Darren spent nearly fifteen years working in industry during which time he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and progressed to several senior finance positions. After a number of years teaching students towards their professional accountancy qualifications, Darren moved into higher education in 2010. Since then he has gained an MSc Accounting and Finance and Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Darren has been awarded a WBS Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award, Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award (De Montfort University) and been a PQ Magazine 'Public Sector Tutor of the Year' finalist. He has also been a committee member of the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Committee for Departments of Accounting and Finance.

Darren is a co-developer of an accounting and finance focused business simulation, 'Accounting Bissim+'. The simulation has previously been shortlisted for the 'Finance for the Future' and PQ Magazine 'Innovation in Accountancy' awards and is now used at higher education institutions across the UK, Europe, and Scandinavia.

In addition to teaching, Darren has presented at several accounting and finance education conferences and in 2022 he was awarded the prize for 'Best Innovation in Teaching' at the BAFA Accounting Education conference for his work in using Accounting Bissim to enhance Graduate outcomes.