Sarah McVay
- Professor of Accounting Glen & Lucille Legoe Professorship
Education
- PhD University of Michigan (2004)
- BA University of Oregon (1997)
Academic Expertise
- financial accounting
Current Research
- Earnings quality, management disclosures, managerial ability, and the interactions between market participants
Positions Held
- At the University of Washington since 2012
- Faculty at University of Utah, 2007-2012
- Faculty at New York University, 2004-2007
- Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen, Portland Oregon, 1998-2000
- Staff Accountant at Moss Adams & Co., Vancouver Washington, 1997-1998
Selected Publications
“How Resilient are Firms’ Financial Reporting Processes to the Sudden Loss of a CFO? Evidence from Sudden Deaths”
McVay, S., & Rabier, M. J., (2025). The Accounting Review.
“Experience with Non-GAAP Earnings and Investors’ Pricing of Exclusions”
McVay, S., Rodriguez-Vasquez, E., & Toynbee, S., (2024). The Accounting Review.
“Free Cash Flow Disclosure in Earnings Announcements”
Adame, K., Koski, J., Lem, K., & McVay, S., (2024). Journal of Financial Reporting.
Working Papers
- Carnahan, S., S. McVay, and M.J. Rabier. 2025. Capital Market Pressure and Racial Inequality: An Examination of Workplace Safety and Wage Theft.
- Dechow, P., W. Ge., W. Loh, and S. McVay. 2025. Beyond Earnings Quality: Evaluating the Quality of Voluntary Corporate Financial Reporting Practices.
- Koski, J., K. Lem, and S. McVay. 2025. The Market Reaction to Free Cash Flow News.
- Everhart, J., T. Kravet, S. McVay, and J. Warren. 2025. The Impact of M&A Transactions on Acquiring Firm Management Guidance.
Honors and Awards
- ABR Conference Keynote Speaker, 2025
- AFAANZ Annual Meeting Keynote (Plenary) Speaker, 2024
- CBDC Diversity Research Grant, 2023–2025
- Pacific Coast Banking School Dean’s Leadership Award, 2023
- PhD Faculty Mentor Award, 2016, 2022
- MBA Professor of the Quarter, 2016 (Spring Quarter), 2021 (Spring Quarter)
- Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, 2019
- TMMBA Faculty of the Quarter Award, 2013–2016, 2019 (Winter Quarter)
- TMMBA Excellence in Teaching Award, 2016
- William and Helen Fowler Endowment for Special Achievement in Accounting, 2014
Academic Service
- Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC) 2024–present
- Editor, Review of Accounting Studies 2024–present
- American Accounting Association Vice President – Research and Publications, 2021–2024
- Editor, Contemporary Accounting Research 2014–2022
- Editor, Journal of Financial Reporting 2018–2021
- FARS President, 2019–2020
- New Faculty Consortium Committee, 2016 (Chair), 2011–2013, 2015, 2017 (Member)
- Organizer of the Western Region Doctoral Student Faculty Interchange, 2013–2015
- FARS Financial Reporting Policy Committee, 2012–2013 (Chair), 2008–2012 (Member)