Biography
Professor Regan Schmidt joined the University of Saskatchewan in 2009. He completed his Ph.D. in accounting from Queen’s University after practicing public accounting in western Canada. Regan’s research has been recognized by the American Accounting Association (Auditing Section) for its contribution to auditing knowledge and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) for its potential to improve audit quality. His research has received external funding from federal government research funding agencies (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) and industry (CPA Canada / Canadian Academic Accounting Association). Regan’s research is primarily focused on auditor judgment and decision making using experimental methods and has been published in journals such as Accounting and the Public Interest, Accounting Perspectives, Behavioral Research in Accounting, International Journal of Auditing, International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Managerial Auditing Journal, and Issues in Accounting Education.
Regan has served or is currently serving as an Associate Editor for journals of the American Accounting Association and the Canadian Academic Accounting Association. He has served or is currently serving the accounting profession nationally (e.g., CPA Canada Competency Map Committee) and locally (e.g., CPA Saskatchewan Discipline Committee). He also currently serves as a member of the audit committee for the province of Saskatchewan, and is the Department Head of Accounting at the University of Saskatchewan.
Research
- Schmidt, R. N. 2024. An examination of auditor hypothesis testing strategies in "tone at the top" evaluations: Evidence of diagnostic knowledge structures. International Journal of Auditing 28 (3): 562-581. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijau.12340
- Elkins, E., G. Entwistle, and R. N. Schmidt. 2024. Expectations for sustainability reporting from users, preparers, and the accounting profession. International Journal of Disclosure and Governance 21: 143-164. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41310-023-00206-3
- Schmidt, R.N. 2023. Discussion of: Technology, ethics, and the pandemic: Responses from key accounting actors. Accounting and the Public Interest 23 (1): 195-203. https://doi.org/10.2308/API-2023-010
- Elkins, H., G. Entwistle, and R.N. Schmidt. 2021. The influence of opportunistic capital structure in international financial reporting on nonprofessional investors. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation 42: 100378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2021.100378
- MacTavish, C., S. McCracken, and R.N. Schmidt. 2018. External auditors' judgment and decision making: An audit process task analysis. Accounting Perspectives 17 (3): 387-426. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3838.12182
- Mescall, D., F. Phillips, and R.N. Schmidt. 2017. Does the accounting profession discipline its members differently after public scrutiny? Journal of Business Ethics, 142 (2): 285-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3156-0
- Phillips, F., and R.N. Schmidt. 2016. Accounting students’ planning, writing, and performance on a time-constrained case analysis: Effects of self-talk and prior achievement. Accounting Perspectives, 15 (4): 311-329. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3838.12132
- Schmidt, R.N. 2015. Discussant comment on an examination of the effect of CEO social ties and CEO reputation on nonprofessional investors’ say-on-pay judgments, by Steve Kaplan, Janet Samuels, Jeffrey Cohen. Journal of Business Ethics 126 (1): 119-123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-2041-3
- Schmidt, R.N. 2014. The effects of auditors’ accessibility to “tone at the top” knowledge on audit judgments. Behavioral Research in Accounting 26 (2): 73-96. https://doi.org/10.2308/bria-50824
- Schmidt, R.N., and B.E. Cross. 2014. The effects of auditor rotation on client management’s negotiation strategies. Managerial Auditing Journal 29 (2): 110-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-03-2013-0836
- Salterio, S.E., J.E.D. Conrod, and R.N. Schmidt. 2013. Canadian evidence of adherence to “comply or explain” corporate governance codes: An international comparison. Accounting Perspectives 12 (1): 23-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3838.12006
- Schmidt, R.N., and F. Phillips. 2012. Shooting for assurance: The case of blazing arrow speed. Issues in Accounting Education, 27 (4): 1243-1258. Study accompanied by a teaching note published in Issues in Accounting Education Teaching Notes. https://doi.org/10.2308/iace-50241
- McCracken, S., S.E. Salterio, and R.N. Schmidt. 2011. Do managers intend to use the same negotiation strategies as partners? Behavioral Research in Accounting, 23 (1): 131-160. https://doi.org/10.2308/bria.2011.23.1.131
- Phillips, F., and R.N. Schmidt. 2010. Creating early success in financial accounting: Improving performance on adjusting journal entries. Accounting Perspectives, 9 (2): 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1911-3838.2010.00006.x
Teaching
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Prof. Dr. Schmidt's teaching interests are primarily in assurance and auditing. He has also taught financial accounting both at the University of Saskatchewan and Queen's University. His teaching has been recognized by university, college and departmental teaching awards. Regan currently teaches the following courses:
ACC 400.6
Honours Seminar in Accounting
Directed readings and individual research in the area of accounting. The major course requirement involves the preparation of an honours research paper under the supervision of one or more faculty in the particular area of specialization. The resulting honours paper is normally presented at a department seminar.COMM 421.3
MPAcc 992.3
External Auditing
Considers the demand for independent external audits, including environmental determinants (social, legal and professional) and individual auditor behaviour. The satisfaction of the demand for an audit is examined within a risk reduction expression of an auditor's opinion formulation process.
Research - Project
Through undertaking a series of academic article critiques, this course provides students with an opportunity to develop insights into, and an appreciation for, the academic research process.
- For prospective graduate students, please note that the University of Saskatchewan does not offer a PhD program in accounting, nor does it currently offer a thesis based MSc program in accounting. For admittance to the Edwards School of Business non-thesis based Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) program, a supervisor is not required - please refer to the MPAcc website for further information.
- For undergraduate students interested in graduate accounting programs, the undergraduate accounting honours seminar (ACC 400.6) is strongly recommended. For admittance to the seminar, please discuss with your program advisor and email faculty whose research interests you as soon as possible (ideally in your 3rd year of undergraduate studies).