Dr Eimear McGeown

Biography

Dr. McGeown specialises in entrepreneurial finance and financial reporting, delivering high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education across multiple degree programs. Her innovative teaching methodology integrates connected curriculum and experiential learning principles, resulting in recognition through the CUBS Teaching Award for Student Engagement in 2024 and nominations for UCC President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching. 

Her research portfolio focuses on the evolving landscape of SME financing, with particular emphasis on examining the critical role of non-bank debt finance in addressing funding gaps and its subsequent impact on firm performance. Dr. McGeown's current research extends into emerging domains of green finance for SMEs and entrepreneurial education. Her scholarly contributions have been recognised with consecutive Best Paper Awards at the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference in 2021 and 2022, both nominated for the President's Award for best paper by an early career researcher. 

Dr. McGeown joined University College Cork in 2014, bringing extensive industry expertise developed through her career in banking and as a Chartered Accountant with a Big Four firm, where she specialised in Audit and Corporate Finance. Her substantial banking sector experience provides valuable insights into financial institutions and lending practices. As an Associate of the Institute of Bankers, she effectively combines academic expertise with practical industry knowledge, enhancing both her pedagogical approach and research methodology. 

Dr. McGeown holds a PhD from University College Cork (2023) titled "The Importance of Non-Bank Lending to Small Businesses," completed under the supervision of Dr. Bernadette Power and Professor Edward Shinnick. Her academic qualifications also include a Fellowship with Chartered Accountants Ireland (2000), a Post-graduate Diploma in Accounting from Queens University Belfast (1997), and a BSc Joint Honours degree in Accounting and Economics with First Class Honours (1996). 

She maintains industry connections as a committee member of Chartered Accountants - Cork Society and actively engages with the financial sector. Dr. McGeown leads UCC's relationships with international accounting bodies, securing significant achievements including CAP 2 exemptions for the BSc Accounting program—establishing it as the first undergraduate program to achieve this distinguished recognition.