Bruce Branson

Education

PhD Accounting Florida State University 1992
Bachelor of Science Accounting Florida State University 1988

Courses- MRA Program

MBA 518 – Enterprise Risk Management
MBA 519 – Enterprise Risk Management Practicum

Area(s) of Focus/Expertise

Determinants of financial analyst interest
Time-series properties of accounting variables
Enterprise risk management adoption decisions

Research Interests

My teaching and research are focused on factors that affect enterprise risk management maturity and its integration with strategy. In addition to this research related to financial reporting and the use of derivative securities, and other hedging strategies for risk reduction/risk sharing.

Recent/Past Research

“Understanding the Ecosystem of Enterprise Risk Governance,” with Mark Beasley, Evelyn Braumann, and Don Pagach. 2023. The Accounting Review

“Improving Disclosures about Management of Ever-Evolving Risks.” With Mark Beasley and Don Pagach. 2023. Controlling – Journal for Success-Oriented Corporate Management..

“An Evolving Risk Landscape: Insights from a Decade of Surveys of Executives and Risk Professionals.” With Mark Beasley and Don Pagach. 2023. The Journal of Risk and Financial Management

“The State of Risk Oversight – 15th Edition,” with Mark Beasley. Management Accounting Series. AICPA. July, 2024.

“Global State of Enterprise Risk Oversight – 6th Edition,” with Mark Beasley. AICPA/CIMA October, 2023.

“Executive Perspectives on Top Risks – 2024 and 2034,” with Mark Beasley and Don Pagach. Protiviti, Inc. December, 2023. 

Experience with Industry

In my role as Associate Director of the ERM Initiative, I have the opportunity to meet with leaders of enterprise risk management functions in a variety of different organizations and industries. Every interaction is a learning opportunity that enriches my knowledge of how ERM works in a “real world” setting and allows me to convey these realities to our students. As well, we work closely with senior management of organizations to assist them in starting and refining their approaches to enterprise risk management and our students participate in some of these experiences through practicums and research assistance.

Why Students May Want to Study Risk and Analytics

All students need exposure to these important topics and a specialized Master’s degree that focuses on these topics. It positions our students for immediate success in their current and future roles in their organizations. 

Highlights of Teaching for the Program

Our students are driven to succeed and bring a wealth of experience to the classroom. My interactions with them are always enriching and helpful to me. As I work with our students to gain insight on this critically important business paradigm, it is a delight to see them gain a deeper understanding of the importance of integrating risk management efforts with an organization’s strategic priorities.

Advice for Prospective Students

Come prepared to work hard and seek opportunities for engagement with our faculty. We are excited to work with you!

Why Choose the Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA)? 

Our program is unique in that it combines two critically important emerging business paradigms–analytics and enterprise risk management. Our faculty has deep knowledge and significant “real world” experience in these areas and are recognized experts in these fields of study. Upon completion of the program you will be well-positioned to add significant value to your current organizations or to explore opportunities with new entities seeking expertise in these disciplines.