History and Evolution

The Department of Accounting at Nanjing University traces its origins to the business program established in 1902 during the Sanjiang Normal School period, making it one of the oldest accounting disciplines in China. During the nationwide restructuring of university departments in 1952, the accounting discipline was transferred to other institutions. In 1993, NJU re-established the Department of Accounting (initially named the Department of International Accounting) before adopting its current name in 2000.

Faculty and Honors

Currently, the department is home to 23 faculty members, including 10 professors (7 of whom are doctoral supervisors) and 6 associate professors. It offers two undergraduate programs (Accounting and Financial Management), master's and doctoral degrees in Accounting, as well as professional degree programs in MPAcc (Master of Professional Accounting) and MAud (Master of Auditing). The department boasts two National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Sites. Its underlying accounting discipline was designated as the sole Provincial Key Discipline of Accounting in Jiangsu Province in 2003. Furthermore, NJU is among the first universities nationwide to offer MPAcc and MAud programs, and was selected as one of the first two pilot institutions by the Ministry of Education for comprehensive reform in professional accounting education.

The discipline currently boasts 2 Chang Jiang Scholars Distinguished Professors from the Ministry of Education, 1 Scholar from the "Ten Thousand Talents Program" of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, 1 Talent recognized under the National Cultural Celebrities and the "Four Batches" Initiative of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee，2 Scholars from the Ministry of Finance's "Accounting Master Cultivation Project"，1 recipient of the Ministry of Education's "Program for New Century Excellent Talents," 1 review committee member of the National Social Science Fund of China, 1 member of the Ministry of Finance's Corporate Internal Control Standards Committee, 1 recipient of the "Top Ten Outstanding Youth of Jiangsu Province," 3 recipients of the National Accounting Leading Talent Program, 1 member of the National Professional Accounting Degree Education Steering Committee, and 1 member of the National Professional Auditing Degree Education Steering Committee.

Research Excellence and Academic Platforms

The discipline hosts multiple academic research platforms, including the NJU Institute of Accounting and Finance, the Chinese Audit Research Center, and the Institutional Investor Research Center. Faculty members have produced highly influential outcomes in financial accounting, corporate finance, corporate governance, capital markets, management accounting, auditing, internal control, risk management, and investment strategies.

Since 2000, the faculty has undertaken numerous projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC), including major and key projects. They have published over a hundred papers in top-tier domestic and international journals such as Economic Research Journal, Management World, Journal of Financial Economics, The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, and Financial Management. Notably, the department ranks first nationally in per-capita publications in Accounting Research. Additionally, the faculty has won dozens of provincial and ministerial-level scientific research awards, developed one National Quality Course and one National First-Class Undergraduate Course, and authored dozens of books and textbooks.

In 2017, the Department of Accounting entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership with ZTE Soft Tech to co-build the "NJU Smart Finance Laboratory." This pioneering initiative makes NJU the first university in China to establish a smart finance laboratory within its accounting discipline. It also marks NJU as the first institution to systematically integrate modern accounting and financial management models of the globalization and information era into its talent cultivation framework.

In 2023, the Department of Accounting, alongside the School of Accountancy at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) and the School of Accountancy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), jointly founded the Quarterly Journal of Accounting. Grounded in China's local context, the journal emphasizes theoretical innovation and practical orientation that organically integrates Chinese culture with modern civilization. It focuses on critical accounting and financial issues of national significance, aiming to advance the comprehensive promotion of Chinese modernization.

Vision and Mission

Guided by NJU’s motto of "Sincerity with Aspiration, Perseverance with Integrity" and the spirit of "Enduring hardships to achieve greatness," the Department of Accounting leverages the profound heritage of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences at NJU. Built upon the rapid development and interdisciplinary integration of economics and management within the Business School, the department adheres to problem-oriented research and stays rooted in China's local realities. By drawing upon global theories, methodologies, and practices to serve local needs, the department is committed to becoming a leading teaching and research center in China and globally, renowned for cultural inheritance, talent cultivation, knowledge creation, and social services in the field of accounting and finance.