Erik Olson
Erik Olson
Assistant Professor of Accounting | Owen Graduate School of Management
An accomplished educator and expert in finance, Erik Olson, PhD has excelled as an assistant professor of accounting at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University since 2020. He teaches an Intro to Financial Accounting class for MBA students and provides outside tutoring and one-on-one coaching sessions to help them achieve the utmost success in the classroom; in addition, he’s involved as a faculty representative for dean scholars, campus recruiting, and alumni events.
Outside the lecture hall, he conducts research on financial accounting, firms’ decisions on allocating capital, disclosure, corporate finance and governance, and the difference between institutional and retail investors, among other topics. He frequently travels and presents his findings at conferences and other colleges.
Always motivated and driven by perseverance, Dr. Olson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Florida in 2012 and 2013, respectively, after which he gained experience in the field as a tax associate at KPMG. While at the global financial firm, he was involved in extensive work related to international tax and transfer pricing. Subsequently, he returned to his education and obtained his doctorate in management, with a specialization in financial accounting, from the Yale University School of Management in 2020.
Since he started his post at Vanderbilt, Dr. Olson has been recognized with the “Thanks Teach” Award for Teaching Excellence in 2021, as voted by MBA students, and named among the “40 Under 40 Best MBA Professors” by Poets&Quants, Inc. In addition, he’s a dedicated member of the American Accounting Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. While maintaining his current role, he strives to research broader societal issues and make an impact—and publish his work as much as possible.
Also a passionate boxer and kickboxer, Dr. Olson was active as the vice president of the University of Florida Boxing Club from 2010 to 2013 and also led the campaign to resurrect the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association in 2012. In his spare time, he enjoys boxing, playing hockey, and strumming on guitar.
Press Release
Erik Olson Showcases Expertise in Higher Education
Erik Olson serves as an assistant professor of accounting at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management
NASHVILLE, TN, August 27, 2024 —
Erik Olson has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Olson is an esteemed assistant professor of accounting at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. He has held this position since 2020, where he teaches introductory financial accounting classes to MBA students. He is deeply committed to enhancing the classroom experience, offering outside tutoring and one-on-one coaching sessions.
Outside the classroom, Dr. Olson is actively involved in campus recruiting and alumni events, while serving as the faculty representative for the dean scholars of MBA students. He frequently travels to present papers at conferences and other academic institutions. His research interests include corporate finance and accounting, where he excels in programming, accessing new data sets and collaborating with peers.
Before joining Vanderbilt University, Dr. Olson was a doctoral candidate at the Yale School of Management from 2015 to 2020. During his time at Yale University, he defended his dissertation with a panel of invested mentors, marking a significant milestone in his academic journey. Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked as a tax associate at KPMG from 2014 until 2015, focusing on international tax and transfer pricing, areas that piqued his interest in accounting research. He began his professional journey as a staff accountant at Turner Construction Company in 2011.
Laying a strong foundation for Dr. Olson’s expertise in corporate finance research and accounting was his educational background. He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 2012 from the University of Florida, followed by a Master of Science in accounting in 2013 from the same institution. He subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in accounting from Yale University in 2020. In addition to his academic degrees, he holds a Certified Public Accountant designation from AICPA & CIMA, which he obtained in 2015.
Dr. Olson’s professional affiliations include memberships in the American Accounting Association and AICPA & CIMA, reflecting his commitment to staying engaged with industry developments and standards. His dedication to his field has been recognized by Poets&Quants Inc., which named him one of the Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors in 2024, a testament to his impact on students and academia. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is actively involved in volunteer work within school communities and activities.
Dr. Olson attributes much of his success to what his mother describes as stubbornness but what he considers perseverance and an unwavering refusal to accept no for an answer. This tenacity has driven him throughout his career and continues to fuel his ambitions for future research and academic contributions. Looking ahead, he aims to publish extensively and conduct impactful research that addresses broader societal issues, particularly focusing on how firms make decisions regarding capital allocation.