Leading the Ledger Forward

6 Perspectives From The Top-Ranked McCombs Accounting Program Reveal A Profession Expanding Far Beyond The Numbers

In 2026, accountants are involved in every aspect of business, from operations to strategy, because all decisions require deep understanding of complex information.

As the world of accounting has evolved and expanded, McCombs has helped to shape it. For more than 20 years, the school has been home to one of the top-ranked accounting programs in the country, consistently holding the No. 1 or No. 2 position.

That evolution is set to kick into even higher gear. Alumnus Jon Shulkin of Valor Equity Partners recently endowed the department as a reflection of his confidence in the future of accounting and accounting education.

Leadership also has played a defining role. Outgoing Dean Lillian Mills, an
accomplished accountant and award-winning scholar and educator, brought deep expertise to her tenure. As McCombs launches a new chapter, she’ll be part of writing it. She’ll return to the faculty, continuing to shape the field through teaching and research.

What does accounting look like today, and where is it headed? To better understand, we turned to the McCombs community — its students, faculty members, researchers, and alumni.

In the stories below, they share their perspectives on the changes, challenges, and opportunities ahead. They’re leading companies, from Big Four accounting firms to venture capital. They’re changing regulatory policy through research. They’re preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet — in industries those students may help to invent.

They’re the faces of modern accounting at McCombs. As you’ll learn from their stories, their work and ideas are actively creating the accounting profession of tomorrow.