The End of the Beginning - An assessment of the current state of the US economy.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the tailwinds propelling economic growth
• Understand the risks associated with inflation and labor shortages

This panel will give participants the opportunity to hear the perspectives of CFOs and Controllers from diverse companies and how they are tackling and addressing some of the changes from COVID-19 that will define the “new normal” for business. Join this interactive discussion where leaders will share personal experiences and how they are helping frame business decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize potential changes we can expect to see in the coming years and what businesses need to be aware of as they navigate the after-effects of COVID-19
• Develop awareness of how businesses are navigating workforce challenges

As new cybersecurity threats continue to emerge, the ongoing challenges around proper risk mitigation remain a dynamic obstacle for both organizational leadership and individual users. Understanding and anticipating both technical and non-technical threats are key to managing the risks associated with a breach of confidential data. This session will cover the latest cybersecurity threat landscape and the risks and challenges that professionals faces in collecting, storing, processing and safeguarding sensitive information. Topics will include InfoSec governance, current cybersecurity threats/risks/mitigation, third-party and supply-chain risk, incident response and cyber liability insurance. The session will also include strategies for personally protecting your digital information.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the latest threats to their digital assets and how to best mitigate cyber risk.
• Assess cyber incident stories and applicable lessons learned.
• Session topics will include cyber risk, governance, prevention, detection and response for organizations, in addition to their third-party and supply-chain relationships.

Confidence is high in the employment market, especially for CPAs, controllers, FP&A and corporate finance leaders. The outlook is also upbeat as the economy recovers and businesses are hiring again. But with the return to a candidate-driven market, is your company prepared to face fierce competition for skilled financial talent?

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how adapting to new ways of doing business – with a focus on flexibility and retention efforts – can help.
• Assess where salaries are headed and see how to manage the need for new skill sets.
• Discuss the latest trends in benefits and perks, and diversity, equity & inclusion efforts as the country gets back to business.

How did you and your business handle projections during the coronavirus pandemic? Were you re-forecasting on a near-daily basis to reflect the rapidly changing scenarios? Was Excel your primary tool? What are your plans for the post-pandemic environment? Is your business planning to increasingly digitize? CFOs were definitely on the front-line during the pandemic, and will continue to be so, as businesses rely on them for rapid analysis and insight that inform critical business decisions.

Recent advances in data science and analytics have created tremendous opportunities for finance professionals to move beyond the limitations of Excel for planning and forecasting. This session will address why data science & analytics solutions are increasingly gaining popularity to solve business problems and create value.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize what we mean by forecasting and modeling in different business applications, and how modeling tools fit within the overall planner’s toolkit
• Determine how we typically build models and create forecasts, the limitations of Excel, and the choices we have going forward
• Assess the benefits of data science & analytics solutions for forecasting and modeling
• Formulate a plan for how to get started in using data science & analytics in your organization

Dashboards. A term so common in the enterprise software space - everyone seems to want them, and everyone seems to be selling them. But, what matters to you? Each business is unique, and although standard metrics and KPI's can be of some value when delivered out of the "box" with ERP and other tools, they may not hit the mark for your organization's needs -if you think deeply about what is most meaningful. In this session Bob Green and Michael Daoud, experienced Digital Transformation advisors to mid-market businesses, introduce the concept of "Minimum Viable Analytics" - and take the attendees on a journey from the determination of what the MVA can be for a business into the execution phase of getting the MVA delivered to the right people, with confidence and accuracy.  Let's go beyond whatever dashboard your vendors are pushing on you, and work on the hard part first: defining your Minimum Viable Analytics and the strategy for getting the MVA delivered to your business?

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the concept we introduced: Minimum Viable Analytics
• Think about the most relevant information that can impact your company's most vital measurements - and where to find it
• Understand how meaningful data is best aggregated to deliver meaningful analytics
• Recognize it's less about what tools and software you use for FPA - it all starts with good thinking

In this session we will look at the shifting trends around people, process and platform that is affecting accounting, finance and FP&A teams for the future.  Additionally, you will gain tactical and strategic knowledge to help your team and organization to change, adversity and opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

• What are the top 3 people, process and platform trends in FP&A?
• What are the essential strategies and tactics that I can implement to future proof my FP&A team?
• What is empowerment versus directive culture, and why is an empowerment culture vital to the future of FP&A teams?

Key topics addressed at this year’s AICPA Corporate Finance Conference include how companies and finance teams are emerging from the pandemic, along with hiring trends and challenges in our current economy. Also, in today’s digital economy, technology applications and solutions, along with the ever-present risk of cybersecurity attacks are front and center.

Break-out groups in this interactive in-person session will address these topics and other pressing issues raised by participants.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the topics and challenges most relevant to you and your business
• Assess the various impacts of the pandemic, hiring, technology and other trends on your business versus other companies in your industry or other sectors
• Determine solutions that might be applicable for implementation or refinement in your company

Today’s Office of Finance leaders are once again becoming a resurgent force. They stepped up during the pandemic and met the challenges of forecasting unknown demand, often with limited technology and team resources. Just as impressive, many answered the call in the midst of a digital transformation that had to be paused. And now, these transformations need to be accelerated. It’s not enough to reduce waste to free up capacity; these leaders know they need to invest more in value-driving financial technology that deploys data and analytics securely at scale. That, while adopting cloud-based solutions, and keeping a focus on hiring, retaining, and developing the best digital skills in finance to take advantage of post-pandemic growth.

The resurging finance leader realizes that the current environment is the opportunity of a lifetime to lead the finance function of the future, but that this finance function needs radical transformation to seize market growth opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

• How to enable new data collection techniques, which transforms data into an asset, not just another element to manage/reconcile
• How improved operating processes and procedures lead to better planning, performance monitoring and decision making
• Steps to co-create the future of your business while delivering agile, scenario-based budgeting and forecasting process to inform decision-making and align finance with sales, operational, and strategic planning stakeholders

This is a defining moment for the Profession. CPAs and CGMAs have been thrust into the center of attention as they are called on to help businesses 'survive and thrive’ in these extraordinary times.

We are entering uncharted territory. A new world is upon us. Those who conquer it will be those who reimagine, redefine, and reinvent not only themselves and their businesses, but what it means to live and work in a post-pandemic world. This session will explore the mindset, skillset, and toolsets needed to lead in a post-pandemic world.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the great COVID accelerator and the major trends that have accelerated since the pandemic started.
• Identify the predictable 'hard trends' that are shaping the post-pandemic business landscape
• Identify the critical skills needs to increase your relevance in a rapidly changing world.

In this session we will dive into the area of emotional intelligence and how mastering a few EI skills can enhance your overall leadership skills. Leaders will walk away from this session with an emotional intelligence tool kit that can be immediately applied.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basics on Emotional Intelligence
• Learn a few EI skills that can be adapted to your current leadership style
• Learn the significance of impact that can be made in EI driven leadership

The pace of tax legislative change has not slowed and companies, once again, face the prospect of significant tax legislation being enacted late in the year.  An update will be provided on the status of current legislative proposals as well as key tax developments at both the federal and state level over the past year.  Key considerations from a tax accounting perspective will be covered in anticipation of the potential enactment of significant new legislation prior to year-end.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of recent federal, state, and international legislative trends.
• Build awareness of key elements of potential tax legislation that may be enacted before year-end.
• Obtain insights into potential tax accounting considerations for 2021 year-end financial reporting.

Technology has significantly transformed the landscape of business over the past several years. Data analytics and data strategies have become essential for businesses of all sizes. Forecasting and modeling have become critical skills for finance professionals as they perfom financial planning and analysis in their companies and provide information for decision-making.

This panel discussion will focus on innovations in technology and how you can leverage these advances to contribute to the value creation process in your businesses.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify advances in technology, applications, platforms available to enhance the value proposition for your finance function
• Determine which technology investments are most likely to yield promised benefits and what is necessary to ensure adequate returns on these investments
• Explore the potential benefits of emerging technologies and assess the pros and cons of implementation in your business

While sustainability, or ESG issues have previously been primarily in the domain of larger, consumer-facing, public companies, often with limited involvement by the finance function, this is no longer the case. With increased urgency about climate impacts and the widespread embrace of major social issues, there is also increased demand for disclosures on these concerns being made by investors, and other stakeholders, including regulators.

One of the challenges that business face in responding to these increased demands is what has often been referred to as the “alphabet soup” of reporting frameworks and standards. This session will provide an overview of the rapidly-changing reporting and regulatory landscape and the likely impact on companies of all sizes.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish between the major reporting frameworks and the collaborative efforts underway to develop a comprehensive solution for global reporting, including SASB, CDP, CDSB, TCFD and GRI
• Recognize the need for sustainability reporting standards and the formation of an International Sustainability Standards Board by the IFRS Foundation to create a global architecture for comprehensive corporate reporting
• Evaluate emerging climate change legislation and regulation in the U.S., the U.K. and the E.U. and the potential impact on business operations, financing, and reporting for your company

Where accounting and customer service intersects. How to elevate your skills in your daily interactions.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the three pillars of customer service
• Improve your daily interactions with your internal customers
• Learn how to handle difficult conversations
• Develop customer service standards for your team

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Learning Objectives:

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CFOs and finance professionals have been thrust into the center of attention as they are called on to help businesses 'survive and thrive’ in these extraordinary times. Forecasts, scenarios, and business model transformations are being asked of finance professionals along with outlining the impacts of government relief packages along with the increasing complexity of tax compliance. This update will cover the latest trends and issues facing Finance Leaders and how to prepare for the next normal as we look beyond the pandemic.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize how the pandemic has impacted Finance functions (CFOs, Controllers, FP&A) and what the research says about the future of finance
• Identify the top trends and issues facing finance in a useful framework
• Determine the top skills and competencies needed to stay relevant and provide increasing value post-pandemic
• Construct a game plan and identify resources to help you succeed in a global VUCA world

According to the Q2 AICPA Economic Outlook survey, availability of skilled personnel is back to the number one priority for finance leaders. One clear result of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the rapid acceleration of the digital transformation of our economy. Accompanying this digital transformation is an acceleration of changes to the critical skills, capabilities and mindsets that businesses need from their finance function. It is therefore vital to develop a strategic and sustainable approach to acquiring, developing and retaining a diverse pool of accounting and finance talent.

In this session, Barry Payne, Director - External Relations, Management Accounting will be joined by James Miln, Senior Vice President Finance and Investor Relations at Yelp to share insights on how Yelp has driven this change by putting together more formal development building blocks – and how Yelp has used models such as the CGMA Competency Framework to develop finance capability and talent needed to drive changes to their digital business and operating model.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize how Yelp finance created a finance vision, established principles for its role in the broader company, and how it is adding value to the business.
• Identify how Yelp has worked with a set of competencies to translate this vision into clear functional and development goals.
• Recognize how Yelp has been able to measure investment in competencies and skills against its finance vision and principles
• Formulate a strategy for creating a vision and developing emerging competencies needed in your organization.

In this session we will explore how the evolving workforce and workplace could impact your real estate strategy, and leverage global experience to understand strategies and investments that you can deploy to manage your cost footprint.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what an evolving workforce and workplace mean for your real estate strategy and cost footprint.
• How finance processes need to change to meet the evolving future of work.
• Investments required in your workforce when shifting its capabilities and ways of working.

Today leading high impact teams calls for a specific set of skills that promote fun, productivity and engagement.  Leave this session with a playbook of how to be productive while at the same time promoting a sense of community and purpose.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the secrets of high impact teams
• Understand that both fun and productive can co-exist in a culture
• Understand a few basics that can generate immediate leadership success

Sustainability and ESG reporting are becoming table-stakes for many businesses. Increasingly customers, employees, shareholders, and stakeholders are interested in understanding the real-world outcomes of a company’s operations, products/services, and investments. From building branding loyalty to attracting and retaining employees, being able to quantify and communicate impact has never been more important for business leaders. Join this discussion with Jennifer Reilly, CPA, CGMA, Chief Administrative Officer at TIAA, and Amanda Kizer, Director of Impact at Nuveen, a TIAA company, to learn about how businesses can credibly measure and communicate their lasting impact on the world.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the difference between ESG and impact reporting
• Describe industry best practices and global frameworks for measuring and reporting on impact, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals

This session will focus on recent FASB and SEC rulemaking and highlight the resulting impacts to accounting and financial reporting matters that may impact your company's financial statements.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify accounting and financial reporting impacts resulting from recent FASB standard setting
• Recognize accounting and financial reporting impacts resulting from recent SEC rulemaking and policy changes
• Outline proposed future rulemaking and standard setting that may become effective in the future

This session is a practitioner's view of how to lead finance transformation in today’s environment of constant change. There are two sections to the conversation. The first is how to transform finance and the second is the role of finance as organizations transform. The main idea: Finance must transform to support organizations that are transforming.

Learning Objectives:

• Provide practical insights that will enable participants to better support the business
• To connect the transformation of finance to company or business transformations
• Review lessons learned from several examples in a transformation

A Chief Accounting Officer & Corporate Controller will share in experiences and insights learned from CEOs and CFOs that aid in the development and success of Controllers.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss traits of a successful Controller
• Assess insights and experiences learned from CEOs and CFOs for the traits

Join this interactive discussion with a diverse group of executives that will share personal experiences around inclusion, diversity and equity.  This session will provide insights into challenges, opportunities and key considerations these leaders have faced throughout their career.  Did you know that diverse teams outperform non-diverse teams 9 out of 10 times?

Learning Objectives:

• Gain insights and knowledge from a diverse panel of executives that have successfully navigated their careers through various challenges.
• Learn how to contribute to a team and build a diverse workforce that values differences helps to drive business outcomes

Ethics in beliefs. Integrity in daily actions. Controls to block those facing temptation. Plus compliance and audit experts to verify actual results. These are the four foundations of any meaningful Business Ethics and Fraud Risk Management initiative. Short on theory and deep into suggested road-tested actions, this lightning-fast session we’ll leave you with six specific steps to take to make your ethics and prevention programs come alive for employees.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the commonalities and critical differences between Ethics and Integrity that drive the need for controls and compliance
• Calculate your current ‘fraud expense’ – the starting point for immediate action & measurable bottom line savings
• Explore exactly how to strengthen fraud prevention efforts in your organization or clients
• Understand business executive psychological blind spots – and how to see and assess the status of ethics and integrity challenges on your watch
• Build your action checklist – steps to take before 2021 year end

Exploring the work RPA, process optimization and scale helps accounting, finance and FP&A teams continue to drive change and navigate challenges.   Additionally, step by step framework and uses cases will be provided on actions steps you implement immediately to focus on process improvement.

Learning Objectives:

• What is process improvement?
• How do processes help accounting, finance and FP&A teams of the future?
• 3 Key Challenges & Uses for you implement immediately.

This session discusses covers the effects of COVID on the casino from the beginning of the pandemic until current.  Time will be allowed for Q & A at the conclusion.

Learning Objectives:

• Effects on People
• Effects on Operations
• Effects on Finance

As a Finance leader you recognize the urgent need for transformation in your business’ products, services, manufacturing and delivery strategies, and employee and customer experiences. You see it in the financial results, the trends, and the pressure on the CEO who is now relying upon the CFO and their team more than ever to be a strategic change partner. If the pace of change pre-covid wasn’t enough of a stimulant, the aftereffects of the pandemic are focusing Boards and the C-suite on innovation as a priority in all aspects of the business model.

But where do you begin?

How can the CFO and their team partner with the CEO and the rest of the organization to enable innovation? What is the role of the finance function in defining, executing, and achieving innovation results that create stakeholder value?

In this closing session, Amy Radin, a corporate innovation trailblazer and author of the award-winning book, The Change Maker’s Playbook: How to Seek, Seed and Scale Innovation in Any Company, will provide insights and answers to these critical questions, and send you off energized, and with practical advice, tips, and tools to help you adopt the necessary mindset, skills, and capabilities you will want to have for this next era in business.

The CFO role is evolving, and all members of the finance function have a unique opportunity to use their historical mandate in new ways to connect the dots between innovation strategies and financial outcomes -- supporting decisions that unlock growth and manage the inevitable risks of change, ensuring that the organization executes for success.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the value of innovation and why it is critical to any business
• Define what it means to innovate (revolution and evolution) and address the stumbling blocks and barriers to progress
• Propose ways in which Finance leaders can inspire innovation and facilitate achieving business outcomes
• Introduce a framework for executing innovation
• Provide tools, tips, and practical advice for immediate application