Frank A Buckless (born April 9, 1958) is an American
business educator,
textbook
A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbooks are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textboo ...
editor and author, as well as consultant who is known for his expertise in
auditing
An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...
. Buckless is the Stephen P. Zelnak Dean of the Poole College of Management at
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universi ...
,
Background
Buckless was born on April 9, 1958, in
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...
, to Mary and Gerald Buckless. Buckless' father started his career as an accountant as did his maternal grandfather. Buckless grew up in a large family with five sisters and two brothers. Five of his siblings are also educators.
Education and early career
Buckless attended
Brighton High School in
Brighton, Michigan
Brighton is a city in the Detroit metropolitan area in southeastern Livingston County, Michigan, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area. It is one of ...
, where he graduated in 1977.
In 1981, Buckless graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the
Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
(MSU)
Eli Broad College of Business.
Buckless was an intern at
Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in 1980 where he gained an appreciation of auditing. In that same time frame, Buckless was a teaching assistant for the MSU Introductory accounting course. While at MSU, Buckless also served as the President of the
Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi () is an international honor society for accounting, finance and information systems students attending universities accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the European Quality Improvement Syst ...
international honor organization.
Buckless was also a member of the
Varsity Wrestling Team.
[
Following graduation, Buckless went to work for Arthur Andersen & Co. in Atlanta, Georgia where he began to specialize in auditing processes.][
Buckless remained at Arthur Andersen & Co. until 1981 when he returned to MSU to complete a PhD in Accounting. His love of teaching accounting practices continued as a graduate assistant and teaching assistant during his graduate studies. Buckless completed his PhD in 1989 and published his thesis entitled "Modeling External Auditors' Evaluations of Audit Risk and the Effect of the Task Environment on Consensus". This thesis was recognized as the "Outstanding Auditing Dissertation" which is awarded by the ]American Accounting Association
The American Accounting Association (AAA) promotes accounting education, research and practice. Founded in 1916 as the American Association of University Instructors in Accounting, its present name was adopted in 1936. The Association is a volun ...
- Auditing Section in 1990.
North Carolina State University
In 1989, Buckless moved to Raleigh, North Carolina to take an Assistant Professor position at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universi ...
.[ His promotion to Associate Professor occurred in 1995. Buckless' position was endowed in 2000 where he was named the "KPMG Professor of Accounting and Department Head".][
Buckless oversaw the $500,000 donation by to ]Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational corporation, multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Delo ...
the Accounting Department was the largest ever for a project implementing the Second Life
''Second Life'' is an online multimedia platform that allows people to create an avatar for themselves and then interact with other users and user created content within a multi player online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Fra ...
virtual platform into the curriculum in 2009. This funding was utilized by Buckless along with Mr. Scott Showalter and Dr. Kathy Krawczyk to create a virtual warehouse for their students to audit. The data collected from this study showed that students improved "inventory observation knowledge, interviewing, audit documentation, critical thinking, and group work skills". This project follows incorporation of cost and financial accounting activities in virtual environments.
Buckless performs many duties for the university and is a face for Management faculty at NCSU. Though he was not on the search committee, Buckless was interviewed over concerns in finding a new Dean for the NCSU College of Management in 2004. In 2010, Buckless was part of the search committee for a new university provost. He has served on over 20 different committees while at NC State.
The American Accounting Association appointed Buckless as the president of the Accounting Programs Leadership Group for 2014-2015.
Consulting
Buckless provides consulting services for many activities including litigation, fraud, and valuations.[ He has consulted for many companies as well as the ]United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and a ...
and North Carolina Department of Justice. He provides training for KPMG auditors and is faculty for the Auditor Educator Bootcamp hosted by the American Accounting Association.
Honors and awards
Buckless earned the "Outstanding Auditing Dissertation" awarded by the American Accounting Association in 1990.
The College of Management Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching was given to Buckless in 1998.[
In 2016, Buckless, along with Poole faculty members Kathy Krawczyk and Scott Showalter, received the Innovation in Accounting Education Award from the American Accounting Association.]
Publications
Buckless has served as a case editor for the ''Journal of Accounting Education'', an associate editor for '' Issues in Accounting Education'', and on the editorial boards for several journals throughout his career.[ In addition to his leadership work with the journal, Buckless has also served and an ad hoc reviewer for several journals and meeting proceedings.
The 'Auditing and Assurance Services'', 14th Edition'' textbook edited by Arens, Elder and Beasley acknowledges Buckless as a reviewer.]
Books
Buckless is an editor for several textbooks used in higher education and industry. Many of these have multiple editions.
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The Auditing cases book compiled by the Technical Working Group on Education in Fraud and Forensic Accounting is a suggested reading for forensic accounting.
References
External links
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Video of Second Life Environment
Pearson Publishers: Mike Thiry's One Professor
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckless, Frank A
1958 births
Living people
North Carolina State University faculty
Michigan State University alumni
American auditors
American business writers
American accountants