Nicholas J Jephson
Address: Leeds University Business School, Maurice Keyworth Building,
University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT
Email: N.J.Jephson@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone: 07900 060267
Education
PhD, University of Leeds Business School, Work and Employment Relations Division (2014)
• My thesis is framed in labour process theory and examined the degradation of graduate work in English
accounting firms
MA, University of Leeds (2009) Human Resource Management (Distinction)
• My dissertation investigated attitudes towards gender in management, ‘brain drain’ and the career perceptions
of Indian future managers
BA(Hons), University of Sheffield (2007) East Asian Studies and Business Studies (2:1)
Academic Employment
Teaching Fellow in Work, Employment Relations and Human Resource Management; Leeds University
Business School (August 2014 - )
Research Assistant, Leeds University Business School (2009 to date)
• 2012: I was a team-member of a follow-up survey to previous CERIC project, this time assessing union officials
instead of employers. Work involved making contact with senior union officials (officers/general secretaries),
conducting telephone interviews and inputting data into survey software.
• 2009-2010: I was part of a team collecting primary data in CERIC project assessing the impact of union
learning and the union learning fund. Together we conducted largest survey to date of UK employers’
perspectives on union-led learning (n=415). The report can be found at
http://lubswww.leeds.ac.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Cericpolicy_report_4_unionlearn.pdf
Awards
• LUBS School Studentship (£40,000) (2009-2012)
Committee Membership
• LUBS postgraduate researcher representative for ‘Postgrads4fairpay’ – steerer group set up in response to
University Teaching Review (2012-2014)
• Member of LUBS doctoral writing group (2012-2014): I acted as a reviewer of working papers/upgrade
documents for students whose first language is not English, offering guidance on writing style, spelling and
grammar.
Memberships
• Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics
Conference Papers / Poster Presentations
Jephson, N. (2014) On the effects of educational intervention: contemporary developments in the accounting labour process.
Paper presented at 32nd International Labour Process Conference, King’s College, London
Jephson, N. (2013) The beginning of the end? Underdelegation, closure and the ‘graduatization project’ of English
accounting. Paper presented at ‘Researching Professionals, Their Work, and Organizations’: paper development
masterclass for early career researchers, Centre for Professional Service Firms, Cass Business School, London,
10th September
Jephson, N. (2013) Socialization and the creation of 'appropriate' professionals in accounting firms: what's new?
Presentation at White Rose Business and Management Doctoral Conference, Leeds University Business School,
3rd July
Jephson, N. (2013) Specialised Ears? Educational Intervention and the Organizational Experiences of Trainees in the
English Accountancy Profession. Paper presented at 25th Annual meeting of the Society for the Advancement of
Socio-Economics, University of Milan, Italy, 27th June
Jephson, N. (2013) Non-traditional trainees in a ‘big four’ accounting firm: accelerated ambition or instructed incapacity?
Presentation at Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) doctoral conference, Leeds
University, 3rd May
Jephson, N. (2012) Professionalism and Professional Socialization. Presentation at Centre for Employment
Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) doctoral conference, Leeds University, 3rd May
Jephson, N. (2012) School leavers wanted: An exploration of professionalism and professional socialization in ‘mid-tier’
UK accounting firms. Paper presented at 30th International Labour Process Conference, Stockholm University,
Sweden, 27th March
Jephson, N. (2011) The Perceptions and Prospects of Future Professionals: Methodology Paper presented at 20th
EDAMBA Summer School, Soreze, France, 24th July
Jephson, N. (2011) The Perceptions and Prospects of Future Professionals: locating and contextualising a research project.
Presentation at Leeds University Business School annual doctoral conference, June 2011
Jephson, N. (2010) How are Females in Financial Services Perceived? Poster presented at Leeds University
Business School annual doctoral conference, 17th June. Awarded joint 3rd Prize
Invited talks/presentations
The realities of research: Identifying participants, negotiating access and maintaining relationships. Invited presentation
at “Employability in the changing HE landscape” White Rose Doctoral Training Centre event, Leeds University
Business School, 9th June 2014
Qualitative Research: The Hows and Whys. Invited presentation at Leeds University Business School ‘Doctoral
Seminar Series’ event, 21st May 2014
Conferences Organized
Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) doctoral conference, Leeds University, 3rd
May 2012. A one-day conference attended by forty research postgraduate students.
Pre-Conference Doctoral Symposium, 29th International Labour Process Conference, Leeds University Business
School, 4th April 2011. A one-day conference for doctoral researchers prior to ILPC, attended by thirty students.
Teaching Experience
I have undertaken higher education teacher training at the University of Leeds in:
Learning and teaching in small groups
Assessing student work
I am enrolling on the University of Leeds Teaching and Research Award (ULTRA) in September 2014
Postgraduate:
Lectures
• Human Resource Management (MA): ‘Equality and Diversity’ , ‘Flexibility and Working time’ and ‘Emotional
labour and HRM’
Seminars
• Delivered seminars on MA module ‘Gender and equality at work in comparative perspective’ (2013)
Teaching assistant/assessor
• Operated the ‘MA helpdesk’ for postgraduate HRM students in summer 2013 + 2014, offering a drop-in
service that gave guidance on writing, data analysis, presentation of findings and other general academic
matters.
• Assessed 6 MA-HRM group student presentations in November 2013
• Assessed 80x3,000 word MA essay scripts for Diversity Management in summer 2014
• Assessed 80 exam scripts for MA Human Resource Management exam in summer 2014
• Acted as a dissertation supervisor to 6 MA-Human Resource Management students in summer 2014
Undergraduate:
Lectures
• Controversies in HRM and Employment Relations (3rd year BA/BSc – Undergraduate) (2012-)
• HRM Research Practice (2nd year BA – Undergraduate): (2013-)
Seminars
• Delivered seminars on 3rd Year undergraduate modules at Leeds University:
Diversity Management (2010-2013)
Controversies in Employment Relations (2011)
Gender and Equality at work in Comparative Perspective (2010)
I achieved 86% ‘agree or strongly agree’ in Diversity Management module feedback regarding “the teaching in the
classes was of a high standard”
Selected qualitative feedback:
“Enjoyed the seminars, found them interesting and fun.”
“My seminar tutor was genuinely interested in the subject and in getting the best out of us. I found the seminars
a great chance to learn about the subject in detail.”
“Seminars were enjoyable and found myself wanting to make sure I was prepared so that I could contribute.”
• Delivered Seminar on 2nd year undergraduate module
HRM Research Practice and Personal Tutorials (2014)
• Delivered Seminars on 1st Year undergraduate module (152 students):
Economic Institutions (Industry) (2012+2013)
In 2012 I achieved 81% ‘agree or strongly agree’ in module feedback regarding “the teaching in the classes was
of a high standard”. In 2013 I achieved 95% in the same category.
Selected qualitative feedback:
“Seminars really useful and Nick always offers extra info & examples.” (2012)
“I have really enjoyed the passion & interest that the lecturers and my seminar tutor have for this module. I like
how they make the course relevant to the current day news.” (2012)
“Our seminar teacher was very enthusiastic and motivating.” (2013)
“The class teacher, Nick Jephson, was insightful and helped provoke debate.” (2013)
“The seminar PhD student was brilliant: really enthusiastic and actually contributed to the learning experience
well.” (2013)
Assessing student work
• Assessed 40 pieces of 3rd year undergraduate coursework and marked 40 exam papers on ‘Diversity
Management’ (2011). Acted as second marker/assessor for remaining 20 coursework and exam scripts
• Assessed 152 exam scripts for Economic Institutions (Industry) in January 2013 + January 2014
• Acted as second marker/assessor for coursework essays on HRM Research Practice in March 2013