Colorado State University Accounting Professor One of the Best in the World

Note to Reporters: A photo of Bill Rankin is available with the release at www.news.colostate.edu

Bill Rankin, head of the Department of Accounting in the Colorado State University College of Business, has been recognized as one of the top professors in the world in the field of experimental managerial accounting by Brigham Young University.

The ranking system, which is based upon the number of publications in the topical and/or methodology areas, lists Rankin as second in the world in two of the experimental categories, and fourth in the world in the third category.

“We are very pleased that Bill has received such a great recognition, as it represents his cumulative accomplishments over a number of years,” said Dan Ganster, senior associate dean for administration for the College of Business. “Accomplishments like these place Bill in the top echelon of scholars worldwide.”

Experimental research in the field of managerial accounting strives to discover new ways that managers can utilize accounting information in the decision-making process. The goal is to help managers plan strategically based on comprehensive accounting data.

The ranking took into account eight of Rankin’s many scholarly articles, which appear in important accounting publications such as The Journal of Management Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, and the Review of Accounting Studies since 1998. Rankin has worked with many other leading accounting professors from around the world through his extensive research.

“Accounting has been called the language of business, providing relevant information to managers, investors and regulatory agencies,” Rankin said. “Our goal in the Department of Accounting at CSU is to be the best accounting program in the Rocky Mountain region.”

Rankin received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 1988, and his Ph.D. in accounting from Texas A&M University in 1999. He was the recipient of the Best Research Paper award from Western Region American Accounting Association in 2000.

Professors in the Department of Accounting strive to equip students not only with skills in accounting and auditing, but also in specialized areas such as accounting software programs, international business, current legislation, and specific industries. The Department of Accounting boasts a nearly 100 percent placement rate among graduates of the program, thanks to the efforts of Rankin and other committed professors.

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