Arthur Edward Andersen (May 30, 1885 – January 10, 1947) was an American accountant who was the founder of the accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP (now Accenture).[1]
Arthur Edward Andersen was born in Plano, Illinois in 1885 , to parents Johan Wilhelm (John William) Andersen and Marie (Mary) Kathinka Andersen (née Aabye), who had immigrated to the United States from Drammen, Norway in 1881; his mother had been born in Thisted, Denmark.[2] Andersen was left on his own at the age of 16 after the death of his parents in 1901. In 1908, after attending courses at night while working full-time, he graduated from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in business.[3]
He worked during the day as a mailboy and attended school at night. Eventually he was hired as the assistant to the controllerofAllis-Chalmers in Chicago, where he became intrigued with the work of independent public accountants. He became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois in 1908, and was then the youngest CPA in the state. In 1913, with Clarence Delaney, he bought out The Audit Company of Illinois to form Andersen, Delaney & Co., which became Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1918.[3]
While practicing accounting, he was also associated with Northwestern University as lecturer (1909–1912), assistant professor (1912–1915), and professor (1915-1922). He also served as head of the accounting department from 1912 to 1922, when he resigned to devote full-time to his professional accounting practice.[4]
At the time of his death, Arthur Andersen was one of the largest accounting firms in the world. Arthur Andersen's mother had schooled him in a Scandinavian axiom – "Think straight, talk straight". His brand of stern independence carried on through Leonard Spacek, who succeeded Andersen after the founder's death in 1947. He was named to the Accounting Hall of Fame in 1953. Northwestern University dedicated Arthur Andersen Hall at the Evanston Campus in 1979 to commemorate Northwestern alumni, faculty member, and trustee Arthur Andersen.[6]
Ruane, John A. "Andersen, Arthur E. (1885-1947)." History of Accounting: An International Encyclopedia. (New York: Garland Publishing, Inc. 1996). Pp. 44-45.
Spacek, Leonard The Growth of Arthur Andersen & Co. 1928-1973, An Oral History (New York: Garland Publishing, Inc. 1989)
Spacek, Leonard Ahead of His Time, Relevant Today (CPA Journal. March 2004)
