Deniz Appelbaum

Biography

Dr. Deniz Appelbaum (appelbaumd@montclair.edu), Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Accounting and Finance at the Feliciano School of Business of Montclair State University in New Jersey enriches her academic pursuits with a practical view, after twenty years of experience in operations, credit, and business development in the corporate world. Dr. Appelbaum has published over 25 manuscripts in Accounting Horizons, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, Auditing: Journal of Practice and Theory, Journal of information Systems, and in other academic and practitioner journals, based on her research regarding analytics, AI and machine learning, big data, blockchain, municipal reporting, ESG, and fraud detection. Dr. Appelbaum has conducted research with Proctor & Gamble, Dunn & Bradstreet, AICPA, GASB, the Volcker Alliance, the Asian Development Bank, and KPMG. Dr. Appelbaum emphasizes the use of data analytics and appropriate software tools in the classroom, to prepare accounting and auditing students for the technically advanced modern business environment. The accounting and auditing professions are currently undergoing huge disruptions due to technical innovations, and Dr. Appelbaum is devoted to preparing her students and the profession for these changes.

Education

• BA, The Catholic University of America
• MBA, Rutgers University
• PhD, Rutgers University

Research

Audit Analytics, AI and Machine Learning, Big Data, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchains in Finance and Accounting, ESG Reporting, Data Provenance, IoT System Integrity and Reporting, Fraud Detection, and Municipal Reporting

Publications

• Journal Article: J. Zhang, X. Yang, D. Appelbaum (2015). Toward Effective Big Data Analysis in Continuous Auditing. Accounting Horizons
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, S. Kozlowski, M. Vasarhelyi, J. White (2014). Designing CA/CM to fit not-for-profit organizations. Managerial Auditing Journal
• Journal Article: A. Alawadhi, D. Appelbaum (2013). Expert Knowledge Elicitations in a Procurement Card Environment. Journal of Information Systems
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (2018). Analytical Procedures in External Auditing: A Comprehensive Literature Survey and Framework for External Audit Analytics. Journal of Accounting Literature/Elsevier
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer (2017). The Coming Disruption of Drones, Robots, and Bots: How Will It Affect CPAs and Accounting Practice?. CPA Journal
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi, Z. Yan (2017). Impact of business analytics and enterprise systems on managerial accounting. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, M. Vasarhelyi, A. Kogan (2017). Introduction to Data Analysis for Auditors and Accountants. The CPA Journal
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer (2017). Using Drones in Internal and External Audits: An Exploratory Framework. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (2017). Big Data and analytics in the modern audit engagement: Research needs. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum (2016). Securing Big Data Provenance for Auditors: The Big Data Provenance Black Box as Reliable Evidence. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, S. Stein-Smith (2018). Blockchain Basics and Hands-on Guidance. The CPA Journal
• Journal Article: S. Kozlowski, H. Issa, D. Appelbaum (2018). Making Government Data Valuable for Constituents: The Case for the Advanced Data Analytics Capabilities of the ENHANCE Framework. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, Z. Yan, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (). Machine Learning Based Audit Data Analytic Techniques: Time Series Forecasting with Transactional and Exogenous Data. Journal of Accounting Education
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, E. Kinory, S. Stein-Smith (). Why Aren't Business and Accounting Embracing Blockchain Technologies?. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, F. Buchbinder, R. Cardoso, H. Issa (). A Quantifiable Complexity Measure to Evaluate Transparency in Government Financial Data. Journal of Information Systems
• Technical Report: D. Appelbaum, B. Moore, G. Gal, S. Sinha (). Possible Threats and Vulnerabilities of Assets Related to Digital Assets and Blockchain Transactions and Possible Internal Control Activities and Actions to Address Them. Accounting Blockchain Coalition
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum (2019). Commentary on this special issue of Advances in Audit Analytics. International Journal of Disclosure and Governance
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer (). Auditing Cloud-based Blockchain Accounting Systems. Journal of Information Systems
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, P. Lohrey (). A Framework for Digital Asset Analysis: A Forensic Accounting Perspective. Journal of Forensic Accounting Research
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, H. Issa, R. Strauss (). A Reasonable Assurance Framework for Ethical AI Systems . The Accounting Review
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, Z. Yan, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (). Teaching Predictive Audit Data Analytic Techniques: Time Series Forecasting with Transactional and Exogenous Data. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Auditing and Accounting
• Book Chapter: D. Appelbaum (2021). Ch 7 - Consensus Mechanisms and related Issues. Emerald
• Journal Article: A. Albizri, D. Appelbaum (2021). Trust but Verify: Auditing and the Oracle Paradox of Blockchain Smart Contracts. Journal of Information Systems
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer (). A Reasonable Assurance Framework for Distributed Ledger Technology Systems: A Risk Assessment Approach. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, D. Schowalter, T. Sun, M. Vasarhelyi (2020). A Framework for Auditor Data Literacy: A Normative Position. Accounting Horizons
• Journal Article: Z. Alzamil, D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer (2020). An ontological artifact for classifying social media: Text mining analysis for financial data. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems
• Magazine/Trade Publication: D. Appelbaum, M. Vasarhelyi, S. Budnik (2020). Auditing and Accounting in This Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Aftermath. The CPA Journal
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, J. Sipior, D. Lombardi (). The Rise of Mobile Devices: An Era of New Audit Risk Assessment Challenges and Opportunities. Accounting Horizons
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, D. Lombardi, j. Sipior (). The COVID-19 Black Swan: Auditing Uncertainty . Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, S. Stein-Smith, E. Cohen, E. Kinory (2022). Impediments to Blockchain Adoption. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Acounting
• Journal Article: Z. Alzamil, D. Appelbaum, W. Glasgall, M. Vasarhelyi (2021). Applications of Data Analytics: Cluster Analysis of Not-for-Profit Data. Journal of Information Systems
• Journal Article: H. Ilyas, A. Anwar, U. Yaqub, Z. Alzamil, D. Appelbaum (2022). Analysis and visualization of COVID-19 discourse on Twitter using data science: a case study of the USA, the UK and India. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, H. Issa, K. Lyons, W. Eastman, A. Rozario (). Planning a New Urban Venture Involving Blockchain: Overcoming Homophily?. Journal of Business Ethics
• Journal Article: L. Lee, D. Appelbaum, R. Mautz III (2022). Blockchains: An Experiential Learning Activity. Journal of Emerging Technology in Accounting
• Journal Article: N. Tojiboyev, D. Appelbaum, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (2022). Basics of SQL for Audit Data Retrieval and Analysis. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting
• Journal Article: H. Issa, D. Appelbaum, H. Atasoy, W. Eastman (). DESIGNING EQUITABLE AI SYSTEMS: PRAGMATIZING RAWLS’S THEORY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. MIS Research Center
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, Z. Yan, A. Kogan, M. Vasarhelyi (2023). Teaching Predictive Audit Data Analytic Techniques: Time-Series Forecasting with Transactional and Exogenous Data. Journal of Emerging Technologies In Accounting
• Conference Proceedings: R. Malaga, D. Appelbaum (2023). Will Cryptocurrency Cross the Payment Chasm?. Northeast Business & Economics Association Conference
• Book: D. Appelbaum, H. Nouri, T. Sun (2025). Auditing Evolution: A Data Analytics Approach 2E. Kendal Hunt
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Nehmer, Z. Alzamil (2024). IoT as Audit Evidence: A Reasonable Assurance Framework. American Accounting Asociation
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, D. Lombardi, J. Sipior (2025). Audit Partners’ and Associates’ Insights and Experiences of Remote Work in Response to a Global Crisis Event: Implications for the Profession and Future Directions. The British Accounting Review
• Journal Article: M. Lazirko, D. Appelbaum, M. Vasarhelyi (2025). Proof of Reserves: a Double-Helix Framework. The British Accounting Review
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, j. Sipior, D. Lombardi, B. Ward (2026). Emotion Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: United States Legal Considerations. Taylor & Francis
• Journal Article: D. Appelbaum, R. Knechel, D. Lombardi, J. Sipior (). The Probabilistic and Stochastic Audit of Uncertainty - Judging Fragility Rather than History . The Accounting Review
• Journal Article: M. Lazirko, D. Appelbaum, J. DiGabriele (). Dark-Web Incentives & Forensic Signal Detection: An LLM-Based Application of the Venn Fraud Model to Unregulated Market Discourse. Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting
• Journal Article: M. Lazirko, D. Appelbaum, M. Vasarhelyi (). Assessing the Risk: A Comprehensive Methodology for Evaluating Transactions in Cryptocurrency Exchanges. British Accounting Review

Honors & Awards

• SET Section 2019 Educator of the Year, SET Section of the AAA (August 2019)
• 2018 Outstanding Dissertation Award, AAA SET Section ( 2018)
• 2018 Best Paper Award , SET section of the AAA (January 2018)
• Best PhD Student Paper Award, American Accounting Association. SET Section Workshop (August 2013)
• New Jersey Bright Idea Award/Accounting, NJCBAA/Seton Hall School of Business-Seton University (November 2019)
• Beyond the Numbers - Felicianobiz feature, feliciano School of Business ( 2019)
• Best Paper Award Spring 2024 Conference, Academy of Business Research (March 2024)
• AIS 2020 MYM Public Interest Section Best Paper Award, American Accounting Association (January 2020)
• 2025 Outstanding Service Award, Strategic and Emerging Technologies section of the American Accounting Association (August 2025)
• 2026 Midyear Meeting Outstanding Researcher Award , Strategic and Emerging Technologies Section of the American Accounting Association (February 2026)