Matthew Bloomfield

ACCT 1020 – Strategic Cost Analysis

The first part of the course presents alternative methods of preparing managerial accounting information, and the remainder of the course examines how these methods are used by companies. Managerial accounting is a company’s internal language, and is used for decision-making, production management, product design and pricing and for motivating and evaluating employees. Unless you understand managerial accounting, you cannot have a thorough understanding of a company’s internal operations. What you learn in this course will help you understand the operations of your future employer (and enable you to be more successful at your job), and help you understand other companies you encounter in your role as competitor, consultant, or investor.

Current Courses (Fall 2025)

• ACCT1020 - Strategic Cost Analysis

  Strategic Cost Analysis is the process of analyzing and managing costs in order to improve the strategic position of the business. This goal can be accomplished by having a thorough understanding of which activities and costs support an organization's strategic position and which activities and costs either weaken it or have no impact. Subsequent cost management efforts can then focus on reducing or limiting expenditures on activities that add little or no strategic value, while increasing expenditures on activities that support the strategic position of the organization. Performance can then be evaluated to ensure that the chosen actions are taken, and that these actions are yielding improved strategic performance. Throughout the course, a strategic cost analysis and management framework will be applied across functions and organizations to highlight the cost analysis and performance evaluation methods available to forecast financial performance and improve strategic position.

  ACCT1020004 ( Syllabus )

  ACCT1020005 ( Syllabus )

All Courses

• ACCT1020 - Strategic Cost Analysis

  Strategic Cost Analysis is the process of analyzing and managing costs in order to improve the strategic position of the business. This goal can be accomplished by having a thorough understanding of which activities and costs support an organization's strategic position and which activities and costs either weaken it or have no impact. Subsequent cost management efforts can then focus on reducing or limiting expenditures on activities that add little or no strategic value, while increasing expenditures on activities that support the strategic position of the organization. Performance can then be evaluated to ensure that the chosen actions are taken, and that these actions are yielding improved strategic performance. Throughout the course, a strategic cost analysis and management framework will be applied across functions and organizations to highlight the cost analysis and performance evaluation methods available to forecast financial performance and improve strategic position.

• ACCT9400 - Research in Acct I

  This is Part I of a theoretical and empirical literature survey course covering topics that include corporate disclosure, cost of capital, incentives, compensation, governance, financial intermediation, financial reporting, tax, agency theory, cost accounting, capital structure, international financial reporting, analysts, and market efficiency.

• ACCT9410 - Research in Acct II

  This is Part II of a theoretical and empirical literature survey sequence covering topics that include corporate disclosure, cost of capital, incentives, compensation, governance, financial intermediation, financial reporting, tax, agency theory, cost accounting, capital structure, international financial reporting, analysts, and market efficiency. Please contact the accounting doctoral coordinator for information on the specific upcoming modules/topics that will be taught.

• ACCT9430 - Research in Acct Iv

  This is Part IV of a theoretical and empirical literature survey sequence covering topics that include corporate disclosure, cost of capital, incentives, compensation, governance, financial intermediation, financial reporting, tax, agency theory, cost accounting, capital structure, international financial reporting, analysts, and market efficiency. Please contact the accounting doctoral coordinator for information on the specific upcoming modules/topics that will be taught.

Excellence in Refereeing Award, The Journal of Accounting Research. 2024
Glen McLaughlin Prize for Research in Accounting Ethics. 2023-2024
Teaching Excellence Award, The Wharton School. 2023
Outstanding Reviewer Award, The Accounting Review. 2023
Excellence in Refereeing Award, The Journal of Accounting Research. 2023
Excellence in Refereeing Award, The Journal of Accounting Research. 2022
Excellence in Reviewing Award, FARS Midyear Meeting. 2022
Outstanding Discussion Award, FARS Midyear Meeting. 2022
Outstanding Discussion Award, MAS Midyear Meeting. 2022
Teaching Excellence Award, The Wharton School. 2021
Referee of the Year Award, The Journal of Accounting Research. 2021
Excellence in Refereeing Award, The Journal of Accounting Research. 2021
Teaching Excellence Award, The Wharton School. 2020
Outstanding Reviewer Award, The Accounting Review. 2020
Outstanding Discussion Award, FARS Midyear Meeting. 2019
Winner of Emerging Scholar Award, Carnegie Mellon Accounting Mini-Conference, 2016
Teaching Award for Exceptional Service to Executive MBA Program, University of Chicago, 2015
Ellis Bonoff Kohs Award for Orchestral Excellence, University of Chicago, 2014
First Place Winner of University of Chicago Biennial Concerto Competition, 2014
Ernest R. Wish Ph.D. Fellowship, University of Chicago, 2012
Angell Scholar, University of Michigan, 2012