British Accounting And Finance Association

Charity Number: 299527

Annual Expenditure: £0.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £358,252 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £3,000 - £10,000
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months (varies by scheme)
  • Success Rate: 20-30% (British Academy scheme)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Application Method: Rolling for CDAF bursaries; fixed deadlines for British Academy scheme

Contact Details

Website: http://bafa.ac.uk/

Email: admin@bafa.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1202 798537

Overview

The British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA), registered charity no. 299527, is a UK learned society and research organisation founded to advance knowledge and understanding of accounting, finance, and financial management. With over 750 members and an annual income of £358,252, BAFA supports the academic accounting and finance community through conferences, publications, networking opportunities, and research funding. The organization operates through various subgroups including the Committee of Departments of Accounting and Finance (CDAF) and multiple Special Interest Groups. BAFA has established a strategic partnership with the British Academy to deliver additional funding for accounting and finance research, contributing £10,000 annually to the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants scheme. The organization is governed by 8 trustees and supported by 120 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CDAF Research Bursaries: £0 - £3,000

  • Up to 4 bursaries per year (covering academic years 2024/25-2026/27)
  • Maximum £3,000 per bursary
  • Intended as 'pump priming' for new or returning researchers
  • Funds research projects (empirical/applied/quantitative/qualitative research in accounting/finance)
  • Includes funding for dissemination of findings at a conference
  • Payment made in two installments
  • Application method: Submit proposal by annual deadline (typically September)

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (BAFA Fund): £0 - £10,000

  • Awards up to £10,000 in value, tenable for up to 24 months
  • Covers expenses arising from a defined research project
  • Part of the British Academy's wider Small Research Grants scheme
  • BAFA contributes £10,000 annually to support accounting and finance research through this scheme
  • Application method: Through British Academy's online Flexi-Grant system with fixed deadlines (typically May and November)

Priority Areas

  • Historical and contemporary research in accounting and finance (broadly interpreted)
  • Research that addresses important societal and governance challenges
  • Innovative research endeavours in accounting and finance
  • Research projects for new or returning researchers (CDAF bursaries specifically)
  • Projects that advance education and understanding in accounting, finance, and financial management

What They Don't Fund

CDAF Research Bursaries specifically exclude:

  • PhD programs
  • Researchers who have received external research funding in the last 5 years
  • Researchers who have refereed publications in the last 5 years
  • Researchers not employed at fully paid-up CDAF member institutions
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Governance and Leadership

Officers

President: Collins Ntim (University of Southampton)

Vice President: Joan Ballantine (Ulster University)

General Secretary: Rosie Cao (University of Bath)

Treasurer: Suman Lodh (Kingston University)

Non-Executive Trustees

Chair: Mark Protherough (ICAEW)

Trustees: Kevin Holland (Cardiff University), Ian Crawford (University of Bath), Greg Stoner (University of Glasgow)

Subgroups

CDAF Chair: Susan Smith (University College London)

The organization is supported by 120 volunteers and operates without remuneration for trustees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For CDAF Research Bursaries:

  1. Prepare a 3-page research proposal
  2. Prepare a 2-page CV
  3. Obtain a letter of support from your Head of Department
  4. Submit all materials to BAFA by the annual deadline (typically mid-September)
  5. Must be employed at a fully paid-up CDAF member institution
  6. Must present conference paper within 24 months of award

For British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (BAFA Fund):

  1. Submit application through British Academy's online Flexi-Grant system
  2. Applications require institutional approval
  3. Must include a supporting reference (submitted before application can be approved)
  4. Submit at least 5 days before deadline to allow for institutional approval
  5. Applicants do not need to specify which funding body they're applying under - all proposals are automatically considered for all relevant streams including BAFA's fund
  6. Open to postdoctoral scholars (or equivalent) ordinarily resident in the UK
  7. Not limited to particular academic status (Lecturer, Professor, etc.)
  8. Independent scholars may apply

Decision Timeline

CDAF Research Bursaries: Specific timeline not publicly documented; decisions typically made within a few months of the September deadline

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants:

  • Fixed application deadlines (typically in May and November)
  • Decisions typically announced 3-5 months after deadline
  • Around 60% of applicants pass the initial quality threshold to be entered into the randomised allocation process

Success Rates

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants:

  • Overall success rate: 20-30%
  • For 2024-25 round: 1,116 applications submitted; 231 grants awarded (21% success rate)
  • Well above the norm compared to many funding schemes
  • The British Academy has introduced a partial randomization trial where approximately 60% of applicants who pass the quality threshold are entered into randomised allocation

CDAF Research Bursaries: Success rates not publicly documented (maximum 4 awards per year)

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions documented for either scheme. The British Academy scheme accepts applications each funding round (twice yearly).

Application Success Factors

For CDAF Research Bursaries

Eligibility is crucial: These bursaries are specifically designed for those new to research or returning after a break. Applicants must have:

  • No external research funding in the last 5 years
  • No refereed publications in the last 5 years
  • Employment at a fully paid-up CDAF member institution

Research proposal strength: The 3-page proposal is central to the application and should clearly demonstrate the project's contribution to accounting and finance knowledge.

Institutional support: A letter from your Head of Department is required, indicating departmental backing.

Dissemination commitment: Applicants must be prepared to present their findings at a conference within 24 months.

For British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (BAFA Fund)

Quality threshold: Approximately 60% of applicants pass the initial quality assessment to be entered into the randomised allocation process, so meeting basic quality standards is essential.

Broad interpretation welcome: BAFA's fund supports research “broadly interpreted to cover all aspects of historical and contemporary research” in accounting and finance, suggesting flexibility in topics.

Early submission advised: The British Academy recommends submitting at least 5 days before the deadline to allow for institutional approval processes.

No need to specify funding stream: Applicants don't need to request the BAFA fund specifically - all relevant proposals are automatically considered for all applicable special funds.

Institutional approval required: Applications require institutional backing, so engage with your research office early.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two distinct pathways: BAFA offers direct funding through CDAF bursaries (for new/returning researchers at member institutions) and contributes to the British Academy scheme (for established postdoctoral researchers)
  • Strong success rates: The British Academy scheme offers 20-30% success rates, significantly higher than many competitive research funding schemes
  • Partial randomization: The British Academy uses a partial randomization approach for the final allocation, meaning applications passing the quality threshold have a chance even if they're not top-ranked
  • Broad topic interpretation: BAFA supports accounting and finance research “broadly interpreted,” suggesting openness to diverse approaches and topics
  • UK focus: All schemes require UK institutional affiliation or UK ordinary residence
  • Multiple opportunities per year: British Academy scheme has two annual deadlines (May and November), providing multiple chances to apply
  • Strategic timing: For early-career researchers at CDAF member institutions, the CDAF bursaries (£3,000) may be more accessible than the competitive British Academy scheme (£10,000)

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References