Neirouz Watad

Bio

Professor Neirouz Watad, MS, CPA
Assistant Accounting Professor

Professor Neirouz Watad, MS, CPA is a highly accomplished Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience in auditing multi-billion-dollar publicly traded entities. Her expertise lies in financial statements auditing and a deep knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404. She has been a member of the School of Business at Mount Saint Mary College since 2018, where she has been teaching various accounting courses.

With a professional background that spans across different roles in the corporate world, Professor Watad has gained profound insights into how corporations operate and how accounting and auditing processes are managed. Her skill set also extends to tax preparation for individuals and small businesses.

Professor Watad employs a practical teaching approach, offering students real-world insights. She is known for her effective communication skills and facilitation abilities, making her well-suited for diverse student environments.

Community Engagement

Professor Watad plays a key role in recruiting student volunteers for the AARP Foundation TaxAide program, which offers free income tax preparation assistance to low-to-moderate income taxpayers. Student volunteers enroll in a tax course instructed by certified IRS representatives. This initiative encourages civic engagement, community collaboration, and enhances students' practical skills in communication, organization, and interpersonal interactions.

Professional Background Highlights

• Master Tax Advisor - Individual and Small Business Accounting and Taxes.
• Senior Accountant, Vornado Realty Trust, Paramus, NJ - Responsible for managing accounting functions for large commercial real estate properties.
• Audit Senior, Deloitte and Touche LLP, Parsippany, NJ - Lead Auditor responsible for planning and executing audit engagements. 

Degrees

Doctoral Candidate, Liberty University
MS in Accounting, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Courses

ACC 1050 Financial Accounting
ACC 1060 Managerial Accounting
ACC 2010 Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 2020 Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 3030 Auditing
ACC 3040 Federal Taxes
ACC 3070 Accounting for Decision Making and Control
ACC 4020 Contemporary Accounting Theory
ACC 4060 Non-for-Profit
ACC 4030 Advanced Accounting
MGT 5070 Financial and Management Accounting

Specializations/Areas of Interest

The application of Activity Based Costing in nonprofit organizations.
The application of Balanced Score Cards in nonprofit organizations.
Auditors' contribution to ESG reporting.
Internal Controls in nonprofit organizations

Memberships and Professional Associations

NYSSCPA's official Campus Liaison at Mount Saint Mary College
Member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants
Member of the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants
Member of the American Institute of CPAs

Publications

• Watad, Neirouz, 2019. "Career Perceptions and Choice Decisions of Business School Students". Proceedings of Northeast Business & Economics Association, the 46th Annual Meeting, Newport, Rhode Island, November 7-9, 2019.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to understand business students' career expectations and their perceptions of business majors' careers, particularly about accounting as a career choice. The study explored the dynamics that influenced students' decisions regarding the selection of a career choice. A survey was distributed to students majoring in business. In answering the question 'what major will grant you a job upon graduation?' about 47% of the students selected accounting. The majority of the students, about 64%, said family was the most influential factor in their decision for selecting a major. The influence of friends and instructors was minimal. The impact of taking a course in accounting was positive in enhancing the selection of accounting as a major. Students mentioned that stability, money, flexibility in scheduling, and prestige are the most important actors when selecting a career path.

• Watad, Neirouz, 2021. “The Application of Balanced Scorecards to Evaluate College Performance”. Proceedings of Northeast Business & Economics Association, the 48th Annual Meeting, Newport, Rhode Island, November 4-6, 2021.

Abstract: The objective of this research is to assess the utility of applying activity-based costing (ABC) in a four-year college setting. The College is currently using traditional costing methods. While some reports indicate that ABC improves colleges' performance, however, there is no conclusive evidence. Traditional cost accounting has several limitations that can lead to poor management decisions. To remedy some of these limitations, ABC estimates the cost of the product by analyzing manufacturing and nonmanufacturing overhead cost, and allocates the overhead cost to products based on a cause-effect relationship. ABC costing is currently used by a wide variety of organizations in the private sector. Non-for-profit organizations also use ABC. The importance of applying ABC is providing management more accurate data to re-engineer the organization's processes. Thus, helping management to allocate the resources more efficiently.

• Watad, Neirouz. 2022. “Assessing the Utility of the Application of Activity Based Costing at Colleges”. Northeast Business & Economics Association, the 49th Annual Meeting, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 10-12, 2022.

Abstract: The objective of this research is to assess the utility of applying activity-based costing (ABC) in a four-year college setting. The College is currently using traditional costing methods. While some reports indicate that ABC improves colleges' performance, however, there is no conclusive evidence. Traditional cost accounting has several limitations that can lead to poor management decisions. To remedy some of these limitations, ABC estimates the cost of the product by analyzing manufacturing and nonmanufacturing overhead cost, and allocates the overhead cost to products based on a cause-effect relationship. ABC costing is currently used by a wide variety of organizations in the private sector. Non-for-profit organizations also use ABC. The importance of applying ABC is providing management more accurate data to re-engineer the organization's processes. Thus, helping management to allocate the resources more efficiently.

• Arize, A. C., Malindretos, J., Ndu, I., Tsanacas, D., & Watad, N. (2022). A Survey of Multinational Company Accounting Foreign Exchange Exposure. International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, 12(2), 128-135.

Abstract: One main type of foreign exchange exposure is translation exposure. Translation exposure measures potential accounting changes in a firm’s consolidated financial statements that result from a change in foreign exchange rates. The scope of this paper is to address translation risk by examining the preferences of the managerial team for specific financial instruments and strategies.

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