William Kelly

Professor Kelly's role at Curry College has been primarily teaching Managerial Accounting in the MBA Program. Prof. Kelly earned a BS (Mathematics, Boston College), and a Masters (Accounting, Northeastern) and competed the CPA exam while working at a prominent international accounting firm. While at that firm, he developed an interest in recruiting and HR, and later joined a major recruiting firm. He eventually became its Executive Vice President/COO, before launching his own HR consulting and executive recruiting practice, focused on the needs of small and mid sized businesses.

It was also at this time that his interest in executive development led him part-time teaching (Stonehill, UMass, Northeastern). Given his background in accounting, recruiting and education, Northeastern University asked him to return and take over the at that time ailing Graduate School of Professional Accounting. The turnaround was rapid, curriculum was completely revised, revenue increased 900% over a 10 year period, two new programs were not only launched but quickly became market leaders, fundraising was significantly upgraded (highest alumni and corporate donations on campus) and 100% of the students in each class were placed in both internships and permanent positions.

This turnaround earned him the promotion to Graduate Business Dean, responsible for 1,500 students; spread over 9 programs including international segments (Asia and Eastern Europe). During his tenure, the MBA programs earned first time ever national rankings from US News (Top 15 Part Time MBAs), ComputerWorld (#1 Techno MBA), Princeton Review and Success Magazine (Top30 MBAs).

American Express recruited him to their newest venture, initially as Human Resources Director and ultimately Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer in this region. When AMEX divested, he used that transition to return to what had always been his passion - teaching, now at Curry.

Personal philosophy about teaching accounting: "Every successful business leader has a finger-tip grasp of the accounting issues impacting his/her enterprise. It is a user's grasp, not a bookkeepers, and it is integral to the art of management. In your career, you will pay for that knowledge, either through your MBA class effort (and tuition), or the more costly alternative of the competitive disadvantage conceded to those who do have that knowledge. Learn it, practice it, assimilate it, here, in class, where the mistakes are the least expensive."