Financial Leadership Best Practices Virtual Conference: Intelligent Technology for Business Strategy & Effective Decision-Making

DAY ONE AGENDA

Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 – 9:00 AM

Finance Transformation & Talent
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Many finance leaders continue to face significant external headwinds, including global economic uncertainty, inflation, and supply chain disruptions. This has driven the need for finance organizations to transform to become more agile and resilient to enable risk mitigation and support business performance. However, with such finance transformation comes the need for addressing many of the pervasive people and challenges impacting many companies today. Join Andrea Vardaro Thomas and Fran Maxwell as they discuss key considerations related to People and Finance Transformation.

Break
10:00 – 10:05 AM

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve Finance Processes & Decision Making
10:05 – 11:05 AM
Despite the recent advances in the field of Artificial Intelligence, a relatively low number of finance executives are leveraging AI to improve their processes and make smarter decisions. This session will provide an overview of AI and its applications in Finance and Accounting. 

Break
11:05 – 11:10 AM

Best Practices for Cash & Treasury Management
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM
This session will explore recent strategies that companies are using to manage their cash and treasury operations. Participants will be brought up-to-speed on the latest methods for maximizing returns in a turbulent economic market, via a discussion of:
• The impact of COVID-19 on liquidity
• Treasury organization
• Cash, bank and financial risk management
• Cash flow forecasting
• Technology and data analytics
• Working capital management

Lunch
12:10 – 12:55 PM

Finance Business Process Outsourcing
12:55 – 2:25 PM
Selecting the right Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Partner is critical, as is identifying the right
areas for transition. This session will provide an overview of various aspects related to Finance and
Accounting BPOs—from the objectives and triggers that lead to the decision, to the range of
outsourcing models and options available. We will also look at the key aspects of the journey,
including identification of scope, knowledge transfer, retained organization structure, ongoing
operational rigor, continuous improvement, and the importance of cultural affinity and transparency
in developing a true symbiotic partnership.

Break
2:25 – 2:30 PM

Corporate Fraud, FCPA & Other Regulatory Compliance & Whistleblower Programs
2:30 – 3:45 PM
This session will discuss key challenges faced by companies when dealing with Ethics, FCPA, & Internal Fraud. Corporate violations pose a risk to the long term success of any company. We will also discuss whistleblower programs and the role they are playing in combating corporate fraud. Specifically, the focus will be on:
• Risk compliance, both domestic and international
• Foreign government anti-corruptions measures
• Effective compliance programs
• Ethics training for employees and field inspectors
• Corporate fraud and whistleblower programs—incentives, safeguards, and protection from harmful 
  allegations

 Break
3:45 – 3:50 PM

Accounting Update
3:50 – 4:50 PM
Hear about the latest developments from the FASB, and learn how to apply all of the most recent pronouncements effectively and efficiently, including:
• FASB current active agenda
• Recently completed projects and related implementation issues
• Recently issued exposure drafts and other formal projects
• Accounting updates with upcoming effective dates
• Disclosure effectiveness
• Simplification projects

DAY TWO AGENDA

Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 – 9:00 AM

Cybersecurity & Ransomware
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Since the threats posed by cyberattacks continue to evolve, companies must remain vigilant and make sure that their cybersecurity and ransomware defense remains updated, capable, and efficient. This session will focus on:
• Commercial cybersecurity
• Understanding the history of cyberattacks and ransomware
• Restoring operations after an attack
• Oversight trends and disclosure
• Proposed SEC cybersecurity disclosures
• Risk governance

Break
10:00 – 10:05 AM

Integrated Business Planning: What are the Impacts & Benefits of Utilizing it in this Challenging Environment?
10:05 – 11:05 AM
We will discuss an overview of the core foundational elements of Integrated Business Planning (IBP). We will also talk about why companies are moving to this methodology and some of the key impacts and outputs. Additionally, we will touch upon some of the challenges and watch-outs for companies as they implement IBP. Specifically, we will address how it is helping them to manage their risks and how it is helping them to navigate in this complex environment.

Break
11:05 – 11:10 AM

Dealing with Geopolitical Risks
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM
Geopolitical conflict. The aftermath of the pandemic. Fluctuating food, gas and oil prices. Transitioning to a
viable green economy. In this session, we will discuss how major international issues continue disrupting
the world economic landscape, as well as what the future may bring. Topics include:
• The war in Ukraine
• Inflation
• Deglobalization
• Labor shortages

Lunch
12:10 – 12:55 PM

World-Class ESG Reporting—The Role of an ESG Controller
12:55 – 2:25 PM
As companies continue to adjust to the growing need for ESG reporting and transparency, the new and
evolving role of the ESG controller must become firmly established and understood. This vital leadership
position will certainly be experiencing some inconsistent and unpredictable challenges. This session will help
ease the potential uncertainty in how to establish and support this new role by discussing the ESG controller’s
expected duties and how a company should go about making sure this position is efficiently set up for success.
We will discuss:
• The specific duties of the ESG controller
• How a company should approach the creation of this position
• Necessary traits vital to the future success of the role
• Key activities that will fall under the jurisdiction of the controller
• Who the ESG controller will report to and where he/she falls within the overall organizational structure
  of the company

Break
2:25 – 2:30 PM

Using Data Analytics & Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Finance
2:30 – 3:30 PM
With the increased adoption of data analytics and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), the work of
financial professionals will be fundamentally altered over the coming years. In this session, we will
discuss the current state and ongoing evolution of data analytics and RPA, as well as how finance
organizations can begin their journey. Topics include:
• How process and task mining works
• Implementing intelligent automation, such as AI
• Data-driven vs. observation-driven improvement

Break
3:30 – 3:35 PM

Optimizing the Accounting Cycle
3:35 – 4:35 PM
Financial professionals need simple solutions to today’s complex accounting issues. This session will
provide you with the latest IT strategies and technologies to help you and your team optimize,
consolidate and streamline data, as well as predict future business trends and patterns. Topics include:
• Leveraging data from multiple sources
• Maintaining accuracy and trust
• Improving productivity
• Developing faster real-time insights

Closing Remarks
4:35 – 4:45 PM

Conference Ends
4:45 PM