Faculty Directory

Professor of Accounting

William A. Fowler Endowed Professor

Education

PhD University of Michigan (2004)

BA University of Oregon (1997)

Academic Expertise

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

1. “How Resilient are Firms’ Financial Reporting Processes to the Sudden Loss of a CFO? Evidence from Sudden Deaths.“

   Journal Article:McVay, S. and M.J. Rabier, (forthcoming). The Accounting Review,
2. “Experience with Non-GAAP Earnings and Investors’ Pricing of Exclusions“

   Journal Article:McVay, S., E. Rodriguez-Vasquez, and S. Toynbee, (2024). The Accounting Review,
3. “Free Cash Flow Disclosure in Earnings Announcements“

   Journal Article:Adame, K., J. Koski, K. Lem, and S. McVay, (2024). Journal of Financial Reporting,
4. “Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Resource Extraction: Evidence from China“

   Journal Article:Ge, W., Z. Li, Q. Liu and S. McVay., (2021). Contemporary Accounting Research, Vol. 38(2), pp. 1274–1309.
5. “Preparers and the Financial Reporting System“

   Journal Article:McVay, S. and B. Szerwo., (2021). Accounting and Business Research, Vol. 51(5), pp. 484–507.
6. “Detecting Opportunistic Special Items“

   Journal Article:Cain, C., K. Kolev and S. McVay., (2020). Management Science, Vol. 66(5), pp. 2099–2119.
7. “The Changing Implications of Research and Development Expenditures for Future Profitability“

   Journal Article:Curtis, A., S. McVay and S. Toynbee., (2020). Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 25(2), pp. 405-437.
8. “How Does Intentional Earnings Smoothing Vary with Managerial Ability?“

   Journal Article:Demerjian, P., M. Lewis-Western and S. McVay., (2020). Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, Vol. 35(2), pp. 406-437.
9. “Costs and Benefits of Internal Control Audits: Evidence from M&A Transactions“

   Journal Article:Kravet, T., S. McVay and D. Weber., (2018). Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 23, pp. 1389–1423.
10. “Costs and Benefits of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404(b) Exemption: Evidence from Small Firms’ Internal Control Disclosures“

    Journal Article:Ge, W., Koester, A. & McVay, S., (2017). Journal of Accounting and Economics, Vol. 63, pp. 368–384.

Working Papers

Carnahan, S., S. McVay, and M.J. Rabier. 2024. Capital Market Pressure and Racial Inequality: An Examination of Workplace Safety and Wage Theft.

Chen, S., S. Lai, C. Liu, and S. McVay. 2023. Overconfident Managers and Internal Controls.

Dechow, P., W. Ge., W. Loh, and S. McVay. 2024. Beyond Earnings Quality: Evaluating the Quality of Voluntary Corporate Financial Reporting Practices.

Koski, J., K. Lem, and S. McVay. 2024. The Market Reaction to Free Cash Flow News.

Kravet, T., S. McVay, and J. Warren. 2024. The Impact of M&A Transactions on Acquiring Firm Voluntary Disclosure.

Honors and Awards

AFAANZ Annual Meeting Keynote (Plenary) Speaker, 2024

William A. Fowler Endowed Professorship, 2021–present

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)

Deloitte and Touche Endowed Professorship, 2015–2021

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

Glen and Lucille Legoe Endowed Professorship, 2012–2015

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

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)