James Stanker

Biography

I teach both accounting and management related courses.  My areas of interest include how accounting decisions impact financial statement user’s decision making processes and other behaviors and the effect of technology on the future of the audit process.
 
I started my career at Touche Ross, which at that time was one of the “Big 8” accounting firms.   The public accounting profession underwent consolidations during my career, and I retired as a senior audit partner and professional practice partner from Grant Thornton in 2016.   Throughout my career I focused on serving large, listed complex multinational organizations.  While at Grant Thornton, I had the opportunity to explore the world as part of a three-year assignment where I served as the Global Head of Audit Quality for Grant Thornton International (“GTI”).  In that role I was responsible for the audit quality of all of Grant Thornton’s 100+ member firms around the world.  I also served as GTI’s representative to the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators and to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group.

In addition to teaching, I am the CFO of an emerging clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of drug products that are intended to provide treatment for and improve the survival and/or quality of life of patients who have a high unmet medical need condition or who have no alternative treatment.  I also serve on several boards, including as a director and audit committee chairman for GSE Systems, Inc., a Nasdaq listed company; as an advisory board member of BBVA, US, one of the 25 largest U.S. commercial banks; as a board member of the Fredrick Police Activities League (“PAL”), a not-for-profit organization working with at-risk youth to help them achieve their full potential; and as a member of the Frederick County Ethics Committee.