Advanced Financial Analysis: Beyond the Numbers

Brian Hamm serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business, bringing extensive corporate leadership experience to academia. An alumnus of UIUC with a BS in Accountancy (1995), his distinguished career includes roles as Chief Financial Officer at both TruGreen (2017-2018) and Energizer Holdings (2015-2017), along with various executive positions at PepsiAmericas and Price Waterhouse. His teaching excellence has been consistently recognized, earning him the 2024 Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching Award from UIUC and the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award from the Gies Business Alumni Association. He teaches advanced courses including Financial Statement Analysis and Accounting Institutions and Regulations, bringing real-world expertise to the classroom. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of cross-functional business understanding and data-driven decision-making, particularly in preparing future business leaders for the rapidly evolving corporate landscape

Nerissa C. Brown, PhD, CFE, is the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and a Professor of Accountancy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also serves as the Chief Learning Innovation Officer and holds the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Faculty Fellowship and PwC Faculty Fellowship. With a robust academic background, Dr. Brown specializes in financial accounting and corporate financial reporting, focusing on the determinants and capital market consequences of financial disclosures. Her courses include "Beyond the Financials: Insights, Analysis and Valuations" and "Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants." Dr. Brown has received several accolades for her contributions to education and diversity in accounting.

W. Brooke Elliott is the Dean and Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has been instrumental in shaping the strategic vision of Gies College of Business since her appointment, focusing on enhancing both on-campus and online programs to maintain the college's reputation as a leading business school. Prior to her current role, she served as Executive Associate Dean of Academic Programs and has held various leadership positions within the college, including Head of the Department of Accountancy. Dr. Elliott holds a BS in Accounting, an MBA, and a PhD in Accounting, and she is recognized for her expertise in financial reporting and investor behavior. Her courses include "Beyond the Financials: Insights, Analysis and Valuations" and "Forecasting Financial Statements & Valuation for Accountants."