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. “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.
2. “Does Ineffective Internal Control over Financial Reporting affect a Firm’s Operations? Evidence from Firms’ Inventory Management“

   Journal Article:Feng, M., Li, C., McVay, S., and Skaife, H., (2015). The Accounting Review, Vol. 90, pp. 529-557.
3. “An Analysis of the Implications of Discontinued Operations for Continuing Income“

   Journal Article:Curtis, A., McVay, S. E., and Wolfe, M., (2014). Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Vol. 33(2), pp. 190-201.
4. “The Disclosure of Non-GAAP Earnings Information in the Presence of Transitory Gains“

   Journal Article:Curtis, A., McVay, S. E., and Whipple, B., (2014). The Accounting Review, Vol. 89(3), pp. 933-958.
5. “Forecasting Sales: A Model and Some Evidence from the Retail Industry“

   Journal Article:Curtis, A., Lundholm, R. J. and McVay, S. E, (2014). Contemporary Accounting Research, Vol. 31(2), pp. 581–608.
6. “Managerial Ability and Earnings Quality“

   Journal Article:Demerjian, P., Lev, B., Lewis, M., and McVay, S., (2013). The Accounting Review, Vol. 88(2), pp. 463-498.
7. “Quantifying Managerial Ability: A New Measure and Validity Tests“

   Journal Article:Demerjian, P., Lev, B., and McVay, S., (2012). Management Science, Vol. 58(7), pp. 1229-1248.
8. “Non-GAAP Earnings and Board Independence“

   Journal Article:Frankel, R., McVay, S., and Soliman, M., (2011). Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 16(4), pp. 719-744.
9. “Manager-Specific Effects on Earnings Guidance: An Analysis of Top Executive Turnovers“

   Journal Article:Brochet, F., Faurel, L., and McVay, S., (2011). Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 49(5), pp. 1123-1162.
10. “Analysts’ Incentives to Overweight Management Guidance When Revising Their Short-Term Earnings Forecasts“

    Journal Article:Feng, M., and McVay, S., (2010). The Accounting Review, Vol. 85(5), pp. 1617-1646.
11. “Internal Control and Management Guidance“

    Journal Article:Feng, M., Li, C., and McVay, S., (2009). Journal of Accounting and Economics, Vol. 48(2-3), pp. 190-209.
12. “SEC Scrutiny and the Evolution of Non-GAAP Earnings Numbers“

    Journal Article:Kolev, K., Marquardt, C., and McVay, S., (2008). The Accounting Review, Vol. 83(1), pp. 157-184.
13. “Determinants of Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting“

    Journal Article:Doyle, J., Ge, W., and McVay, S., (2007). Journal of Accounting and Economics, Vol. 44(1-2), pp. 193-223.
14. “Accruals Quality and Internal Control over Financial Reporting“

    Journal Article:Doyle, J., Ge, W., and McVay, S., (2007). The Accounting Review, Vol. 82(5), pp. 1141-1170.
15. “Earnings Management Using Classification Shifting: An Examination of Core Earnings and Special Items“

    Journal Article:McVay, S., (2006). The Accounting Review, Vol. 81(3), pp. 501-531.
16. “Trading Incentives to Meet the Analyst Forecast“

    Journal Article:McVay, S., Nagar, V., and Tang, W., (2006). Review of Accounting Studies, Vol. 11(4), pp. 575-598.
17. “The Disclosure of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act“

    Journal Article:Ge, W., and McVay, S., (2005). Accounting Horizons, Vol. 19(3), pp. 137-158.

Working Papers

Adame, K., J. Koski and S. McVay. Free Cash Flow Disclosure in Earnings Announcements.

Cain, C., K. Kolev and S. McVay. Qualifying Special Items: An Identification and Examination of Lower-Quality versus Higher-Quality Income-Decreasing Special Items.

Chen, S., S. Lai, C. Liu and S. McVay. Managerial Characteristics and Internal Controls.

Curtis, A., S. McVay and S. Toynbee. The Changing Implications of Research and Development Expenditures for Future Profitability.

Curtis, A., S. McVay and S. Toynbee. R&D Accounting and the Tradeoff between Exclusivity and Uncertainty.

Demerjian, P., M. Lewis and S. McVay. How Does Intentional Earnings Smoothing Vary With Managerial Ability?

Ge, W., Z. Li, Q. Liu and S. McVay. The Effect of Internal Control on Resource Extraction: Evidence from China.

Kravet, T., S. McVay and D. Weber. Exemptions from Internal Control Audits: An Analysis of M&As.

Honors and Awards

PhD Faculty Mentor Award, 2016

TMMBA Excellence in Teaching Award, 2016

William & Helen Fowler Endowment for Special Achievement in Accounting, 2014

Deloitte and Touche Endowed Professorship, 2015-present

Legoe Endowed Professorship, 2012–2015

Outstanding Reviewer Award, 2011

Doctoral Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, 2011

David Eccles Faculty Fellow, 2011–2012

David Eccles Emerging Scholar, 2008–2011

Deloitte and Touche Fellowship, 2002

Beta Alpha Psi, President (Oregon Chapter), 1996–1997

Oregon State Society of CPAs Outstanding Student Award, 1997

Academic Service

Editor, Contemporary Accounting Research, 2014-present

Editorial Board, Review of Accounting Studies, 2017-present

Editorial Board, Accounting and Finance, 2012-present

Editorial Advisory and Review Board, Accounting Horizons, 2008-present

Editorial Advisory and Review Board, The Accounting Review, 2008-present

Editorial Board, Contemporary Accounting Research, 2010-2014