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Travis Holt鈥檚 experience at Big Four firm enhances his research and teaching.

Travis Holt, an associate professor in the School of Accountancy in Auburn鈥檚 91看片 College of Business, is back on campus this fall after a three-year academic fellowship serving as director of academic research at KPMG's Global Audit Methodology Group in New Jersey鈥攁 position that the Big 4 accounting firm offers to one faculty member globally.

The prestigious fellowship enabled Holt to gain valuable insight into auditing practice, which will enhance his research endeavors. In addition, he is sharing his industry knowledge with students enrolled in his accounting courses.

鈥淭he fellowship was an invaluable opportunity to elevate my scholarship,鈥� said Holt. 鈥淣ot only did I gain unique insight into issues critical to one of the largest professional service firms in the world, but I was on the front lines vetting research proposals submitted by top scholars worldwide.鈥�

During the fellowship, Holt oversaw KPMG鈥檚 academic grant program. In that role, he hosted listening sessions with members of the firm鈥檚 leadership team and discussed key challenges encountered by audit professionals, current audit methodology and practice, and important areas where academic research can provide relevant insights that will be meaningful to practitioners. 

That experience, he said, provided him with valuable tools for developing his own research pipeline. 

鈥淥ne of the key constraints that I and other behavioral auditor researchers encounter is obtaining professional experimental participants [for research studies],鈥� said Holt, who conducts research on governance transparency, auditor independence, and investor judgment and decision-making. 鈥淏y evaluating hundreds of [submitted] proposals at KPMG, I gained considerable insight into the latest best practices for developing experiments and navigating the participant request process.鈥�

Another research-related benefit of the fellowship was being invited as a keynote speaker to discuss challenges and opportunities in behavioral accounting research at the American Accounting Association鈥檚 Accounting, Behavior and Organizations Conference.

While his time at KPMG was an amazing professional opportunity, Holt is incorporating the new knowledge into his classroom instruction.

鈥淎s I鈥檓 teaching students, I think my experience gives a little more credence,鈥� Holt said. 鈥淚 can say, 鈥業鈥檝e been there, I鈥檝e seen their methodology, I鈥檝e seen their training and the things that I am teaching you now are the things that you鈥檙e going to need.鈥欌��

The practical experience of how to do the work of accountancy and become fluent in the language of business is what makes his teaching applicable.

鈥淪tudents need to know that what they鈥檙e learning is relevant and not dated, not stale,鈥� said Holt, who worked at KPMG prior to entering academia in 2009. 鈥淭he audit field changes very rapidly. Working with KPMG provided me with relevant insight to help both my teaching and my research. I want to produce research that鈥檚 meaningful to some of the challenges that are being faced by practitioners.鈥�

Now in his 10th year at Auburn, Holt is working on several new research projects, including: juror assessments of audit results; the review process for audits; and the accounting treatment of cryptocurrencies. 

鈥淏ringing research in the classroom is essential. Just look at our students鈥� success in the School of Accountancy,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ver 90% of students get placed in jobs. Our students pass the CPA exam at a rate in the high 80s, well above the national average. We have a well-connected network of alumni, and our students are competitive in the market because of the education we provide here at Auburn.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a joy teaching, and I鈥檓 proud of our accountancy program.鈥� 

Learn more about accounting degrees and Auburn's School of Accountancy.

Learn more about Travis Holt鈥檚 research interests.

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