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Accountant Says Baseball Lessons Apply to the Numbers Game Too

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Edward Lynch is a second-generation certified public accountant. But he says his first career choice was baseball.

The lessons learned on the field still serve him well in a game of numbers, he says.

“I learned a team is strongest when every member is a winner — fully respected and encouraged to contribute,” says the assistant professor of accounting who joined the Titan faculty this fall. “In addition, I learned to respect and play by the rules,” he says.

Lynch earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. As a CPA since 2010, he worked as an auditor for several years and founded his own company offering auditing seminars to accountants, before considering academia. His research includes such topics as whistleblowers, judgment and decision-making in auditing and taxation.

“Teaching provides me with an opportunity to inspire the next generation of auditors, as well as to do research,” he says.

What areas of continued scholarship and research interest you?

I’m always looking for ways to motivate my students, as well as to make my auditing class more interesting. I’m currently developing an unconventional audit case problem for nationwide use. I’m also interested in the impact of big data on teaching and practice in accounting, as well as eye-tracking technology and analytical techniques.

I also like to write about major transitions in my life. My first book is titled “Good Times! My Freshman Year in College.” I’m currently working on my next book about internet dating and the 12 worst dates of my life.

What do you hope future business leaders learn from your instruction and expertise?

Auditors are creative problem-solvers who draw from multiple disciplines, including social science, history and current events. Therefore, auditors are versatile and can contribute to a wide range of organizational and community solutions.