Professor Lisa Jack Awarded Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences

The Academy of Social Sciences has announced that Lisa Jack, a Professor of Accounting from the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Portsmouth, has been elected as a Fellow. She joins a group of 64 newly appointed Fellows, recognised for their outstanding contributions to social science research and its application to society.

With a distinguished career spanning academia, research, and professional practice, Professor Jack is one of the few accounting researchers to focus on the agri-food industry, exploring critical issues such as performance measurement, food fraud, and accounting communication practices. Her work has had significant real-world impact, influencing industry and policy discussions on fraud detection, supply chain management, and the economic challenges of retail returns in the era of online shopping.

Covering a range of research and practice areas including health inequalities, the gender wage gap, European cybersecurity governance, AI and big data analytics, and the anthropology of Britain, the newly elected Fellows highlight the importance, breadth and relevance of the social sciences to understanding and tackling the varied challenges facing society today. As well as excellence in research and applied professional use of social science, the new Fellows, who are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines and professions, have also made significant contributions beyond the academy, including to industry, policy and higher education. 

Will Hutton, Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (FAcSS), President of the Academy, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these 64 outstanding social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship, whose research and practice are helping to develop solutions to pressing societal issues. From informing decision-making around environmental challenges and encouraging entrepreneurial growth to improving planning systems and tackling educational inequalities, their insights, skills and understanding are delivering a positive impact to improve our daily lives.”

Will Hutton, Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (FAcSS), President of the Academy, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these 64 outstanding social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship, whose research and practice are helping to develop solutions to pressing societal issues. From informing decision-making around environmental challenges and encouraging entrepreneurial growth to improving planning systems and tackling educational inequalities, their insights, skills and understanding are delivering a positive impact to improve our daily lives.”

Professor Jack’s expertise extends beyond research as she has played a significant roles in outreach to none academic communities and in advancing forensic accounting studies. She has served as President of the British Accounting and Finance Association (2015-2020) and has held roles with organisations such as the ICAEW, CIMA, and the Management Control Association.

Professor Jack’s research interests lie in how accounting communications are used in organisations and supply chains, with a particular focus on social theory’s role in accounting research. Her book, Accounting and Social Theory: An Introduction, examines how accounting practices shape relationships in societies.

Some of her key research areas include:

• Accounting and performance measurement in the food industry;

• Food fraud;

• Accounting communication practices;

• Cost of returns and fraudulent returns in retail;

• Strong structuration theory and pragmatic constructivism in accounting research.

On receiving this prestigious recognition, Professor Jack said: "It is an honour to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Accounting plays a crucial role in shaping industries and societies, and I am proud that my research is contributing to a deeper understanding of its impact. I look forward to continuing my work and collaborating with fellow researchers to address real-world challenges."

The Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship comprises 1,600 leading social scientists across academia, government, and industry, working to address major societal challenges.