Dennis headshot

Dennis (Denny) R. Beresford

  • Executive-in-Residence, J.M. Tull School of Accounting
A307B Moore-Rooker Hall

Biography

Dennis R. Beresford is Executive in Residence at the J. M. Tull School of Accounting, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia. From July 1997 through June 2013 he was Ernst & Young Executive Professor of Accounting. From January 1987 through June 1997 he was chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Previously, he was national director of accounting standards for Ernst & Young. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Denny previously served on the boards of National Service Industries, Inc., WorldCom (MCI), Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Fannie Mae, and Legg Mason, Inc. He was also a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Corporate Directors and he presently serves on the Financial Reporting Committee of the Institute of Management Accountants.

In 1995, Denny was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from DePaul University. In 2004 he was elected to the Accounting Hall of Fame and received the AICPA Gold Medal for distinguished service. In 2006 he was selected as one of the inaugural inductees of Financial Executives International Hall of Fame. In 2012 the Journal of Accountancy named him as one of the “125 people of impact in accounting” as among those who have had the most impact on the accounting profession since the AICPA was founded in 1887. In 2013 he received the Institute of Management Accountants first Distinguished Member Award. In 2019 the National Association of Corporate Directors elected him to its Hall of Fame.

Education

  • BS, Accounting, University of Southern California, 1961

Research Interests

  • Corporate Governance
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting

Awards, Honors, and Recognition

  • National Association of Corporate Directors Hall of Fame, 2019
  • Distinguished Member Award, Institute of Management Accountants, 2013
  • 100 Most Influential People in Corporate Governance, Directorship Magazine, 2009
  • Hall of Fame, Financial Executives International, 2006
  • Accounting Hall of Fame, Ohio State University, 2004
  • Gold Medal for Distinguished Service, American Institute of CPAs, 2004
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, California Society of CPAs, 1997
  • Honorary Doctorate, DePaul University, 1995

Service

Public Company Accounting Standards Board, Member of Standing Advisory Group, 2010 – 2013, Professional

Financial Reporting Committee – Institute of Management Acco, Member, 1997 – present, Professional

Atlanta CFO Roundtable, Chairman of Advisory Board, 2004 – 2012, Professional

National Association of Corporate Directors, Director/audit committee chair, 2009 – 2017, Professional

Prior Professional Positions

  • Director, Doosan Infracore International, Inc., 2010-2014
  • Director, Legg Mason, Inc., 2002-2013
  • Director, Fannie Mae, 2006-2012
  • Director, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2002-2011
  • Director, MCI, Inc., 2002-2006
  • Chairman, Financial Accounting Standards Board, 1987-1997
  • Partner in Charge of Accounting Standards, Ernst & Young, 1961-1986