Every year dealerships perform parts physical inventories and attempt
to reconcile the parts pad to accounting. While the physical is pretty
straight forward, most dealerships run into difficulties when trying to
reconcile the parts pad to the general ledger. If everything throughout
the year flows properly between parts and accounting, the variance to
accounting should be zero but that never happens. In many cases
dealerships can be off by $20,000 or more in either direction with no
explanation.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how to spot variances throughout the year rather than waiting until the next annual physical.
• Identify what is causing overages and shortages
• Apply policies and procedures that help avoid vulnerability to shrinkage.

The FTC compliance deadline has come and gone and Dealers are still lacking comprehensive security programs. Compliance with the FTC Safeguard Rule isn’t just checking boxes. A security program requires businesses to adapt their cybersecurity practices to changing business environments, the evolving tactics of the cybercriminal, and technological advances. This ongoing effort is critical to defend against relentless cybercriminals and protect business continuity.

In this presentation, Erik Nachbahr will discuss the practical measures dealerships can take to develop and maintain an Adaptive IT and Cybersecurity program.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the current and vital need to develop an adaptive IT and cybersecurity approach.
• Indicate why FTC regulatory compliance involves more than checking a box on a self-assessment form.

Economic Outlook: Inflation, Recession, and Frustration. Examine the economic outlook, both nationally and regionally, and its risks.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify U.S. macroeconomic conditions
• Analyze the interplay between inflation, interest rates, and the Federal Reserve

Join us for an exclusive session featuring Daryl Kenningham, CEO of Group 1, and Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners, as they discuss how Group 1 is driving their organization forward in auto retail. Attend this session to hear about the future of auto retail, dealership acquisition strategies, technological innovations, and talent acquisition and retention within Group 1.

Key Takeaways:

• Outlook for Auto Retail: Gain insights into the ever-evolving landscape of auto retail. Discover how industry trends, consumer behavior, and market dynamics are shaping the future of the automotive sector.
• Dealership Acquisition Strategy:
  Learn from their extensive experience in dealership acquisitions and strategies and considerations that have driven Group 1's success in expanding its dealership portfolio.
• Technology's Role in the Future:
  Explore how Group 1 plans to harness technology to stay ahead of the curve. Discover innovative approaches to enhancing the customer experience, streamlining operations, and embracing digital transformation.
• Attracting and Retaining Talent:
  Hear firsthand how Group 1 attracts and retains the industry's best talent. Understand the strategies and culture that make Group 1 a top destination for automotive professionals.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with two influential figures in the automotive world. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that promises to inspire and inform, providing you with the knowledge and strategies needed to thrive in the competitive auto retail landscape.

Learning Objectives:

• Recall innovative approaches to enhancing the customer experience, streamlining operations, and embracing digital transformation.
• Recognize the strategies and culture that make Group 1 a top destination for automotive professionals.
• Identify industry trends, consumer behavior, and market dynamics are shaping the future of the automotive sector.

Solutios is a high-growth provider of seamless digital payment, banking, treasury management and analytical solutions enabling franchise automotive dealers to leverage the latest finance, banking and telematics technologies. Our session will highlight our latest POS/DMS application; digital reimbursement card product to eliminate check writing for tag, title & deal reimbursement; fleet management to automate collection of unpaid loaner car customer expenses such as tolls, fines, fuel, and excess mileage; and our novel integrated payables workflow to reduce accounting overhead and increase the dealers digital payment rebate (up to 80 bps). Created by dealers for dealers, our secure and scalable cloud-based commerce software-as-a-service platform tightly integrates modern point-of-sale functionality with legacy dealer management systems.

With zero capital required, Solutios helps dealers drive savings directly to the bottom line by:

1) Significantly reducing credit card processing fees via transaction aggregation and interchange optimization with full pricing transparency

2) Creating operational efficiencies through collections, disbursements, deposit execution, posting and reconciliation without changing existing processes

3) Modernizing the payments experience at all touchpoints to enhance customer experience and increase retention

4) Automating PCI-DSS and other regulatory compliance requirements

Incubated and launched by Pohanka Automotive, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected automobile dealership groups, Solutios is a strategic banking-as-a-service partner of Fidelity National Information Services Inc., Cogent Bank and a registered payments facilitator of Worldpay Inc. The company is privately held and headquartered in Northern Virginia’s Dulles Technology Corridor. To learn more about leveraging the power of Solutios and its dealer alliance partnership, please attend our technology demonstration at AICPA this year and swing by our booth.

This session will cover various issues faced by automotive CFO's today. A panel made up of three CFO’s, all with differing backgrounds and perspectives on the industry, will be asked questions by a moderator in Q&A format. Questions from the audience will be encouraged.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the challenges a typical automotive CFO might face, including maintaining dealer profitability, accessing and managing risks, and overseeing asset management
• Identify how to effectively manage interactions between operations and accounting
• Select best practices for recruiting and retaining accounting talent

Hear from the CEO of Chase Auto about trends in retail and commercial lending, the impacts digitization and electrification are having on the automotive industry and a perspective on the health of the consumer.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how economic and industry trends are impacting auto financing
• Indicate the health of the consumer today

Streamline your entire payroll process with an end-to-end solution that’s embedded into the DMS.

This session will address the three biggest compliance risks automotive dealerships face today in their Variable Operations (Sales and F&I). Solutions and best practices will be provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the three biggest risks in variable operations
• Use the Red Flags Rule to remediate identity theft
• Identify five key credit determinants

Discussing the current tax landscape for auto dealers and potential planning opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the current tax landscape surrounding auto dealers
• Identify potential tax planning opportunities for auto dealers

In this session, we'll overview several key tax issues impacting the dealer industry for upcoming tax filings and reminders on key tax issues, including changes to Sec. 163(j) interest limitation calculations, the Employee Retention Credit, EV Credits, 8300 update.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize key tax issues affecting the dealer industry
• Identify current legislation impacting dealer tax positions

These days, everyone is looking to improve cash flow. Many dealers have successfully increased revenue by decreasing their real estate tax burden. This session will explore a variety of tax savings strategies that fully leverage current legislation – cost segregation, bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing, and more. A case-based learning approach will be utilized to demonstrate the potential scope of savings and the importance of strategic timing.

PLUS – A brief discussion of how dealers can take advantage of the R&D Tax Credit.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the utility of cost segregation as a vehicle for savings throughout the life cycle of a dealership
• Indicate how strategies like Section 179 Expensing, Bonus Depreciation, the Tangible Property Regulations (TPRs) and Energy Incentives all contribute to a comprehensive tax strategy
• Use an Auto Dealership Depreciation Decision Tree to guide depreciation treatment

Advance your reinsurance education by joining experts Alan Pouyat and Rob Walker as they share an actual cession report and highlight vital areas that should be reviewed quarterly, including:

• Average premium per contract.

• 5-year profit projection.

• Loss analysis by VSC term and type (and by store for multiple rooftops).

• Trends analysis by product for production and losses.

• Banking statements to clarify dealer assets.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine the type of information shared with the owners of a reinsurance company.
• Distinguish critical report components and importance.

An update to the 2021 presentation with discussions on:

• Global EV industry statistics and the United States’ contribution

• An update to the U.S. EV industry statistics, including market share, market cap and car parc

• Winners, Losers and Mergers in the EV World

• Case Study on Tesla and what it could mean for the newer entrants

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish between Global and U.S. EV Industry Statistics
• Recall Tesla’s Historical Results and Compare to Rivian, Lucid and Ford Model e
• Identify the Headwinds of Adoption
• Indicate impacts to Your Dealership
• Recognize Electrification as an Opportunity

Learn how Corporate Venture Capital groups are leading innovation in the greater mobility space

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how to form a corporate venture capital group
• Identify trends and startup valuations in mobility

Zero variance software, parts pad to accounting GL daily reconciliation software

In today's competitive automotive industry, the key to
long-term success lies in the effective management and optimization of your
dealership's Fixed Operations Department. Join this session where you'll delve
deep into the strategies and insights necessary to achieve peak performance and
profitability in this critical area of your business.

Learning Objectives:

• Analzye the fixed operations department entails.
• Determine how to efficiently manage and motivate your service advisors, technicians, parts staff, and collision repair specialists to embrace a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify strategies for providing excellent customer service in your fixed operations department to retain customers and building lasting relationships.
• Identify bottlenecks and areas of inefficiency in your fixed operations processes and utilize the latest technology and tools for improvement.
• Use effective marketing strategies to promote your fixed operations department.
• Select key performance metrics to track and analyze for fixed operations.
• Apply financial acumen to effectively manage your fixed operations department's budget, pricing, and revenue streams.

The Value of Prosperity vs Profitability:

• Set Goals
• Prioritize Change
• Inspect What You Expect

Learning Objectives:

• Select data utilization to identify business opportunities and quantify objectives
• Select a change management strategy
• Analyze processes and how they relate to outcome

After nearly four incredible back-to-back years of buy/sell activity and record-setting valuations, the big question is how much longer can this robust transaction marketplace last? Buy/sell expert Erin Kerrigan will share an overview of the 2023 buy/sell market and Kerrigan Advisors’ projections for blue sky values in 2024. The presentation will also cover highlights and key trends from The Blue Sky Report®, The Kerrigan Index™, The Kerrigan Dealer Survey and The Kerrigan OEM Survey.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish how to value blue sky in today’s changing marketplace
• Determine how higher interest rates impact dealership real estate and blue sky values

Brief explanation and survey of our software and Core product by our C.E.O..

In this session, we will discuss historic challenges to advancing women in the automotive industry, including work/life integration, promotion opportunities, and role models within organizations. We'll also share stories of successes in various industries and discuss how to apply them in your organization. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify current challenges in advancing women to leadership roles in the automotive industry
• Recall stories of lessons learned in advancing women other industries
• Recognize practical examples and actions to advance women in your organization

This session will cover recently issued accounting & auditing guidance with a specific focus on guidance affecting dealerships and their auditors. We will also discuss the standard-setting agendas of the FASB and the PCAOB, highlighting how certain of these projects could potentially impact dealerships. 

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize how recently issued accounting & auditing guidance will affect dealerships and their auditors.
• Identify standard-setting projects of the FASB and the PCAOB that could potentially impact dealerships.

A look at current frauds seen in dealerships across the country in today’s environment. Focusing on risk by dealership department, and ways you can help prevent or mitigate that risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate current types of fraud happening around the country related to dealerships.
• Analyze how perpetrators are committing the frauds.
• Identify ways to prevent or mitigate the risk of these frauds occurring in your, or your client’s, dealership.