Thomas Frecka

Professor Frecka began his academic career at the University of Illinois in 1977 and then joined the University of Notre Dame as Chair of the Department of Accountancy in 1990, serving in that capacity for eight years. He is the Vincent and Rose Lizzadro Professor of Accounting at Notre Dame.  He teaches courses in financial reporting, accounting fraud examination, and valuation in litigation support services in the traditional MBA, Executive MBA and M.S. in Accountancy programs. He was instrumental in the development of the M.S. in Accountancy and the Ernst & Young Your Master Plan programs that have graduated over one hundred fifty students each year. In recent years, he has worked to develop and pilot a course called Foresight in Business and Society that has become a requirement for all Mendoza College of Business undergraduates starting in 2009, and a Business of Energy course to be offered for the first time in 2012. He has over fifty publications, among them publications in major accounting and finance journals including The Accounting Review, the Journal of Accounting Research, Accounting Horizons, Issues in Accounting Education and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. Recent publications include,” Trends in the International Battle against Bribery and Corruption,” with Margot Cleveland, Chris Favo and Charles Owens, in the Journal of Business Ethics, and “ Rekindling the Debate: An Evaluation of Masters of Accountancy Programs—the Student’s Perspective,” with Phil Reckers, in Issues in Accounting Education.  He recently completed a term on the Faculty Board on Athletics and presently serves on the University’s Energy and Environmental Issues Committee, committees to establish Sustainability and Energy minors at Notre Dame, the Center for Sustainability Energy Internal Advisory Board, and the Notre Dame Task Force on Community Engagement.

Areas of Expertise

Financial Reporting

Financial Statements Analysis

Accounting Fraud Investigation

Litigation Valuation

Education

BA, Ohio University

MBA, Ohio University

Ph D, Syracuse University

Publications

"Trends in the International Fight Against Bribery and Corruption", (with Margot Cleveland, Charles Owens, Christopher Favo), Journal of Business Ethics, 90, 2009.

"Is Intentional Structuring of Lease Contracts to Avoid Capitalization Unethical?", The Journal of Business Ethics, 2007.

"The Financial Performance, Capital Constraints and Financial Reporting Environment of Cross-listed Firms: Evidence from Mexico", (with Paquita Davis-Friday, Juan Rivera), The International Journal of Accounting, 40, 2005.

"Characteristics of Master''s in Accounting Degree Programs", (with William Nichols), Issues in Accounting Education/American Accounting Association, 19, 2004.

"What Managers Should Know About Earnings Management - Its Prevalence, Legality, Ethicality, and Does It Work?", (with Paquita Davis-Friday), Review of Accounting & Finance, 1, 2002.

Presentations

World Futures Society Conference, "" ( 2009).

Business Ethics Conference, "Trends in the International Fight Against Bribery & Corruption" (November 2008).

Ethical Dimensions in Business: Reflections from the Business Academic Community, "Is Intentional Structuring of Lease Contracts to Avoid Capitalization Unethical?" (October 2006).