Keynote: A Delicate Balancing Act in 2022

Apr 27, 2022 12:00pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 1:25pm

After experiencing one of the most severe economic shocks of the past century in 2020, the US economy has vaulted into one of the most rapid recoveries in modern history in 2021. Still, it’s not time to pop the Champagne. The recovery process is far from complete, and the next stage of the recovery will be trickier to navigate.

How Great Leaders Magnify the Power of Teams

Apr 27, 2022 1:35pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 2:25pm

In the increasing competition for talent, market leading organizations are those that best leverage the unique skills and talents of their employees. At the center of the organization, financial leaders are uniquely positioned to drive transformational change in their organization by focusing on talent.

This session provides a framework for how finance professionals can facilitate the process necessary to scout and identify talent throughout their organization, develop those employees, amplify what’s important for their career fulfillment, and empower them to improve team and corporate performance.

Finance at the Forefront of M&A

Apr 27, 2022 2:55pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 3:45pm

Despite the impact of the global pandemic, there has been no shortage of merger and acquisition (M&A) and divestiture activity. Deals rose by 65% in 2021 to more than $5.6 trillion .Respondents in a global survey by Bain & Company expected M&A to contribute to 45% of their growth in the future compared with about 30% over the past three years.

Finance has always been an integral part of the M&A process. However, until relatively recently, that role has been mostly focused on performing financial due diligence, integrating financial systems, and tracking synergy savings realisation. In the current environment, we are seeing the role of finance expand from purely an accounting lens to a more strategic role in M&A.  During this session we will explore what makes a successful strategic finance M&A capability.

Leading Transformation: Reimagining Finance

Apr 27, 2022 2:55pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 3:45pm

Many organizations are undergoing significant change as they prepare for the future of their industries. As a function, the expectation for finance means evolving to new ways of thinking and new ways of working. The connection between what we do and how we do it becomes more pivotal to driving efficiency and critical insights for the business. How can you fully embrace transformation and driving change while still needing to meet the needs of the organization?

This session will discuss what drives a successful transformation and how finance leaders can use bold thinking and innovative methods to lead their organizations into future.

The Resiliency Theory

Apr 27, 2022 3:55pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 4:45pm

This session will explore how being resilient allows you to take risks and fail and how to build this muscle as a Leader and Mentor.

Resiliency is the ability to cope with change, let go of things that are no longer serving you, learn from each experience, and develop. Change is truly the only thing that is constant. Each of us have agency in how we navigate and react to change.

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” - Maya Angelou

Successful Implementation of the New FASB Lease Accounting Standards . . . the "Last Laps"

Apr 27, 2022 3:55pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 4:45pm

This session will focus on the remaining timetable to implement Topic 842…the FASBs New Lease Accounting standards.

As a co-author of six publications in the Journal of Accountancy over the last several years on this topic, Steve Austin will review the Top 10 Lessons Learned to expedite the process for those working toward implementation and controls for post implementation.

He will highlight a winning strategy to be efficient in the process with accuracy and quality control and to understand the sequence of events necessary to complete this on time in 2022 or 2023.

The High Cost of Free Social Media

Apr 27, 2022 4:55pm ‐ Apr 27, 2022 5:45pm

In this engaging presentation, Stafford Wood will offer the good, the bad and the ugly of using social media for your company. She will cover best practices in social media marketing with an eye towards mitigating risk, limiting liability, reducing time spent, budgeting for expenses and encouraging appropriate employee engagement with corporate social media policies. This presentation is meant for all participants regardless of their experience in the communications field.

Balancing Act: Workforce Demands & Fiscal Responsibility, Sponsored by Marsh McLennan Agency

Apr 28, 2022 7:00am ‐ Apr 28, 2022 7:50am

Organizations are relying on CFOs in new and challenging ways – beyond core financial functions and now as strategic leaders central to corporate planning and decision-making. Our session will address these changes including flexibility and enhanced benefits and investment in DE&I while containing costs and growing your organization and answer questions such as:

• What must CFOs and their C-suite partners know to deliver flexible and inclusive benefits to attract and retain critical talent?
• Why must CFOs lead the charge in promoting a vision for sustainable growth in a hybrid/remote working environment?
• How can CFOs accomplish cost containment and revenue growth in a difficult talent market?

We will share the latest trend and benchmark data, and provide specific strategies CFOs can consider to drive meaningful value in their organizations.

Purpose-Driven Finance Leader: Exploring the Duality of Purpose & Profits, Sponsored by Sage

Apr 28, 2022 7:00am ‐ Apr 28, 2022 7:50am

Is doing good, good for business? CFOs play a transformative role in their organizations, and the pressures of being a data-driven finance leader, a catalyst for human-centric digital transformation, and a strategic partner to the C-suite may seem to leave little room for tackling environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges. Yet a recent Accenture survey of senior finance leaders found that 68% of respondents say that Finance is responsible for their organization's ESG efforts. In this session we'll explore how Finance leaders can start thinking about the relationship between technology and ESG.

Keynote: Moving from Business Partner to Value Partner: The Next Evolution of Finance

Apr 28, 2022 8:00am ‐ Apr 28, 2022 9:15am

Keynote session sponsored by Workday.

The needs of organizations have changed significantly through the pandemic, requiring CFOs to power up business guidance to thrive in the “next normal”. Finance must not only embrace extreme automation to deliver this guidance effectively, but also take ownership of the finance data model and automate insight generation to become true value partners to the business. Join Workday finance executives and customers as they share the strategies and solutions they have used to prepare for the next evolution in finance.