Ilitch School welcomes Kirk Carlson '89, adjunct professor of accounting

I received a BA from Michigan State in 1986 and an MBA from Wayne State in 1989. I have been a CPA in Michigan since 1993. My accounting career started with two years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. I spent the next 20 years of my career as a controller and CFO of various small businesses based in Metro Detroit.

The last thirteen years I have been a CPA firm owner with a public practice based in Ann Arbor. I taught accounting as an adjunct at WSU for thirteen years and at Walsh College for four years.

What are your primary teaching interests?

I enjoy adjunct instruction in introductory accounting.

Tell me about your background in Technology?

As an accountant and CPA, my whole career has been linked to tech and computers and in 30 years of working I have been through exponential growth with tools afforded us in business.

Why did you come to the Ilitch School of Business?

My MBA in accounting from WSU was fundamental to the start of my very rewarding career. I really like to work with students who are gaining an experience similar to mine.

What makes you passionate about business education?

Accounting is the language of business and once I discovered how much I really liked it and how many opportunities there are in the profession, I want to share my experiences and my career story with students.

What is one thing you wish all your students would do?

Take full advantage of talking to me about accounting careers. I like telling my story and sharing my experiences with future accountants.

What are you excited about seeing in Detroit?

Detroit has changed so much for the better since I first came to WSU in 1987. It's awesome to see the long-awaited renaissance really happening.