Biography

He was director of research and director of international activities of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

Financial Accounting Standards Board

The Financial Accounting Standards Board is a private, not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to develop generally accepted accounting principles within the United States in the public's interest...

, and was the first chairman of FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force. Also he has served as chairman of the Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Founded in 1887, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the national professional organization of Certified Public Accountants in the United States, with more than 370,000 CPA members in 128 countries in business and industry, public practice, government, education, student...

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He was one of three individuals inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame

Accounting Hall of Fame

The Accounting Hall of Fame is an award "recognizing accountants who are making or have made a significant contribution to the advancement of accounting" since the beginning of the 20th century. Inductees are from both accounting academia and practice...

in 2003. In the opinion of many, including the writer of this note, Leisenring has been the single most valuable player at the FASB in its history. He's not worse than third, the other two being Don Kirk and Katherine Schipper. Leisenring can lay claim to first place because his total service as Director of Research, then FASB member, then IASB member exceeds that of the other two.