Faculty

BRIAN MAYHEW

Research Interests:  Professor Mayhew's research examines accounting and auditing related issues. He is particularly interested in the institutions and incentives that promote high quality audits.  His two main themes have focused on incentives for auditors to maintain their independence, and the role of auditor industry specialization in providing high quality audits. His recent research has expanded to consider how social forces influence financial reporting decisions.  This research includes consideration of how social influence affects ethical decision making in financial reporting contexts.

His interest in both recent and past fraud has lead to a series of papers examining related party transactions.  The most recent paper focuses on the stock market's assessment of related party transactions.

Professor Mayhew utilizes a number of research methodologies in his research including experimental economics, empirical-archival analysis, and clinical analysis.  He has published articles in leading accounting and auditing research journal including: The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, and Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory. Many of Professor Mayhew's papers are available through the Social Science Research Network: http://ssrn.com/author=167368 

Teaching Interests:  Professor Mayhew's main teaching responsibility is AIS 740 Business Information Consulting.  This course is offered to Master's of Accounting Students during their final year in the program.  The course integrates a basic consulting approach with business strategy to broaden accounting students appreciation and knowledge of business.  Class discussion focus on accounting and strategy related contexts as students are assumed to be accounting experts. The course web site can be accessed at http://instruction.bus.wisc.edu/bmayhew/acctis740/default.htm.

Professor Mayhew also teaches an experimental research in accounting seminar to Ph.D. students, and an undergraduate intermediate financial reporting class on rotating years. He recently served as the director of the Department of Accounting's Ph.D. program.