Maria Athienitis

Maria Athienitis is an academic professional affiliated with the Collat School of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance. She holds a Master of Accounting from UAB and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Her expertise spans financial accounting, audit, and assurance, with a focus on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and ethical leadership. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Services Administration at UAB.

• Education:
  • Master of Accounting, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2017)
  • Bachelor’s Level Non US Degree Equiv, University of the Witwatersrand (1997)

Maria’s research interests include Financial Accounting, Audit and Assurance, IFRS, and Health Services Administration, informed by her professional experience and ongoing PhD work. She actively promotes ethical behavior and leadership through her role as faculty advisor for the UAB Student Center for the Public Trust (SCPT).

• Scientific Awards and Recognitions:
  • University of Birmingham Alabama (2018)
  • Grant Thornton (1994, 1995, 1996)

With over 17 years of teaching experience, Maria has instructed courses such as Financial Accounting I/II, Advanced Corporate Reporting, and Principles of Ethics. She has also provided freelance consulting and training to multinational corporations on IFRS implementation, including developing teaching materials for an online e-learning platform. Her professional activities include presentations at corporate continuing education seminars on newly issued accounting standards in both Europe and the United States.