School of Accountancy Director Vairam Arunachalam named chair of IMA Research Foundation

Story produced in cooperation with IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)

The director of Trulaske’s School of Accountancy, Dr. Vairam Arunachalam, was named chair of the IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) Research Foundation (IRF), with a term beginning July 1, 2023.

As chair, Arunachalam will oversee all of the IRF’s work and awarding of grants. The IRF is dedicated to funding relevant, thought-provoking research that furthers the knowledge and scope of accounting and financial management. To date, the foundation has bestowed more than $1 million in research grants to academics and doctoral students.

“As a long-term IMA member and volunteer, I know that it is an incredible honor to oversee the IMA Research Foundation,” Arunachalam said. “In my role as an academic, I see firsthand the important work that the IRF does in funding research to move the management accounting profession forward and to give accounting and financial professionals a rich variety of tools for success.”

The IRF oversees research grant programs including the IMA Incubator Grant Program, for Proof of Concept projects that will lead to more in-depth research; the Academic Research Grant Program for innovative research proposals relating to a wide variety of management accounting topics; and the Doctoral Scholars Program, supporting doctoral students at various stages in their programs. They also present two awards in recognition of research-related contributions to management accounting literature: the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Emerging Scholar Award.

An IMA member since 1988, Arunachalam previously served as IRF chair from 2010-2012 and IRF vice chair-elect and chair-elect in 2023. He has also served on the ICMA® (Institute of Certified Management Accountants) Board of Regents from 2014-2020 and earned his CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) in 1999.

Arunachalam’s research and teaching interests are in the areas of fraud examination, management accounting and information systems. He has served as director of the School of Accountancy since 2008.

About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants): IMA® is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) and CSCA® (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) programs, continuing education, networking, and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. Twice named Professional Body of the Year by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, IMA has a global network of about 140,000 members in 150 countries and 350 professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Middle East/India.