I have a PhD from University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree from University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to University of Alberta, I was at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at NHH in Bergen, Norway. In addition to my work in academe, I have over a decade of experience in industry.
My research is primarily focused on the effects of information and disclosure on capital markets and on private debt, with additional interests in more general questions related to decision making under risk and uncertainty. My research collaborations span numerous academic disciplines, including grants received related to finance and to cognitive neuroscience. I have published in top accounting and business journals, and also in economics, operations research, computer science, and analytical philosophy.
My overall teaching philosophy is to focus on the connection between accounting and other core and functional disciplines. I emphasize to my students the interdisciplinary aspects of learning, connecting my classes to what the students cover in the rest of their overall program. Students should see financial accounting as essential for understanding finance and financial economics. Similarly, when I have taught managerial accounting, I have stressed connections to operations, as well as links between cost measurement issues and financial reporting issues. Through learning the details of how accounting works (and it by nature involves details) in part of a broader context of the students’ overall coursework, the students develop an appreciation for and interest in the subject.
May be taken on its own or as the first of a two-course sequence that develops student competence in using financial information. Using case analysis, students learn to value a firm through the use of a five-step process: (1) examination of firm's industry, markets and strategy, (2) evaluation of firm's accounting policies and their impact on the financial reports, (3) applying fundamental analysis to assess financial strengths and weaknesses, (4) forecasting future earnings and cash flows, and (5) applying valuation models. Corequisites: ACCTG 415 or 412.
Fall Term 2021Develops students' competence in analyzing financial statements and using financial information to make investment decisions, both equity and debt. The primary thrust of the course is aimed at equity investments. Students learn a five step process of analysis for equity investments: (1) An examination of the firm's industry, markets and strategy, (2) An evaluation of the firm's accounting policies and their impact on the financial reports, (3) Applying fundamental analysis to assess financial strengths and weaknesses, (4) Forecasting future earnings and cash flows, and (5) Applying valuation models to assess the current price. A comparable process for lending decisions is then developed. Prerequisite: ACCTG 501. Corequisite: FIN 501 or 503.
Fall Term 2021Because the practice of accounting and the use of accounting information are complex and multifaceted, a wide variety of research approaches provide an understanding of accounting. These approaches are primarily in the social sciences, but also in mathematics and some of the humanities, such as history and philosophy. The purpose of this course is to examine some of the fundamental ideas and concepts underlying the research process in accounting. It focuses on the philosophy of the social sciences, since they provide the core of theory and methods for accounting research. Topics include the objectives of social science research; the nature and role of theories; the relationship between facts and values; theory construction, testing, falsification and inference; positivist vs. non-positivist methods; social studies of science and scientists; and research ethics (including research involving human subjects). The emphasis is on the scientific method broadly construed and applied, rather than on specific techniques. Open to all doctoral students or with written permission of the instructor. Approval of the Business PhD Program Director is also required for non-PhD students.
Fall Term 202120190201 - 20220131
Acacemic Advisory Committee, AcSB
Started: 2019
Journal homepageStarted: 2019
Journal homepageStarted: 2018
Institute for Public Economics