YU -AlKhobar

Abdulaziz M. Alwathnani, Ph.D.

College of Business, Dean

Dr. Abdulaziz is the Dean of the College of Business at Al Yamamah University. He serves as Chair of the College of Business Council and the Al Yamamah University Council. He is the principal author of the College of Business 2022–2027 Strategic Vision and Plan. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board of a Saudi financial company and chairs or serves on several board committees, including Executive, Remuneration and Nomination, Audit, Risk Management, and Strategic Committees.

Before joining Al Yamamah University, Dr. Abdulaziz was an Associate Professor of Accounting and Chair of the Accounting Department at Alfaisal University. During his tenure, he held several key administrative and leadership positions, including membership on the Alfaisal University Council and the Alfaisal College of Business Council, and served as Chair of the Strategy and Bylaws Committees. He also served on the Scientific Committee of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association and on the Ministry of Finance Technical Committee responsible for transforming the state budgetary system from a cash-based accounting system to an accrual-based system.

Prior to joining Alfaisal University, Dr. Abdulaziz served as a tenured Associate Professor of Accounting at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he taught for approximately nine years.

Dr. Abdulaziz is the Founding Director of the Corporate Governance Index (CGI) and the principal author of its criteria and methodology. The CGI project was established at Alfaisal University in 2014 as a collaborative initiative with SAGIA. It is based on international best practices in corporate governance and aims to promote transparency, accountability, and sound governance practices in the local economy. The project also seeks to enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Saudi capital market for both domestic and foreign investors, particularly institutional investors, which is essential for market development and maturity. During the establishment phase of the CGI, Dr. Abdulaziz collaborated with CAM, publicly listed Saudi companies, and other stakeholders to build support for the initiative.

Dr. Abdulaziz is an expert in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and has been teaching an IFRS-based curriculum since 2006. During his tenure at York University from 2006 to 2014, he played a significant role in the transition from Canadian GAAP to IFRS. He has more than 18 years of experience in teaching and consulting, with projects spanning accounting, finance, economics, and strategy.

His areas of expertise include:

  • IFRS and IPSAS conversion
  • Accounting, financial reporting, auditing, hedge accounting, risk management, and internal controls
  • Strategic financial analysis and capital budgeting
  • Financial planning, forecasting, and business valuation
  • Complex financial instruments (e.g., derivatives, including options, forwards, and futures contracts)
  • Investor sentiment and market price discovery
  • Business restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and financial consolidation
  • Corporate and public-sector governance
  • Strategy mapping and balanced scorecards
  • Vision and strategy development
  • Strategic costing and activity-based cost management systems

Dr. Abdulaziz is also the principal author of the 2015–2020 Strategic Plan for the College of Business at Alfaisal University and co-author of the 2012 Business Plan: New Direction at York University.

He earned his Ph.D. in Accounting, with a minor in Finance, from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. He also earned a master’s degree in accountancy, with a minor in Finance and Banking, from Weatherhead School of Management in 1998.

His research interests include financial reporting and capital markets, behavioral finance and economics, financial statement analysis and equity valuation, accounting information and disclosure, corporate governance, market regulation, and accounting policies.

Dr. Abdulaziz was nominated as an AAA Doctoral Consortium Fellow in Lake Tahoe, California, in 2004. He received the Dean’s Scholar Award from the School of Business in Spring 2006. He was also the recipient of His Royal Highness Prince Bandar’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement for three consecutive semesters: Spring and Fall 2002 and Spring 2003.

In 2015, he received the Outstanding Service Award at the College of Business, Alfaisal University, in recognition of his leadership in developing the College of Business 2015–2020 Strategic Plan. In 2018, he received the Graduate Teaching Award for outstanding MBA teaching. He is also a member of the Honor Society of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi.

His research has been published in high-quality, peer-reviewed international journals, including the British Accounting Review, Review of Economics and Finance, International

Review of Financial Analysis, Annals of Finance, and the Journal of Behavioral Finance & Economics.

Dr. Abdulaziz regularly writes for the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce Magazine and contributes full-page articles to Okaz Newspaper on governance, economics, strategic development, labor markets, human capital development, and related public policy issues. He is also frequently invited by local television networks to participate in discussions on economic issues, governance, strategic development, public policy, education, and research.

On a personal note, Dr. Abdulaziz and his wife are the proud parents of their daughter, Raghad. Borrowing from the author of the bestselling book “The Kite Runner,” Raghad is the “nur” of their eyes.

  1. Alwathnani, A., (2024). AI-Enabled ESG Compliance Audit for Stakeholders, Sustainability, 17: 95 – 113 (with Eid Alotabi).
  2. Alathainani, A. (2018). Business Cycles, Financial Crises and Capital Structures. Annals of Finance 14: 105 – 123 (with Haitham A. Al-Zoubi and Jennifer A. O'Sullivan).
  3. Alathainani, A. (2017). Under-or-Overreaction: Market Responses to Announcements of Earnings Surprises. International Review of Financial Analysis 52: 160 – 171, (with David Dubofsky and Haitham Al – Zoubi).
  4. Alwathainani, A. (2013). It’s all overreaction to earnings momentum: value/growth. The Journal of Behavioral Finance & Economics 3: 72 – 98.
  5. Alwathainani, A. (2012). Market reaction to an earnings shock: a test of conservatism effect. The Journal of Behavioral Finance & Economics 2: 14 – 37.
  6. Alwathainani, A. (2012). Consistent winners and losers. International Review of Economics and Finance 21: 210 – 220.
  7. Alwathainani, A. (2011). Does consistency of firms’ annual returns influence investors’ expectations? The Journal of Business and Policy Research 6: 16 – 35.
  8. Alwathainani, A. (2009). Consistency of firms’ past financial performance and future returns. The British Accounting Review 41: 184 – 196.

Research Interests

  • Behavioral finance and economics and how investor sentiments affect market prices and price discovery process
  • Financial statement analysis and equity valuation
  • Capital markets and asset pricing
  • Market regulations and corporate governance
  • Financial reporting and disclosure

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, 2018, Alfaisal University
  • Outstanding Faculty Service Award, 2015, Alfaisal University
  • The Dean, School of Business, Scholar Award, VCU, Spring 2006.
  • Membership of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Graduate), 2006.
  • Membership of the Honor Society of Beta Gamma Sigma (Graduate), 2006.
  • AAA/Deloitte/J. Michael Cook Doctoral Consortium Fellow, Lake Tahoe, 2004.
  • His Royal Highness Prince Bandar’s (the former Saudi Ambassador to the USA) Award for achieving a GPA of 4:00 out of 4:00, Fall 2003.
  • His Royal Highness Prince Bandar’s (the former Saudi Ambassador to the USA) Award for achieving a GPA of 4:00 out of 4:00, Spring 2003.
  • His Royal Highness Prince Bandar’s (the former Saudi Ambassador to the USA) Award for achieving a GPA of 4:00 out of 4:00, Spring 2002.
  • Full Doctoral Scholarship, 2001-2006 (the Government of Saudi Arabia)
  • Full master’s degree Scholarship, 1996-1999 (the Government of Saudi Arabia)

Conference Proceeding Articles

  1. Alathnani, A. Business Cycle Variation in Investor and Manger Sentiment indices. (BAFA) Corporate Finance and Asset Pricing SIG and the Northern Area Group from 13–15 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (with Haitham Al Zoubi).

    2. Alathainani, A. It’s all overreaction: the post earnings announcement momentum: a revisit. The 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Accounting Association (AAA). Atlanta, GA, August 2014, forthcoming (with David Dubofsky).

    3. Alwathainani, A. It’s all overreaction to earnings momentum: value/growth. The Annual Meeting of the Southern Finance Association. November 2013.

    4. Alathainani, A. The post earnings announcement momentum: a revisit. The 2013 Midyear Meeting of the Financial Reporting Section, American Accounting Association (AAA). Hartford, Connecticut, October 2013.

    5. Alathainani, A. The post earnings announcement momentum: a revisit. The 2013 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics. Chicago, IL, September 2013.

    6. Alwathainani, A. It’s all overreaction to earnings momentum: value/growth. The American Accounting Association (AAA) Annual Conference. Anaheim, California, August 201

    7. Alwathainani, A. Market reaction to an earnings shock: a test of the conservatism effect. The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association. Charlottetown, Prince Edwards, May 2012.

    8. Alwathainani, A. It’s all overreaction to earnings momentum: value/growth. The 2011 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association. Toronto, Ontario, May, 201

    9. Alwathainani, A. Market reaction to an earnings shock: a test of the conservatism effect. The 2011 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics. Los Angeles, California, September 2011.

    10. Alwathainani, A. Consistent winners and losers. The Academy of Business Research Conference. New Orleans, LA, March 201

    11. Alwathainani, A. Market reaction to an earnings shock: a test of the conservatism effect. The 2011 American Accounting Association (AAA) Annual Conference. Denver, Colorado, August 201

    12. Alwathainani, A. It’s all overreaction to earnings momentum: value/growth. The 2010 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics, Chicago, IL, September 2010.

    13. Alwathainani, A. Do consistent earnings signals affect market expectations? The Annual Conference on Accounting, Athens, Greece, July 2010.

    14. Alwathainani, A, does consistency of monthly returns generate price momentum and subsequent reversals? The Annual London Business Research Conference, London, UK, July 2010.

    15. Alwathainani, A. Does bad economic news play a greater role in shaping investors’ expectations than good economic news? The Behavioral Decision Research in Management Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2010.

Current Teaching

ACC 503: Financial Accounting for MBA

Graduate Teaching

  • Financial Accounting
  • Financial Statement Analysis and Equity Valuation
  • Accounting and Finance for Non-Financial Managers.
  • Business Fundamentals
  • Management Accounting
  • Research Methodology

Undergraduate Teaching

  • Introduction to Financial Accounting
  • Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • Intermediate Financial Accounting II
  • Cost Accounting
  • Advance Financial Accounting.
  • Accounting Theory

Service and Administrative Experience

  • The Dean of College of Business and acting Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Al Yamamah University, 2019 – Present.
  • A member of the University Council at Al Yamamah University, 2019 – present.
  • The Chair of the College of Business Council, Al Yamamah University, 2019 – present.
  • Chair of the AACSB Steering Committee, 2024 – Present
  • Member of the Steering Committee of Higher Education Policies, 2024 – Present
  • Board members, chairman, board committee members and chairman, 2022 – Present
  • A member of the Research and Graduate Studies Council, Al Yamamah University, 2019 – 2023.
  • The Chair of the Strategy Committee at Business Council, Al Yamamah University, 2019 – present.
  • The principal author of the College of Business Strategic Vision and Plan 2022 – 2027, Al Yamamah University.
  • A member of a government committee that is mandated to transform the budgetary system from the current cash-based accounting to an accrual-based system, 2016 – present.
  • The Chair of the Accounting Department Recruiting Committee at Alfaisal University, 2018
  • The chair of a subcommittee in charge of revising the College of Business Strategy, 2018
  • A member of the Undergraduate Committee at Alfaisal University, 2016 – 2019
  • A member of the Accreditation Committee at Alfaisal University, 2016 – 2019
  • A member of the College of Business Council, Alfaisal University, 2015 – 2019.
  • The Chair of the Accounting Department, College of Business, Alfaisal University, 2014 – 2019.
  • Chairing a Panel Discussion at Nazaha Third International Conference, 2018
  • The Chair of the Strategy Committee, College of Business, Alfaisal University, 2014 – 2015.
  • A member of the University Council, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2014 – 2016.
  • The Chair of the Appeal Committee, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2014 – 2015.
  • A member of the Faculty Recruiting Committee, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2014 – 2016.
  • A member of the Provost Faculty Committee, at Alfaisal Univeristy, 2014 – 2016.
  • A member of the Scientific Committee of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA): 2012 – 2016.
  • The author of the Vision and Roadmap Document for Alfaisal College of Business, 2012 – 2013.
  • A member of the Faculty Recruiting Committee at York University: 2011 – 2013
  • Coordinator of the Honor Business Minor at York University: 2009 – 2012
  • Coordinator of the Business Fundamental Certificate Program at York University: 2009 – 2012.
  • A member of the Strategy Committee at York University: 2009 – 2012
  • A member of the Teaching and Learning Committee at York University: 2009 – 2012
  • A member of the Coordinators and Curriculum Committee at York University: 2009 – 2012
  • Leading the effort to integrate the Business Fundamental Certificate Program into the main program courses at York University: 2010 - 2012.
  • Leading the effort to restructure and promote the Honor Business Minor at York University: 2009 – 2012
  • A co-author of the Undergraduate Business Education Strategic Plan: a New Direction at York University: June 2010
  • A referee for a number of peer-reviewed journals such as the British Accounting Review and International Review of Economics and Finance.
  • A referee, moderator, discussant and chair at several academic conferences such as the Annual Meeting of the American Accounting Association, the Canadian Academic Accounting Association, and the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics.

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