The Accounting Advisory Council (AAC) was formed in 1993. Among the objectives of the AAC is the development of active linkages with stakeholders in the profession who are able to provide:

• Guidance on the management of curricular change
• Identification of marketplace trends
• Awareness of evolving professional and societal needs

Formal meetings in the fall and spring provide excellent opportunities for stakeholder dialogue. Department faculty and students interact with AAC members, Rider's College of Business Administration Dean and members of the Rider community. A balance is attempted at these meetings to enable adequate discourse among the participants.

Curricular change has been an ongoing topic of consideration for the AAC. Most notable in its early stages was guidance provided by council members on the planning and implementation of the Master of Accountancy program. The council has been instrumental in an ongoing basis in guiding the infusion of skill development, experiential learning and global perspectives in the curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

One perceived strength in developing such a mechanism is its inherent capability to tap into the expertise of accounting professional in real time. The active dialogue created through the AAC enables the department to identify and address emerging needs in a timely fashion, often before such issues even find their way into the textbooks. Activities of the AAC can also assist students in identifying skill set and certification expectations for the variety of career paths they may seek to pursue. The composition of the Council is designed to reflect the wide range of career paths available to Rider graduates, including public accounting/professional services, and corporate and governmental accounting.

Current AAC members: