Norway's Professor in Auditing has turned 70!
Professor Aasmund Eilifsen will be celebrated on 4 September for reaching the 70-year milestone.
Professor Aasmund Eilifsen turned 70 on 11 June. Modest as he is, Aasmund was obviously away on the big day to avoid attention, but he can't escape entirely! We are celebrating him with a bang on 4 September with a dedicated seminar, dinner, etc.
For Aasmund is all of Norway's professor in auditing!
Which auditing partners in Norway has he not had under his rostrum at MRR (Master in Accounting and Auditing) at NHH? Aasmund received responsibility for his "baby", the MRR study, in 2001, and the baby was forcibly taken away as late as in 2019.
During that time, there was not a minute when Aasmund didn’t think about how the study could be improved, what the industry could need that could fit into the teaching, and whether the last lecturer he had allowed himself to place in front of the students had actually done as well as he/she could.
This made students and auditing companies rank NHH's auditing studies as Norway's best all these years (and it still is!). Aasmund deservedly received an award for outstanding teaching effort in 2014.
Of course, Aasmund had also taken the job of adapting the American textbook in auditing to Norwegian and European conditions: Today he is a co-author of the international edition of the book, which is a bestseller in the subject and a mandatory textbook.
But Aasmund is equally well known in Norway because he has been so active in the auditing industry. Aasmund prefers being in the corridors of NHH wearing a cool T-shirt and equally cool sneakers. But he knows how to dress. If he is going to Oslo to meet high-profile people, he dresses up in a white shirt, tie, and suit.
Among other things, through the Auditor Association, he has been the academic who has influenced the auditing industry in Norway. At the same time, he has brought input from there back to research and teaching. Among the official assignments Aasmund has taken on is membership of the audit committee in the Auditor Association, government-appointed NOU committee, article prize committee and the committee for examining auditors. He has also been a prolific writer in the "parish magazine" for auditors, Revisjon og regnskap; which of course led to him winning the Article Prize.
But Aasmund was never supposed to work with auditing!
It was actually heavy theory within accounting; agent-principal theory and similar topics Aasmund dealt with both at Høyere Avdeling and in his doctorate at NHH.
NHH, however, lacked someone who could delve heavily into the auditing subject, and who would consider that? Nobody! But loyal Aasmund of course retrained when the department management suggested that he would be the right person for this important task.
The "only" problem was that Aasmund had not built up enough mileage for a two-year "sabbatical" (not "free from work" as the word actually means, but paid research stay). So one had to go all the way to the Ministry to get something as unheard of approved. And NHH's investment in 1995 proved to be very profitable.
Because Aasmund never looked back, and went "all in" both in teaching, in the industry and last but not least in research. Aasmund has about 20 articles published in internationally highly recognized research journals (that was exactly why we took away his responsibility for the MRR baby in 2019, so he could finally get time to complete much of his research). Four articles are top-ranked, and have been awarded at NHH. The articles are often cited by other researchers.
What is also unique is Asmund's international research network. With his warm nature and professional thoroughness, he has become a personal friend and research colleague with some of the world's leading researchers in auditing in the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia (the list is long).
However, you can hardly talk about his research without mentioning the collaboration with Professor William ("Bill") Messier; honorary doctor and long-time guest lecturer at NHH, international superstar in auditing research, but also a personal friend and research colleague for a lifetime with Aasmund.
The network means that an international conference is never far away: Aasmund loves to travel, experience and be able to combine the professional with new experiences. The Amalfi Coast, Milan, Florida, Las Vegas, Nigeria (!) To name a few.
Even if the menu is occasionally vegan, foreign Michelin restaurants also tempt the otherwise so sedate professor. But; as the loyal employee Aasmund is, he does not travel to conferences without heavy duties: As a member of scientific committees (EARNet, EIASM, EAA are just a few examples), conferences involve him reading dozens of heavy articles and then commenting on these as an opponent, presenter, jury member etc.
At 70, one would think Aasmund is now throwing in the towel. But luckily for us at NHH, Aasmund continues as an emeritus both by guiding his doctoral students until they reach the finish line, organizing teaching, and of course completing his research projects.
But his dear Bente probably hopes it will be a bit quieter; a bit more time for Ustaoset, cycling, the cabin, grandchildren…
Congratulations so much on your anniversary, Aasmund! Thank you for the effort so far. It is always nice to work with you, and we look forward to the continuation!
On behalf of the Department of Accounting, Auditing and Law and everyone else at NHH Norwegian School of Economics
Finn Kinserdal, Øystein Thøgersen and all your other good colleagues at NHH.