Johnny Ramsey brings more than 30 years of accounting and auditing expertise to the classroom — and a perspective shaped by service.
A retired senior manager from KPMG's Government Audit Sector Practice, Ramsey spent over a decade leading complex financial statement audits for major U.S. government agencies, including components of the departments of Energy, Homeland Security and Agriculture. His work required not just technical precision, but the ability to guide teams through high-stakes evaluations of internal controls, IT systems and financial sustainability. He also served as a KPMG national instructor and sampling specialist, teaching auditors across the country. He holds multiple certifications—CPA, CGFM and CISA—and earned his MBA in finance and investments from The University of Baltimore.
Beyond the ledger, Ramsey is an ordained pastor and U.S. Navy veteran, bringing a commitment to integrity, leadership and community that extends well beyond the balance sheet. Now, he's channeling that experience into teaching intermediate accounting, auditing and government accounting at UBalt's Merrick School of Business, preparing the next generation of accountants to navigate complexity with confidence.
Q: You spent much of your career leading financial statement audits for major federal
agencies—Energy, Homeland Security, Agriculture. How do you bring that experience
into the classroom?
A: I try to bridge the distance between theory and practice by sharing stories. When
you’ve spent years auditing complex business processes with various levels of internal
control environments while navigating audit challenges, you see how businesses function
in the real world. I bring that into the classroom through real experiences that help
students understand the kinds of judgment calls auditors face every day. Students
learn not just what the standards say, but why they matter and how they play out in
environments where accuracy, accountability, and public trust are on the line.
Q: As a Navy veteran, an ordained pastor, and a CPA with three certifications. How
do those different experiences shape the way you teach accounting?
A: Each part of my background shows up in the classroom. The Navy taught me discipline,
preparation, and the importance of doing things the right way even when no one is
watching. Pastoral work taught me how to communicate clearly, listen well, and meet
people where they are. And the CPA world taught me to view the world with professional
skepticism, while performing at an expected standard of excellence. Together, they
shape a teaching style that is structured but human, technically demanding but supportive,
and always focused on integrity. Accounting is about the numbers, but it’s also about
judgment, ethics, and people.
Q: Accounting today means understanding IT systems, internal controls, financial sustainability—and
more. What skills do you think matter most for students entering the field now?
A: Three clusters of skills stand out. Students need technical competence built on a
strong foundation in accounting, analytics, and internal controls, including understanding
how data flows through modern systems. As the profession shifts from routine tasks
to use of AI and data analytics, auditors will need to interpret outliers, evaluate
audit risks, ask the right questions and obtain appropriate audit evidence to support
audit opinions. All of this while maintaining professional judgment and ethics. Students
must be able to think independently, act ethically, and communicate clearly. If students
can combine technical fluency with curiosity and integrity, they’ll be ready for whatever
the profession becomes next.
Q: As a UBalt MBA alumnus, what's it like coming back to teach at your alma mater?
A: It feels like coming full circle. UBalt helped shape my career at a pivotal moment,
and returning as a faculty member is both an honor and a responsibility. I know what
it’s like to sit in these classrooms balancing work, family, and ambition. That perspective
helps me design courses that are practical, relevant, and immediately useful. Teaching
here isn’t just a job, it’s a way of giving back to the institution that invested
in me.
Q: After 30 years in the profession, what's the one thing you want your students to
know before they graduate?
A: Your technical skills will get you in the door, but your effort, integrity and curiosity
will advance your career. The profession is changing fast but the core expectations
remain the same: think critically, ask good questions, and do the right thing even
when it’s inconvenient. If students leave my classroom with that mindset, they’ll
be prepared for anything.
Take Five is a Q&A series that spotlights the heart of the Merrick School of Business: our people. In just five questions and five answers, you'll discover what makes our community truly special.
