Professor Emeritus Richard Brody awarded CPA Lifetime Achievement Award

Richard G. Brody never planned on becoming an accountant. In fact, the now Anderson School of Management Professor Emeritus at The University of New Mexico recalls choosing his major at the last possible moment.

“My dad dropped me off at my dorm for freshman year, and as he was leaving, I stopped him and said, ‘Wait! What should I major in?' He said, ‘There are always jobs for accountants, so major in accounting.’ And that’s exactly what I did,” said Brody.

That choice launched a decades-long career that included academia, research, professional service and mentorship. It ultimately earned Brody one of the highest honors in New Mexico’s accounting profession, the New Mexico Society of CPAs Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent 31st annual Pride in the Profession Luncheon for New Mexico Society of CPAs.

Jeanette Contreras, president and CEO of the New Mexico Society of CPAs, said the award recognizes a CPA “who has been an NMSCPA member for a substantial period of time.” She said it is given to someone “considered to be at a culminating point in their career and who has made substantial contributions to their community, firm and profession.” Candidates must be nominated by an NMSCPA member.

Brody said he was stunned when he learned he had been selected.

“Honestly, I was shocked,” he said. “It didn’t really sink in until I was on stage and the audience, former students, faculty, friends and accounting professionals, gave me a standing ovation. It was overwhelming in the best way.”

The nomination came from one of his former students, Elijah Esquivel, who studied under Brody at the UNM Anderson School of Management. In a LinkedIn post reflecting on the recognition, Esquivel wrote, “It was an honor to nominate the one and only Professor Rich Brody for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Not only was Professor Brody an incredible instructor in the classroom, but he has also been a stellar example of excellence in the accounting community with his mentorship, published articles, speaking engagements and many more. I was lucky to have him as an instructor at my time at the UNM Anderson School of Management.”

Contreras said Brody’s record made him an exceptional choice.

“Where to even start in explaining why Dr. Brody deserves the CPA Lifetime Achievement Award?” said Contreras. “His service to the state of New Mexico and dedication to students is unmatched. He expertly taught audit, forensic accounting and fraud, sharing real-world examples that brought complex concepts to life. He also instilled in students the importance of technical writing, a skill essential to success in the profession but often unexpected by accounting students.”

She said students frequently describe him as their favorite professor. “Beyond technical instruction, he has been a mentor, advisor and role model, inspiring future CPAs to pursue excellence with integrity, rigor and passion,” she said. “His influence extends well beyond the classroom into the broader accounting community.”

“Honestly, I was shocked. It didn’t really sink in until I was on stage and the audience, former students, faculty, friends and accounting professionals, gave me a standing ovation. It was overwhelming in the best way.”

Brody, who holds the CPA, CFE, CFF, CGMA and FCPA designations and is a regent emeritus of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, spent 17 years at UNM. During that time, he taught and mentored hundreds of accounting students. He said those relationships remain among the most meaningful parts of his career.

“As an academic, my greatest accomplishment has been the number of students I have had the privilege to teach, and many I continue to mentor today,” he said. “Watching them grow, succeed and build meaningful careers has been incredibly rewarding.”

Brody’s professional impact reaches far beyond the classroom. He has authored more than 100 publications and collaborated widely with junior faculty. His expertise also led him to serve as an expert witness for the U.S. Department of Justice in a large fraud case.

The accounting field, he said, has changed dramatically since his early days as an auditor during the Big Eight era. Technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics and increased regulation have reshaped the profession and expanded the skills new CPAs must master. He expects the next generation of accountants to spend less time on manual compliance work and more on advisory services, risk management and complex decision-making.

But for Brody, the heart of the profession and of his legacy has always been mentoring emerging CPAs.

“I never saw my role as simply teaching accounting,” he said. “I saw it as helping students find their path, build confidence and step into the profession with a sense of purpose.”

That mentorship continues in retirement. Brody remains academically active, collaborating on research and advising both faculty and former students who still reach out for guidance. His ties to UNM run deep. His son, AJ, is a UNM alumnus who is well known to many Arts and Sciences faculty through his mathematics degree and to Anderson faculty through his management minor. Brody also helped hire most of the accounting faculty currently at the Anderson School of Management.

Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award prompted some reflection.

“Personally, it made me realize I am getting old,” he said with a laugh. “Aren’t lifetime achievement awards for people at the end of their careers?”

But the recognition also affirmed decades of work he loved doing. “It confirms that all of the hard work did not go unnoticed,” he said. “It is with great pride that I accept this honor.”

Contreras said the Society was grateful to be able to honor him. “The New Mexico Society of CPAs was extremely honored to recognize Dr. Brody,” she said. “We are grateful for him as a member, colleague, mentor and friend.”

When asked to summarize his career in one word, Brody chose “Blessed.”

“I met wonderful people, built lasting relationships and found a career I truly loved,” he said. “Most importantly, I met the love of my life, Cheryle, while I was a Ph.D. student. I worked hard, but being an academic gave me the flexibility to be present with my family. I could not ask for more.”

For young professionals entering the field, his advice is simple: work hard, stay curious, find mentors and maintain balance.

“Don’t let the job take over your life,” Brody said. “Give yourself a break and don’t be so hard on yourself. Being a CPA is rewarding, but it is also challenging. It takes time to develop the expertise you need.”

After a career defined by teaching, research and service, the honor from the NMSCPA reflects the impact Brody has left on the accounting community in New Mexico, a community he continues to shape one mentee at a time.