Biography

Dr. Devan Mescall is a world-renowned researcher specializing in multinational taxation whose research also encompasses corporate decision-making, governance, and innovation—including artificial intelligence. He has published multiple articles in top tier journals including Financial Times 50 journals such as The Accounting Review, Contemporary Accounting Research and The Journal of Business Ethics. His research has earned a Contemporary Accounting Research Top Cited Paper Award and has been cited by the OECD, IMF, and presented to tax authorities in Canada and the U.S. He currently serves on the editorial board of Contemporary Accounting Research, a Financial Times 50 journal, and the Journal of the American Taxation Association. He completed MIT’s Leading the AI-Driven Organization program to advance his work on AI and corporate governance.

Dr. Mescall also has a strong interest in financial leadership and budgeting innovation in higher education. As the University of Saskatchewan’s inaugural Chief Financial Officer, he led the redesign of the university’s financial leadership model and chaired the Strategic Finance Committee, overseeing the strategic allocation of a $1B+ budget. His work established the Office of Strategic Finance emphasized transparency, alignment with institutional priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

With research that bridges academia and public policy, and administrative leadership that has shaped the financial strategy of a major research university, Dr. Mescall brings a rare blend of scholarly impact and executive insight to the future of higher education.

Research

Published Papers

Mescall, D., & Schmidt, R. N. 2025. The impact of joint provision of audit and tax services on the advice of tax professionals. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 50, 107293.

Godsell, D., Jung B. and D. Mescall 2023. “Investor relations and investment efficiency” Contemporary Accounting Research. 2023

Hansen J. Mescall D. and Purse G. 2023. “Policy Forum: The Effects of Indexation and Inflation on the Tax System Design” Canadian Tax Journal. 71 (2) 389-404

Icton M. and D. Mescall 2021. “Property Taxation: Establishing an Urban Reserve – Property Tax Challenges and Opportunities” Canadian Tax Journal 69 (3): 835-85

Mescall D. and P. Nielsen. 2021. “Corporate Income Shifting in an Era of Multilateralism: The Impact of Exchange of Information Agreements” Canadian Tax Journal. 69 (2):357-389

Mescall, Devan and Kenneth J. Klassen. 2018. “How Does Transfer Pricing Risk Affect Premiums in Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions. Contemporary Accounting Research. 35 (2):830-865.

Klassen, Kenneth J., Petro Lisowsky, and Devan Mescall. 2017. "Transfer pricing: Strategies, practices, and tax minimization." Contemporary Accounting Research 34(1): 455-493.

Mescall, Devan, Fred Phillips, and Regan N. Schmidt. 2017. "Does the Accounting Profession Discipline Its Members Differently After Public Scrutiny?."Journal of Business Ethics 142 (2): 285-309.

Klassen, K., P. Lisowsky, and D. Mescall. 2016. "The Role of Auditors, Non-Auditors, and Internal Tax Departments in Corporate Tax Aggressiveness." The Accounting Review 91 (1): 179 -205.

Hoopes, J., D. Mescall and J. Pittman. 2012. Do IRS audits deter corporate tax avoidance? The Accounting Review, 87 (5). 1603-1639

Klassen, K. and D. Mescall. 2012. Investor taxes and equity prices: Using income trusts in a cross-sectional analysis.  The Canadian Tax Journal.,60 (3). 533-566

Research Tools and Data

Klassen, Lisowsky and Mescall (2015) – Transfer Pricing Survey Instrument

Undergraduate Courses Taught at the Edwards School of Business

Comm 406  – Introduction to Canadian Income Taxation

Comm 407  – Advanced topics in Income Taxation

Graduate Courses Taught at the Edwards School of Business

MPAcc 816 – Taxation I

MPacc 992 - Research