Dr. Ross Watts

Professor

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Biography

Ross L. Watts is the Erwin H. Schell Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a prominent figure in the fields of accounting and finance. He has authored numerous papers published in leading accounting and finance journals and is the founding editor of the Journal of Accounting & Economics, which is widely regarded as a leading accounting research journal. Watts specializes in the intersection of accounting and corporate governance, exploring the roles of accounting in auditing, contracting, firm governance, and financial reporting. His work is instrumental in understanding accounting methods and standards and has influenced academic policy circles regarding financial reporting standards. Notably, he co-authored 'Positive Accounting Theory' with Jerold Zimmerman, a seminal work that has been utilized in accounting PhD programs for decades. Watts has received multiple accolades for his contributions to the field, including the Notable Contribution to Accounting Literature Award from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Financial Accounting Reporting Section of the American Accounting Association. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and both an MBA and PhD in Finance from the University of Chicago. In recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of accounting in Australia, he was inducted into the Australian Accounting Hall of Fame in 2016.

Research Interests

Awards

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Notable Contribution to Accounting Literature

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Seminal Contributions to Accounting Literature Award

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Lifetime Achievement Award