisational factors that enable it; and the mechanisms through which fraud can be prevented and detected. I also research the role of auditing, accounting and corporate governance in countering fraud, including how these professions and systems can contribute more effectively to fraud prevention and detection.

A defining feature of my research is its interdisciplinary and applied focus. I collaborate with academics, practitioners, policymakers, regulators, law enforcement agencies, charities and other organisations to address real-world fraud challenges and translate research evidence into practical interventions and policy insights.

I am the Founder and Lead of the Fraud Research Group (FRG) at Aston University, which brings together academics, practitioners and policymakers to advance interdisciplinary fraud research, facilitate knowledge exchange and develop evidence-based responses to fraud across sectors.

I am also actively involved in developing and leading research funding applications and collaborative research projects with academic and external partners in the UK and internationally.

Academic leadership and research service

I contribute to the wider academic and research community through editorial, peer-review and research assessment roles. I am an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Accounting Literature and the UK Government Public Sector Fraud Journal, and regularly review research for peer-reviewed academic journals.

I am also a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Peer Review College and Assessor College, contributing my expertise to the assessment of research and research funding proposals.

Through these activities, I contribute to maintaining research quality, supporting the development of scholarship, and advancing knowledge within fraud, accounting, auditing and related disciplines.

Education and teaching

Education is an important part of my work. Over my academic career, I have taught at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels across subjects including fraud, auditing, forensic accounting, corporate governance, CSR and business ethics, and financial accounting.

My educational work also extends internationally. I founded the PRME Anti-Fraud in Management Education Working Group, a United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative that brings together educators and other stakeholders to promote anti-fraud education, support the integration of fraud awareness into management education curricula, and improve understanding of fraud globally.

I also serve on the Steering Committee of the PRME Anti-Corruption Working Group.

Knowledge exchange, professional practice and policy

A significant part of my work focuses on connecting academic evidence with professional practice and public policy. I work with organisations responsible for preventing, detecting, investigating and responding to fraud, helping to ensure that academic research contributes to practical solutions.

I am an Educational Consultant in Insider Fraud at Cifas and contribute to a range of professional, governmental and advisory groups. These include the Fraud Board of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, the UK Government Counter Fraud Profession Cross-Sector Advisory Group, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Advisory Council in the United States.

I collaborate with UK police forces, regulators, policymakers, charities, legal practitioners, auditors and professional bodies on fraud research, awareness and interventions. My engagement has included working with organisations such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Reporting Council (FRC), International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), City of London Police and Fraud Advisory Panel, among others.

Parliamentary and policy engagement

I contribute research evidence and specialist expertise to public policy and parliamentary discussions on fraud.

This has included providing oral evidence to the UK Parliament on the Fraud and Error Bill, as well as submitting written evidence on a range of fraud-related issues. Through this work, I seek to ensure that research evidence contributes to the development of policy, legislation and more effective responses to fraud.

Public engagement and societal impact

Public engagement and education are central to my work. I work directly with members of the public, charities and community organisations to raise awareness of fraud and help people better understand, recognise and protect themselves against fraud. This includes contributing to public-facing initiatives such as Aston University’s Society Matters programme.

I also engage with the media to communicate research evidence and raise wider awareness of fraud. My media engagement has included BBC Radio, Fraud Intelligence and Fraud Magazine, and my research and expertise have been featured or cited by outlets including BBC News, PA Media and The Independent, among others.

An important principle underpinning my work is that research should be accessible and useful to different audiences. I therefore publish and communicate my research through academic, professional, policy and public-facing formats to reach and benefit academics, practitioners, policymakers, students and members of the public.

Across my research, teaching and external engagement, my aim is to ensure that academic knowledge moves beyond publication to inform education, influence policy and professional practice, increase public awareness, and contribute to meaningful and practical responses to fraud.

• Fraud & Corruption
• Cyber Fraud
• Forensic Accounting 
• Audit & Assurance 
• Governance 
• Sustainability & Business Ethics 
• Technology, especially AI and Data Analytics 
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Pedagogy (i.e., Research in Teaching & Learning)

• Insider Fraud Consultant, Cifas, London 

• Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), CPA Australia, 2026
• PhD, Audit & Fraud, Loughborough University, UK, 2016
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), ACFE, US, 2018
• Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), CABS, 2021
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Advance HE, 2024

• Winner, Educator of the Year Global Award, ACFE (US) 2025
• Finalist, Tackling Economic Crime Award (UK), 2025
• Winner, Excellence in enterprise award, Coventry University, 2019
• Winner, Excellence in teaching award, University of Brighton, 2017
• Winner, Excellence in teaching award, The British University of Egypt, 2011

• Certified Member of CPA Australia
• Certified Member of the ACFE
• Member of the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA)

Dr Kassem's research focuses on fraud & corruption, cyber fraud, forensic accounting and audit & assurance.