Through practical application, insights, and industry experience, Brent Woodford, the Hirth Family Foundation Executive-in-Residence for Accounting, is equipping Neeley students for success in a dynamic accounting landscape.
October 18, 2024
By Victoria Ruiz Sandoval
In today’s rapidly-changing accounting industry, Brent Woodford, the Hirth Family Foundation Executive-in-Residence for Accounting offers students real-world insights into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards. As executive vice president of controllership, financial planning, and tax for The Walt Disney Company, Woodford brings valuable experience to his role at Neeley, where he teaches as an adjunct professor in accounting.
“Neeley is among a small set of schools offering a stand-alone class in sustainability/ESG reporting and assurance, which is becoming a very important issue, both in the U.S. and internationally,” said Bill Wempe, a Neeley professor of accounting and chair of the accounting department.
Given the velocity of regulatory activity in this area, particularly in Europe, accounting and other business professionals need to stay current and continuously adapt to changes in ESG reporting. Woodford’s engagement in the accounting profession provides him with access to resources and current insights, helping ensure he stays updated on the latest developments.
“For those who are implementing these requirements, it’s like on-the-job training,” said Woodford regarding the dynamic nature of ESG reporting. “When you get into the execution and practical aspects, people see that everything isn’t crystal clear and someone has to get answers. The intersection of ESG reporting with financial reporting and internal controls make accountants well positioned to play a role.”
Woodford teaches the graduate-level course, ESG Reporting in Business, to Master of Accounting (MAc) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) students. Given his experience, he is able to strengthen TCU Neeley students’ awareness and understanding of environmental, social and governance reporting issues for businesses.
“I’m able to draw from my own professional experiences and bring those insights to the classroom. In my role I have to address not only ESG reporting considerations, but also the ongoing regulatory changes to accounting and financial reporting relevant to U.S. public companies. I can give the class visibility to how companies, accounting firms and other stakeholders are grappling with these changes on a real-time basis,” said Woodford, who emphasizes practical application and empirical experience in his teaching. “I can give them concrete examples as opposed to only the theoretical concepts.”
Knowledge and awareness of ESG matters and other current trends is valuable for accounting professionals in today’s market, as businesses actively seek professionals who can help navigate the complexities of sustainability and corporate responsibility.
Matt Tran, a MAc student who took Woodford’s ESG class, said he’s been able to put the classroom knowledge into action when networking with industry experts.
“I had the opportunity to speak with a few professionals at an ESG oil and gas consulting practice in Dallas, where I was able to meaningfully contribute to the conversation due to the topics I learned in class,” said Tran.
Other students have expressed appreciation for Woodford, and the knowledge he brings to teaching relevant topics that will impact careers.
“I think it’s crucial to have faculty like Brent, as an executive at one of the largest companies in the world. He has to deal with new trends and issues such as the topic of ESG,” said Jack Puckett, a MAc student. “So, it makes him uniquely qualified to teach how ESG is changing in the business landscape around the world.”
The endowed TCU Neeley School Executive-in-Residence program brings expertise, like Woodford’s, into the classroom providing a unique blend of industry experience and practical teaching to enrich the academic environment at Neeley and prepare students for the dynamic accounting landscape.
