Balancing the Books and Ways of Thinking through Accounting at Trent Durham
Accounting is much more than numbers on a spreadsheet. According to Dr. Yi Liu, assistant professor of Accounting within the School of Business at Trent University Durham GTA, a mastery of accounting knowledge provides greater appreciation into the operations of the business world.
“Businesses are the cells of the economic system and the main creators of societal wealth and users of economic resources,” reveals Professor Liu, who joined Trent Durham in 2019 after teaching in New York. “I am interested in understanding what businesses are doing, why and how they are doing it.”
Prof. Liu’s research delves into how accounting rules and disclosure requirements could improve bank transparency and stability. With a focus on the infamous 2007-2009 financial crisis, he is also researching how high-level institutions or factors, like policy uncertainty, affect bank behaviours. Some of his work was recently published in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy.
A balanced philosophy in an ever-changing world
Currently teaching Financial Accounting courses in the Business Administration program at Trent Durham, Prof. Liu feels financial reporting and analysis are cornerstones of modern business.
“I enjoy teaching accounting because it has its own paradigm and systematic way of understanding the business world,” said Prof. Liu who professes a great sense of achievement from teaching at Trent Durham. “Every component sits nicely in its own place and in balance. Teaching students the philosophy of a balanced way of thinking about the world is what I enjoy the most.”
Keeping students ahead of the curve
At Trent Durham, Prof. Liu says, students benefit from gaining a real career advantage in a program that emphasizes the benefits of experience-based learning. Through internships, community-based research and legacy projects, such as creating campus apps, students get valuable hands-on experience in project management, running businesses and understanding challenges.
“Our students stay current and make the connections needed for success when they graduate,” he says. “I hope to bring very solid technical knowledge and analytical ability to my students so that they can establish fulfilling careers and become economically and socially productive citizens.”
Posted on March 5, 2020