Laura McNear

Laura McNear is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Messiah University, where she brings extensive industry experience into the classroom. She previously worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young and later as a financial consultant, with significant experience in fraud investigations, mergers, and outsourcing strategies.

Education:

• B.A. in Accounting – Messiah College
• M.B.A. – Shippensburg University, John L. Grove College of Business
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Research and Teaching Focus: Laura specializes in accounting and auditing, with a strong emphasis on real-world application. Her areas of interest include financial statement analysis, fraud detection, and the strategic use of outsourcing in business operations. She integrates case studies from her experience at Ernst & Young and consulting roles to bridge theory and practice.

Industry Experience: Laura began her career at Ernst & Young in Baltimore, where she audited clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She played a key role in a major financial restatement due to fraud and the merger of two prominent firms. Later, she worked in Kansas City, MO, advising executive management on financial investments and traveled to India to implement an outsourcing platform.

Teaching Philosophy: Laura leverages her professional background to enrich classroom discussions, ensuring students understand how academic concepts apply in real business environments. Her courses emphasize analytical skills, ethical decision-making, and strategic financial thinking.