About
Edward Riedl serves as the John F. Smith Professor of Management and Professor of Accounting at Boston University's Questrom School of Business, where he previously chaired the Accounting Department from 2016-2022. He joined Boston University in 2011 after spending nine years at Harvard Business School. His academic journey includes a PhD from Penn State University (2002) and a combined BBA/MBA from Pace University (1992).
Dr. Riedl's educational background includes:
- PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 2002
- BBA, Pace University, 1992
- MBA, Pace University, 1992
Professor Riedl's research focuses on three major trends in financial reporting: fair value accounting, international reporting standards, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting. His work examines how these evolving areas impact financial statement users, market participants, and corporate decision-making. His research methodology spans empirical capital markets research, experimental studies, and field investigations across multiple industries including biotechnology, financial services, and real estate.
His publication record shows a clear progression from traditional financial accounting topics toward more contemporary issues surrounding ESG reporting and digital transformation in accounting. Recent work increasingly addresses the intersection of technology and financial reporting, as evidenced by studies on AI applications in financial analysis and climate-related financial disclosures. His articles consistently appear in top-tier journals including The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, and Management Science.
Professor Riedl's scientific recognition includes:
- Competitive Manuscript Award (for top accounting dissertation)
- Editorial roles at The Accounting Review (2018-2022) and Contemporary Accounting Research (2017-2020)
As an educator, Riedl has served on over 20 doctoral committees at both Harvard and Boston University. His teaching excellence is reflected in consistently high course ratings (averaging 4.95/5.00, placing him in the top 1% of instructors). He has developed case studies that have sold over 100,000 copies, focusing on financial reporting and valuation across diverse industries including real estate, financial services, agriculture, chemical, restaurant, and incarceration sectors. His executive education work includes programs for major corporations such as BP, Ericsson, IBM, and TE Connectivity. Prior to academia, he held professional positions at a Big 6 auditor, a Fortune 500 oil company, and a real estate brokerage firm, and maintains the professional designations of CPA, CMA, and CIA.
