Contact

Mervis 244
ncade@katz.pitt.edu
412-624-0316

Profile

Nicole joined Pitt Business in 2016 after receiving her PhD from the University of Washington. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Nicole worked as a hedge fund accountant at International Fund Services in New York after beginning her professional career on the Municipal Bond Sales and Trading desk at Merrill Lynch. Nicole received her Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy (with a minor in Mathematics) from Ithaca College.

Nicole’s research focuses on individual judgment and decision-making in financial reporting. Her interest in this area grew out of her work experience in the financial services industry, first as a user and then a preparer of financial reports.

Nicole’s teaching interests include varying levels of financial accounting.

Courses Recently Taught

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Undergraduate Program)
Experimental Research in Accounting (Doctoral Program)
Critical Thinking in Accounting (Doctoral Program)

Awards and Honors

• James Allen Faculty Fellowship, 2024-26
• Katz Excellence in Research Award, 2024-25
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2024-25
• Pitt Business Commencement Speaker (CBA Faculty Representative), 2024
• Student Impact Award (CBA Program), 2024
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2023-24
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2022-23
• University of Pittsburgh Momentum Fund Priming Grant, 2023
• Edward W. Kay & Mary Margaret Kay Award for Teaching Excellence in Accounting, 2021-22
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2021-22
• Robert W. Murphy, Jr. Faculty Fellowship, 2021-23
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2019-20
• Katz Excellence in Teaching Award (CBA Program), 2018-19
• Two-time “Most Valuable Professor” (selected by Pitt’s Wrestling and Gymnastics teams), 2018-19
• Katz Excellence in Research Award, 2017-18
• AAA ABO Midyear Meeting Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award, 2015
• University of Washington Foster School PhD Program Teaching Award, 2015
• Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, 2014-15
• University of Washington Foster School Dean’s Achievement Award, 2014
• University of Washington Best Teacher’s Assistant (awarded by the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternal Council), 2013
• Ithaca College School of Business Dean’s Achievement Award, 2008
• NY State Society of CPAs Superior Scholarship Award, 2008
• 2nd Team CoSIDA Division III Academic All-American (softball), 2008
• Empire 8 Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete Award (all sports), 2008
• Ithaca College Phi Kappa Phi Presidential Scholar, 2008
• 1st Team NFCA NCAA Division III All-American (softball), 2007

Publications

Bernard, D., N. L. Cade, E. Connors, and T. de Kok. 2025. Descriptive evidence on small business managers’ information choices. Review of Accounting Studies, forthcoming.

Cade, N. L., J. L. Gunn, and A. J. Vandenberg. 2025. Measuring the prevalence of earnings manipulations: A novel approach. Journal of Accounting Research 63(1): 113-164.

Cade, N. L., M. Mercer, and A. Winn. 2025. When and how does irrelevant peripheral information affect investors’ processing of online financial information? Behavioral Research in Accounting, forthcoming.

Cade, N. L., K. Rennekamp, and A. Winn. 2025. Linguistic features, nonverbal cues, and media channels in financial disclosures: Insights and implications from the experimental literature. In T. Libby & L. Thorne (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Behavioural Accounting Research (2nd ed.) (pp. 119-141). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Cade, N. L., S. M. Garavaglia, and V. B. Hoffman. 2023. Why some investors avoid accounting information: Identifying a psychological cost of information acquisition using the securities-based crowdfunding setting. The Accounting Review 98(7): 97-120

Cade, N. L., S. E. Kaplan, and S. Loftus. 2021. Changing the blame game: Does the presence of a pay ratio disclosure impact nonprofessional investors’ reactions to CEOs’ internal attributions for poor firm performance? Journal of Management Accounting Research, 34(2): 71-95.

Cade, N. L., L. Koonce, and K. I. Mendoza. 2020. Using Video to Disclose Forward-Looking Information: The Effect of Nonverbal Cues on Investors’ Judgments. Review of Accounting Studies 25(4): 1444-1474.

Cade, N. L., and S. E. McVay. 2019. Understanding the Relations among Internal Controls, Trust, and Cooperation within an Organization. Discussion of ‘Controls and Cooperation in Interactive and Non-Interactive Settings.’ Contemporary Accounting Research 36(4): 2494-2520.

Cade, N. L., L. Koonce, and K. I. Mendoza. 2019. Assets and Liabilities: When do they Exist? Contemporary Accounting Research 36(2): 553-587.

Cade, N. L. 2018. Corporate Social Media: How Two-Way Disclosure Channels Influence Investors. Accounting, Organizations and Society 68-69: 63-79.

Bernard, D., N. L. Cade, and F. Hodge. 2018. Investor Behavior and the Benefits of Direct Stock Ownership. Journal of Accounting Research 56(2): 431-466.

Working Papers

News-trade integration and investor behavior (with Joe Croom and Brad Kamrath)

Does financial disclosure or assurance (really) matter to equity crowdfunding investors? Examining investors’ revealed and stated preferences (proposal, with John Aland and John Donovan)

Let’s talk: The effects of virtual financial advisor interaction mode and gender expression on investor judgments (with Alex Vandenberg)

Investment platform brand messaging and investor behavior (with Shannon Garavaglia, Kim Mendoza, and Alex Vandenberg)

Degrees

• PhD in Business Administration (Accounting), University of Washington
• Master of Science in Business Administration (Accounting), University of Washington
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting; Minor in Mathematics), Ithaca College

CV File

Download CV

Academic Area

Accounting

Personal Interests

Nicole, her husband Joe, and their two sons Ashton and Axel enjoy exploring Pittsburgh’s different neighborhoods, watching Pitt sporting events, and trying new foods.