Dr Michael Hayden

    School of Business

    Lecturer
    Assistant Professor

    TSI Building
    3rd Floor
    373
    (01) 708 6420

    Biography

    Dr. Michael Hayden is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Maynooth University School of Business. Michael completed his accountancy training with KPMG and qualified as a chartered accountant. After working in professional practice, he held the position of financial controller in industry for several years. Subsequently, he joined Maynooth University and lectures in the areas of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management. Since joining academia Michael has gained extensive teaching experience across a broad range of accounting modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in University and has delivered modules for several Professional Accounting Bodies. He has also gained extensive examinations experience by acting as external examiner for many Higher-Level Education Institutions and through examiner roles with Professional Accounting Bodies. Michael completed his PhD on financial management in Agriculture and has presented his research at both national and international conferences. He has also published his work in leading peer-reviewed academic journals. His research interests are in the broad area of management accounting and include: Financial Management & Decision-making in Agriculture, Sustainability in Food & Agriculture, The Rural Economy and Entrepreneurship in Small/Micro Businesses. Michael is the Chairperson of the Irish Accounting & Finance Association (IAFA)-(2022 to 2024). 

    Research Interests

    My research interests are in the broad area of management accounting and include: Financial Management & Decision-making in Agriculture, Sustainability in Food & Agriculture and The Rural Economy. I welcome PhD students in these areas of research.

    Research Projects

    Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
    Sustainable Transition of the Rural Economy through Generational Renewal Project Lead and Principal Investigator Dr Michael Hayden and Dr Bridget McNally (Principal Investigators) from the School of Business secured funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) in Q3 2021. The project is a collaboration with Teagasc and the Funding value is €147,820. Details of the project are set out below. Project Outline: There is a concern about the sustainability of the Rural Economy in Ireland with business continuity and succession planning one of its major challenges. The increasing average age of farmers and the economic vulnerability of many farm enterprises are indicators of this challenge, with similar issues noted in other countries. Research correlates older land-holders with lower production, reduced efficiency and reduced technology adoption, thereby highlighting significant challenges facing the sustainability of farming. The strongest barriers to innovation in agriculture are identified at farm level, and relate to business structures, lack of land mobility and aging farmers. In this context, sustainable generational renewal programmes necessitate a dual focus. They require a framework of supports for adequate retirement income provisioning for retiring farmers (and their dependants) within a clear exit strategy from the farm. Secondly, a framework to enable farm successors and new entrants a formal route to farm ownership is required. The majority of farms in Ireland are sole-traders and this can hinder family-farm transfers and act as a barrier for new entrants. Collaborative farming and alternative farm business structures offer potential frameworks for families to farm together and for new entrants to join the industry, but to date have low adoption in Irish agriculture. Accordingly, this research project has two objectives (RO’s): RO1: To conduct a comprehensive review of retirement income provisioning in Irish agriculture, its impact on farm succession and on living standards of retired farmers (including their dependants), thereby developing a sustainable model for farm succession which supports both successors/new entrants and retiring farmers. RO2: To conduct a comprehensive review of collaborative farming and alternative farm business structures in Irish agriculture and its role in farm succession and in attracting/facilitating new entrants, thereby developing a framework for the integration of alternate farm business structures into start-up/succession and retirement planning. 01/11/2021 31/10/2023 147820
    Financial Decision-making in Agriculture PhD Researher 01/09/2012 31/08/2017 15000

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden M.T.; Mattimoe R.; Jack L. (2022) 'Sensemaking and financial management in the decision-making process of farmers'. Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change, 18 (4):529-552. [DOI]
    2021 Hayden M.T.; McNally B.; Kinsella A. (2021) 'Exploring state pension provision policy for the farming community'. Journal of Rural Studies, 86 :262-269. [DOI]
    2021 Hayden M.T.; Mattimoe R.; Jack L. (2021) 'Sensemaking and the influencing factors on farmer decision-making'. Journal of Rural Studies, 84 :31-44. [DOI]
    2021 Mattimoe, R., Hayden, M.T., Murphy, B. and Ballantine, J. (2021) 'Approaches to Analysis of Qualitative Research: A Reflection of the Manual and Technological Approaches'. The Accounting, Finance and Governance Review, 27 (1). https://doi.org/10.52399/001c.22026

    Other Journal

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) 'It's hard to be green, when in the red - balancing economic sustainability with environmental sustainability' TResearch, Published by Teagasc, .
    2021 Hayden, M.T., McNally, B. and Kinsella, A. (2021) 'The Big Pension Problem for Farmers in Ireland' TResearch, Published by Teagasc, 16 (3) .
    2020 Hayden, M.T. (2020) 'COVID-19 and the Agricultural Industry' Accountancy Ireland Published by Chartered Accountants Ireland, .

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2021 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Jack, L. (2021) 33rd Irish Accounting and Finance Association Conference The Sensegiving Role of Advisors in Farmer Decision-making MTU, Cork,
    2021 Mattimoe, R., Hayden, M.T., Murphy, B. and Ballantine, J. (2021) British Accounting and Finance Association Accounting Education Annual Conference Approaches to Analysis of Qualitative Research Data: A Reflection on the Manual and Technological Approaches Online,
    2021 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe M., Murphy, B. and Ballantine, J. (2021) 33rd Irish Accounting and Finance Association Conference Approaches to Analysis of Qualitative Research Data: A Reflection on the Manual and Technological Approaches MTU, Cork,
    2019 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Jack, L. (2019) 32nd Irish Accounting and Finance Association Conference The most dangerous field is the field next door - understanding the influencing factors on the strategic decision-making process of farmers Dublin,
    2019 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Murphy, B. (2019) 32nd Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference Qualitative Research: To use NVIVO or Not? Dublin,
    2018 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Jack, L. (2018) 31st Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference Sensemaking of Financial Management in the Decision-making Process of Farmers Limerick,
    2017 Mattimoe, R. and Hayden, M.T. (2017) 30th Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference Financial Management in Family Businesses: Tourism and Farming in Ireland Athlone,
    2015 Hayden, M.T. and Mattimoe, R. (2015) 28th Irish Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference Financial Management on Irish Farms: A Research Agenda Dublin,
    2014 Hayden, M. and Mattimoe, R. (2014) 3rd Irish Management Accounting Research Network Workshop Financial Management on Irish Farms: Preliminary Findings Dublin,

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2023 Hlochova, H., McNally B., Hayden, M.T. and Kinsella A. (2023) Pension Policy Research Group Seminar Pensions in the Farming Sector- Lessons to be learned from Europe University College Dublin, .
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Pension Policy Research Group Seminar Pensions and the Sustainability of the Rural Economy Online, .
    2021 Hayden, M.T. (2021) School of Business Seminar Series The Sensegiving Role of Advisors in Farmer Decision-making Maynooth University, .
    2020 McNally, B. and Hayden, M.T. (2020) Pension Policy Research Group Seminar Roadmap for Pensions Reform - The Farming Perspective Maynooth University, .
    2019 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Jack, L. (2019) Heriot-Watt University Sensemaking of Financial Management in the Decision-making process of Farmers Edinburgh, .
    2016 Mattimoe, R. and Hayden, M.T. (2016) 5th Irish Management Accounting Research Network Workshop Financial Management in Family Businesses: the case of Tourism and Farms Dublin, .
    2013 Hayden, M.T. and Mattimoe, R. (2013) 9th Management Control Research Conference Financial Management on Irish Farms: Preliminary Findings Nyenrode, The Netherlands, .

    Electronic Publication

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Can farmers balance economic and environmental sustainability? RTE Brainstorm Article. [Electronic Publication]
    2022 Hayden, M.T., McNally, B. and Kinsella, A. (2022) State pensions: ‘Stark reality’ that low-income farmers may not qualify. Published by Agriland (Industry Publication). [Electronic Publication]
    2021 Hayden, M.T. and McNally, B. (2021) Why Irish farmers face big issues when it comes to pensions. RTE Brainstorm Article. [Electronic Publication]

    Media

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Agriland - Contributor to Expert Panel Discussion on Farm Health and Safety, Wellbeing and Farm Families. [Media]
    2021 Hayden, M.T. (2021) RTE 1, Morning Ireland Radio Interview - Expert opinion provided on Pensions Provision for the Farming Community. [Media]

    Newspaper Articles

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Irish Farmers Journal - Farmers need to be ‘more active’ with succession planning. [Newspaper Articles]
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Irish Examiner - Tackling the 'Pension Gap' challenge for farmers. [Newspaper Articles]
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Irish Farmers Journal - Farmers need to focus on economic and environmental sustainability. [Newspaper Articles]
    2021 Hayden, M.T., McNally, B. and Kinsella, A. (2021) Irish Farmers Journal - Farmers Locked out of State Pension Rely on Farm Income - Findings from Maynooth University Study. [Newspaper Articles]
    2021 Hayden, M.T. (2021) Irish Farmers Journal - Beef farmers have lowest engagement level with advisers - research from Maynooth University. [Newspaper Articles]
    2021 Hayden, M.T., McNally, B. and Kinsella, A. (2021) The Leinster Leader - Maynooth University study shows many low income farmers may be exempt from state pension. [Newspaper Articles]

    Thesis

    Year Publication
    2017 Hayden, M.T. (2017) Sensemaking and Financial Decision-making on Irish Farms. PhD, Dublin City University: [Thesis]

    Working Paper

    Year Publication
    2021 Hayden, M.T., Mattimoe, R. and Jack, L. (2021) The Sensegiving Role of Advisors in Farmer Decision-making. [Working Paper]
    2021 Fitzsimons, M., Hogan, T. and Hayden, M.T. (2021) Bootstraping and Working Capital Management - A Synthesis'. [Working Paper]

    Podcast

    Year Publication
    2022 Hayden, M.T. (2022) Podcast for Maynooth University Sustainable Futures Programme on the topic of Sustainability, Accounting and Farming. [Podcast]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Irish Accounting and Finance Association Chairperson 10/06/2022 -
    Pension Policy Research Group Member 01/01/2020 -
    IAFA Annual Doctoral Colloquium Facilitator 01/05/2018 -
    Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland Fellow 05/01/2015 -
    Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland Associate Member 25/11/2004 - 04/01/2015
    Irish Accounting and Finance Association Council Member 31/05/2012 - 31/05/2015

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/01/2017 Irish Accountancy Awards Professional Accounting Bodies and Industry Affiliates
    01/05/2015 Doctoral Funding Competition Winner Irish Accounting and Finance Association

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    MU Teaching & Learning Committee Member 01/09/2022 -
    MU Academic Discipline Board Member 01/09/2022 -
    MU Academic Council Member 01/05/2019 - 01/05/2022
    MU Research Committee Member 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2021
    MU Accounting Accreditation Committee Member 01/09/2017 -
    MU Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Member 01/09/2020 -

    Other Activities

    Description
    Chartered Accountants Ireland - external examiner/moderator for professional examinations (2009 to 2020).
    Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Ireland - external examiner/moderator for professional examinations (2018 to date).
    Institute of Bankers - External examiner on professional accredited programmes (2021 to date).
    University of Limerick - external examiner on the BA in Education, Business and Accounting programme (2018 to 2021).
    Waterford Institute of Technology - external examiner on their Accounting programmes (2019 to 2022).
    TU Dublin - external examiner on Masters in Accounting programme (2018 to 2021).
    Cork Institute of Technology - external examiner on research masters programme (2014 to 2017)

    Teaching Interests

    I have developed and delivered a range of modules in the areas of Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Financial Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

    Current taught modules: AC151 Introduction to Accounting and AC605 Strategic Finance and Management Accounting. Previously taught modules:  AC152 Financial Accounting 1; AC160 Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting; AC201 Financial Accounting 2; AC503 Finance for Accountants.

    Current doctoral student supervision:
    - Elaine Smith, working title: 'A Financial Perspective on Sustainable Food Production in Irish Agriculture' (co-supervisor with Dr John Cullen), registered in 2021