Christine Helliar | University of South Australia (original) (raw)

Papers by Christine Helliar

Academic Press eBooks, 1996

The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Nov 1, 2019

Studies have shown that religious beliefs and practice play an important role in influencing shar... more Studies have shown that religious beliefs and practice play an important role in influencing share price behaviour. Evidence of a Ramadan effect has been documented in Muslim countries suggesting an increase in mean returns as well as a reduction in volatility during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In addition to the Ramadan effect, studies have also documented a January effect in Muslim countries. The current study investigates what happens when the Ramadan effect and the January effect occur at the same time. Controlling for the effects of financial crises and time-varying volatility in returns, the results for individual company data from four countries with sizeable Muslim populations indicate higher returns and lower volatility when these two effects overlap, except in one, arguably more Western country, Turkey.

Journal of Business Research, Jul 1, 2021

Abstract Modern slavery, including forced labour, is a practice that impacts more than 40 million... more Abstract Modern slavery, including forced labour, is a practice that impacts more than 40 million people, 20 million of whom are trapped in corporate supply chains. Migrant workers are disproportionately affected by this practice, who are often from developing countries and are vulnerable to exploitation through deceptive recruitment practices. With questions raised as to the efficacy of social audit and increasing pressure on governments and large businesses to identify and reduce the incidence of modern slavery in corporate activities, new approaches and tools are needed. The purpose of this paper is to offer a conceptual discussion as to how a relatively new technology, the blockchain, might be used to reduce vulnerability and risk in migrant worker populations. Limitations and directions for future research are also considered.

British Accounting Review, 2017

Abstract Using the concept of institutional leadership we explore how leaders balance creativity ... more Abstract Using the concept of institutional leadership we explore how leaders balance creativity and product innovation against administrative arrangements such as risk management and management control. Using two case companies we produce distinct contrasts to this balance with neither showing the ambidexterity needed to ‘secure’ (Selznick, 1957) the value of innovation and exploration and develop risk management and control systems for exploitative activities. One case company stuck to its past trajectory of innovation, ignoring risk management and control; the second case company had systems for its exploitative operations but was struggling to maintain any value of innovation and exploration. Nevertheless, one over-riding similarity in both organisations was that the leadership of the risk systems and management controls was with the engineers; accountants were not to be seen.

Page 1. 1| an-vv I i Cluistinc Hclinr Alp: Dhannm Suzanne Frficld Lorna Suwtmun Page 2. ELSEVIER r... more Page 1. 1| an-vv I i Cluistinc Hclinr Alp: Dhannm Suzanne Frficld Lorna Suwtmun Page 2. ELSEVIER ruumvmc '-5-: Interest Rate Risk Management ' ~ ' I '*~_,,. Christine Helliar Alpa Dhanani Suzanne Fifield Lorna Stevenson Page 3. ...

British Accounting Review, Sep 1, 2022

Australian Journal of Primary Health

The home care package (HCP) scheme provides funds to eligible older Australians for social, perso... more The home care package (HCP) scheme provides funds to eligible older Australians for social, personal and clinical care services, and aims to assist people to age in-home. Uncorroborated evidence suggests older Australians rely on health professionals – especially general practitioners – to prompt HCP assessments, choose service providers and manage HCP funds thereafter. This was confirmed in a survey involving 502 older Australians aged >65 years receiving HCP funds. As more Australians survive to older age, further research is needed to establish with general practitioners their needs regarding the delivery of in-home care information, clinic practice resources, trainee education and continuing professional development.

This multi-stakeholder investigation with a prospective focus and conducted 25 years after the Ma... more This multi-stakeholder investigation with a prospective focus and conducted 25 years after the Mathews Committee Inquiry has three aims:  assess the current state of play of accounting in business education in Australia;  focus on the key challenges, issues and opportunities faced by the accounting education sector; and  develop feasible, innovative and productive ways forward to meet the many challenges faced by accounting education and to take full advantage of the opportunities identified. The key themes embraced in the investigation are as follows: professional knowledge and professional skills of accounting graduates; the inculcation of professional values, ethics and attitudes into graduates; scholarly research and its role in accounting education, creating knowledge and informing practice; and technology and innovation in learning environments. This study presents the findings drawn from interviews with individuals who are engaged actively in graduate recruitment and the o...

• About the report and the problems being explored • Older people's financial capability using ho... more • About the report and the problems being explored • Older people's financial capability using homecare packages • Older people's financial capability in choosing between different financial products and services Budgeting and Making ends meet B 1.2 Resolving Problems B 1.3 Choosing a bank or financial adviser B 1.4 Lack of knowledge of products, services, fees and charges B 2 Inhibitors and facilitators of financial capability B 2.1 Administration of financial services providers and call centres B 2.2 Perceived value of the services provided by banks and financial advisers B 2.3 Trusted friends and/or relatives B 2.4 Communication B 3 Motivations and attitudes B 3.1 Physical needs B 3.2 Maintenance of physical and financial independence B 3.3 Previous experience and desire to avoid waste B 3.4 Fear of the future and lack of health and vitality B 4 Summary Solutions on homecare packages Solutions on financial decision-making, products and services Executive summary About the report and the problems being explored This report outlines the findings from research into two financial capability contexts, firstly, the financial capability of older people and their management of home-care packages and, secondly, the challenges older people face when choosing banking and financial products and services. In the first context, we interviewed 31 men and women aged over 65 years and asked them about the establishment and day-today financial management of their home care package. In the second context, we interviewed a further 31 men and women aged over 65 years and asked them about their experience in choosing financial products and services offered by the financial services industry. Such products and services include banking services and financial advice, bank, savings and investment accounts, credit cards, loans and life insurance. We also interviewed a small number of representatives from home care package providers and financial institutions. While a home care package may be regarded as a type of financial product, they are treated separately in the research due to it being a different context. The findings of the research discussed herein are based on the recollections and memories of those interviewed. Older people's financial capability using homecare packages The environment in which packages are provided and the structure of the Consumer Directive Care (CDC) system can have a significant impact on a person's financial capability. A key need identified by older people was the need for training in and assessment of their financial capability to help inform better decision making. They also identified several shortcomings that, if addressed by providers, could lead to gains in financial capability. These include improved customer/provider communication (for example age appropriate language, simplified terms), greater transparency and accountability on fees and charges, and more accurate billing processes. In the latter case, charging errors were commonly reported pointing to the need for more effective accounting systems. It was also identified that simpler fee structures and improved communication would also assist and reduce the administration costs to providers. Older people identified the need for greater face-to-face contact between staff and customers, greater access to services at a greater range of convenient locations (for example, longer opening hours and more bank branches), and deeper community involvement (for example, providing community seminars and financial capability training). They also identified the need for improved customer relations training when dealing with older people. Some suggestions to improve communication (for example, the establishment of call centres manned by older people with loud clear accents), encouraging the banking and financial services industry to adopt common terms and conditions (in addition written in plain language using large print), and the more careful targeting of financial products (for example, funeral insurance and health insurance policies tend to be indiscriminately marketed to older people).

British Food Journal

PurposeThis study explores the impact of institutions, policies, and regulations at the global, n... more PurposeThis study explores the impact of institutions, policies, and regulations at the global, national, and sectoral levels on digitalisation within the Italian and Australian wine industries.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on qualitative research data collected from interviews with key personnel in the wine industry, this study shows that both jurisdictions are at a similar stage of emergent digital development despite very different settings.FindingsAccordingly, the authors find that digitalisation is constrained by common policy and regulatory issues emanating at the global and national levels, such as a lack of data infrastructure and data governance, and the need for institutions at the local and regional levels to spur innovation, especially with SMEs.Originality/valueThis is the first study to analyse the role of policy, regulation, and institutional arrangements in digital diffusion using a cross-country comparison of the wine sector.

The British Accounting Review, 2018

A rapidly growing emerging economy such as Indonesia has an increasing need for qualified account... more A rapidly growing emerging economy such as Indonesia has an increasing need for qualified accountants to service the many needs of business. However, the current dearth of qualified accountants is becoming critical, and this situation will only get worse as Big 4 firms, midtier firms and local firms struggle to recruit enough trainees to qualify as professional accountants. This study examines the plight of the Indonesian accounting profession by investigating why accounting students are shunning the profession, possibly leading to the demise of the Indonesian profession as we know it today. The study shows that although career intention constantly changes as new experiences are encountered, background factors matter. Ethnicity, living in an urban or rural environment, and where one is educated all matter to career intention. Further, one's own self-efficacy, such as English language ability, and other people's views are all influential in where we want to work. To address this looming crisis in the profession the Indonesian government needs to implement policies that ensure that the education curriculum addresses English language literacy, especially in rural areas; and the profession needs to engage more with remoter universities in rural locations to recruit high achieving students to provide greater diversity in the profession.

The British Accounting Review, 2018

Recent research has documented that at the time of religious celebrations in Muslim countries, su... more Recent research has documented that at the time of religious celebrations in Muslim countries, such as Ramadan, there is a "festival" effect in share returns. In the Gregorian calendar, December is also a time of celebration and festivities which may be associated with patterns in the behaviour of security prices. Further, the first month of the year in the Islamic calendar, Muharram, is a time of sadness and mourning for some believers, and there may be an effect when the Islamic first month of the year overlaps with the first month of the Gregorian year-January. Over a 33-year cycle, each Islamic month falls in a Gregorian month for about 5-6 consecutive years; when this happens, an Islamic (Eastern) calendar effect may interact with a Gregorian (Western) calendar effect. The current paper addresses this issue by examining the behaviour of share returns and volatility for individual companies listed in Muslim countries' stock exchanges when the two calendars coincide for: (i) religious festival effects; (ii) first-month-of-the-year effects; and (iii) the two most common effects reported in the Islamic and Gregorian calendars (Ramadan and January). The results show that the Western and Eastern effects interact more prominently in larger companies and in larger or more developed markets.

Journal of Asset Management

In this paper, we investigate characteristic differences between Socially Responsible Investment ... more In this paper, we investigate characteristic differences between Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds and conventional funds across 35 different categories, including previously unexplored areas, such as fund manager skills and investment strategies. Further, we examine SRI and conventional funds globally rather than from just one country (e.g., US) or one region (e.g., Europe), covering funds listed in 22 different countries. We also adopt a new Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methodology for matching SRI funds against their conventional counterparts that significantly increases the sample size from previous studies, reducing selection bias and possibly explaining contradictory findings in the prior literature. Contributing to the literature, our findings show that: (i) SRI funds have more diversified portfolios than conventional funds; (ii) SRI funds have lower cash holdings while investing more in US equities; and (iii) SRI fund managers charge a smaller fee and are mor...

International Journal of Information Management, 2020

Abstract This paper explores the barriers and drivers of diffusion associated with permissionless... more Abstract This paper explores the barriers and drivers of diffusion associated with permissionless and permissioned blockchains, seeking to establish whether they are the same or different and whether barriers and drivers change over time. The study was undertaken in two stages: (i) interviews in 2016 that examine the barriers and drivers of diffusion; followed by (ii) a case study in 2019 of the Italian wine industry’s permissioned blockchain. The results show that diffusion is reaching a final stage for permissionless blockchains but is lagging behind for permissioned blockchains due to the different barriers and drivers of diffusion. The implications from this study are that: (i) drivers and barriers for different types of technological innovation may be different and change over time; (ii) initial barriers may be surmounted and become features of the underlying technology; (iii) barriers may become drivers of a technology; (iv) drivers of one type of technology may spill-over to become drivers for another type; (v) diffusion may be measured by both the number of adoptions and the number of participants in that technology; (vi) off-chain processes may become a major barrier for permissioned blockchains; and finally (vii) self-interest may be the key driver of technological innovation.

Corporate Governance: An International Review, 2009

Academic Press eBooks, 1996

The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Nov 1, 2019

Studies have shown that religious beliefs and practice play an important role in influencing shar... more Studies have shown that religious beliefs and practice play an important role in influencing share price behaviour. Evidence of a Ramadan effect has been documented in Muslim countries suggesting an increase in mean returns as well as a reduction in volatility during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In addition to the Ramadan effect, studies have also documented a January effect in Muslim countries. The current study investigates what happens when the Ramadan effect and the January effect occur at the same time. Controlling for the effects of financial crises and time-varying volatility in returns, the results for individual company data from four countries with sizeable Muslim populations indicate higher returns and lower volatility when these two effects overlap, except in one, arguably more Western country, Turkey.

Journal of Business Research, Jul 1, 2021

Abstract Modern slavery, including forced labour, is a practice that impacts more than 40 million... more Abstract Modern slavery, including forced labour, is a practice that impacts more than 40 million people, 20 million of whom are trapped in corporate supply chains. Migrant workers are disproportionately affected by this practice, who are often from developing countries and are vulnerable to exploitation through deceptive recruitment practices. With questions raised as to the efficacy of social audit and increasing pressure on governments and large businesses to identify and reduce the incidence of modern slavery in corporate activities, new approaches and tools are needed. The purpose of this paper is to offer a conceptual discussion as to how a relatively new technology, the blockchain, might be used to reduce vulnerability and risk in migrant worker populations. Limitations and directions for future research are also considered.

British Accounting Review, 2017

Abstract Using the concept of institutional leadership we explore how leaders balance creativity ... more Abstract Using the concept of institutional leadership we explore how leaders balance creativity and product innovation against administrative arrangements such as risk management and management control. Using two case companies we produce distinct contrasts to this balance with neither showing the ambidexterity needed to ‘secure’ (Selznick, 1957) the value of innovation and exploration and develop risk management and control systems for exploitative activities. One case company stuck to its past trajectory of innovation, ignoring risk management and control; the second case company had systems for its exploitative operations but was struggling to maintain any value of innovation and exploration. Nevertheless, one over-riding similarity in both organisations was that the leadership of the risk systems and management controls was with the engineers; accountants were not to be seen.

Page 1. 1| an-vv I i Cluistinc Hclinr Alp: Dhannm Suzanne Frficld Lorna Suwtmun Page 2. ELSEVIER r... more Page 1. 1| an-vv I i Cluistinc Hclinr Alp: Dhannm Suzanne Frficld Lorna Suwtmun Page 2. ELSEVIER ruumvmc '-5-: Interest Rate Risk Management ' ~ ' I '*~_,,. Christine Helliar Alpa Dhanani Suzanne Fifield Lorna Stevenson Page 3. ...

British Accounting Review, Sep 1, 2022

Australian Journal of Primary Health

The home care package (HCP) scheme provides funds to eligible older Australians for social, perso... more The home care package (HCP) scheme provides funds to eligible older Australians for social, personal and clinical care services, and aims to assist people to age in-home. Uncorroborated evidence suggests older Australians rely on health professionals – especially general practitioners – to prompt HCP assessments, choose service providers and manage HCP funds thereafter. This was confirmed in a survey involving 502 older Australians aged >65 years receiving HCP funds. As more Australians survive to older age, further research is needed to establish with general practitioners their needs regarding the delivery of in-home care information, clinic practice resources, trainee education and continuing professional development.

This multi-stakeholder investigation with a prospective focus and conducted 25 years after the Ma... more This multi-stakeholder investigation with a prospective focus and conducted 25 years after the Mathews Committee Inquiry has three aims:  assess the current state of play of accounting in business education in Australia;  focus on the key challenges, issues and opportunities faced by the accounting education sector; and  develop feasible, innovative and productive ways forward to meet the many challenges faced by accounting education and to take full advantage of the opportunities identified. The key themes embraced in the investigation are as follows: professional knowledge and professional skills of accounting graduates; the inculcation of professional values, ethics and attitudes into graduates; scholarly research and its role in accounting education, creating knowledge and informing practice; and technology and innovation in learning environments. This study presents the findings drawn from interviews with individuals who are engaged actively in graduate recruitment and the o...

• About the report and the problems being explored • Older people's financial capability using ho... more • About the report and the problems being explored • Older people's financial capability using homecare packages • Older people's financial capability in choosing between different financial products and services Budgeting and Making ends meet B 1.2 Resolving Problems B 1.3 Choosing a bank or financial adviser B 1.4 Lack of knowledge of products, services, fees and charges B 2 Inhibitors and facilitators of financial capability B 2.1 Administration of financial services providers and call centres B 2.2 Perceived value of the services provided by banks and financial advisers B 2.3 Trusted friends and/or relatives B 2.4 Communication B 3 Motivations and attitudes B 3.1 Physical needs B 3.2 Maintenance of physical and financial independence B 3.3 Previous experience and desire to avoid waste B 3.4 Fear of the future and lack of health and vitality B 4 Summary Solutions on homecare packages Solutions on financial decision-making, products and services Executive summary About the report and the problems being explored This report outlines the findings from research into two financial capability contexts, firstly, the financial capability of older people and their management of home-care packages and, secondly, the challenges older people face when choosing banking and financial products and services. In the first context, we interviewed 31 men and women aged over 65 years and asked them about the establishment and day-today financial management of their home care package. In the second context, we interviewed a further 31 men and women aged over 65 years and asked them about their experience in choosing financial products and services offered by the financial services industry. Such products and services include banking services and financial advice, bank, savings and investment accounts, credit cards, loans and life insurance. We also interviewed a small number of representatives from home care package providers and financial institutions. While a home care package may be regarded as a type of financial product, they are treated separately in the research due to it being a different context. The findings of the research discussed herein are based on the recollections and memories of those interviewed. Older people's financial capability using homecare packages The environment in which packages are provided and the structure of the Consumer Directive Care (CDC) system can have a significant impact on a person's financial capability. A key need identified by older people was the need for training in and assessment of their financial capability to help inform better decision making. They also identified several shortcomings that, if addressed by providers, could lead to gains in financial capability. These include improved customer/provider communication (for example age appropriate language, simplified terms), greater transparency and accountability on fees and charges, and more accurate billing processes. In the latter case, charging errors were commonly reported pointing to the need for more effective accounting systems. It was also identified that simpler fee structures and improved communication would also assist and reduce the administration costs to providers. Older people identified the need for greater face-to-face contact between staff and customers, greater access to services at a greater range of convenient locations (for example, longer opening hours and more bank branches), and deeper community involvement (for example, providing community seminars and financial capability training). They also identified the need for improved customer relations training when dealing with older people. Some suggestions to improve communication (for example, the establishment of call centres manned by older people with loud clear accents), encouraging the banking and financial services industry to adopt common terms and conditions (in addition written in plain language using large print), and the more careful targeting of financial products (for example, funeral insurance and health insurance policies tend to be indiscriminately marketed to older people).

British Food Journal

PurposeThis study explores the impact of institutions, policies, and regulations at the global, n... more PurposeThis study explores the impact of institutions, policies, and regulations at the global, national, and sectoral levels on digitalisation within the Italian and Australian wine industries.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on qualitative research data collected from interviews with key personnel in the wine industry, this study shows that both jurisdictions are at a similar stage of emergent digital development despite very different settings.FindingsAccordingly, the authors find that digitalisation is constrained by common policy and regulatory issues emanating at the global and national levels, such as a lack of data infrastructure and data governance, and the need for institutions at the local and regional levels to spur innovation, especially with SMEs.Originality/valueThis is the first study to analyse the role of policy, regulation, and institutional arrangements in digital diffusion using a cross-country comparison of the wine sector.

The British Accounting Review, 2018

A rapidly growing emerging economy such as Indonesia has an increasing need for qualified account... more A rapidly growing emerging economy such as Indonesia has an increasing need for qualified accountants to service the many needs of business. However, the current dearth of qualified accountants is becoming critical, and this situation will only get worse as Big 4 firms, midtier firms and local firms struggle to recruit enough trainees to qualify as professional accountants. This study examines the plight of the Indonesian accounting profession by investigating why accounting students are shunning the profession, possibly leading to the demise of the Indonesian profession as we know it today. The study shows that although career intention constantly changes as new experiences are encountered, background factors matter. Ethnicity, living in an urban or rural environment, and where one is educated all matter to career intention. Further, one's own self-efficacy, such as English language ability, and other people's views are all influential in where we want to work. To address this looming crisis in the profession the Indonesian government needs to implement policies that ensure that the education curriculum addresses English language literacy, especially in rural areas; and the profession needs to engage more with remoter universities in rural locations to recruit high achieving students to provide greater diversity in the profession.

The British Accounting Review, 2018

Recent research has documented that at the time of religious celebrations in Muslim countries, su... more Recent research has documented that at the time of religious celebrations in Muslim countries, such as Ramadan, there is a "festival" effect in share returns. In the Gregorian calendar, December is also a time of celebration and festivities which may be associated with patterns in the behaviour of security prices. Further, the first month of the year in the Islamic calendar, Muharram, is a time of sadness and mourning for some believers, and there may be an effect when the Islamic first month of the year overlaps with the first month of the Gregorian year-January. Over a 33-year cycle, each Islamic month falls in a Gregorian month for about 5-6 consecutive years; when this happens, an Islamic (Eastern) calendar effect may interact with a Gregorian (Western) calendar effect. The current paper addresses this issue by examining the behaviour of share returns and volatility for individual companies listed in Muslim countries' stock exchanges when the two calendars coincide for: (i) religious festival effects; (ii) first-month-of-the-year effects; and (iii) the two most common effects reported in the Islamic and Gregorian calendars (Ramadan and January). The results show that the Western and Eastern effects interact more prominently in larger companies and in larger or more developed markets.

Journal of Asset Management

In this paper, we investigate characteristic differences between Socially Responsible Investment ... more In this paper, we investigate characteristic differences between Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds and conventional funds across 35 different categories, including previously unexplored areas, such as fund manager skills and investment strategies. Further, we examine SRI and conventional funds globally rather than from just one country (e.g., US) or one region (e.g., Europe), covering funds listed in 22 different countries. We also adopt a new Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methodology for matching SRI funds against their conventional counterparts that significantly increases the sample size from previous studies, reducing selection bias and possibly explaining contradictory findings in the prior literature. Contributing to the literature, our findings show that: (i) SRI funds have more diversified portfolios than conventional funds; (ii) SRI funds have lower cash holdings while investing more in US equities; and (iii) SRI fund managers charge a smaller fee and are mor...

International Journal of Information Management, 2020

Abstract This paper explores the barriers and drivers of diffusion associated with permissionless... more Abstract This paper explores the barriers and drivers of diffusion associated with permissionless and permissioned blockchains, seeking to establish whether they are the same or different and whether barriers and drivers change over time. The study was undertaken in two stages: (i) interviews in 2016 that examine the barriers and drivers of diffusion; followed by (ii) a case study in 2019 of the Italian wine industry’s permissioned blockchain. The results show that diffusion is reaching a final stage for permissionless blockchains but is lagging behind for permissioned blockchains due to the different barriers and drivers of diffusion. The implications from this study are that: (i) drivers and barriers for different types of technological innovation may be different and change over time; (ii) initial barriers may be surmounted and become features of the underlying technology; (iii) barriers may become drivers of a technology; (iv) drivers of one type of technology may spill-over to become drivers for another type; (v) diffusion may be measured by both the number of adoptions and the number of participants in that technology; (vi) off-chain processes may become a major barrier for permissioned blockchains; and finally (vii) self-interest may be the key driver of technological innovation.

Corporate Governance: An International Review, 2009