How confident are you on your leadership skills in the face of a potential crisis event? Headlines today highlight a number of potential crises that could impact your business, ranging from a cybersecurity attack to a drought, to a landslide from a torrential downpour. As today’s business environment becomes more complex and interrelated, confronting some sort of crisis is almost inevitable. Crises can disrupt your company’s operations as well as threaten its strategic viability. The changing role of the CFO involves understanding how to prevent crises and build a robust crisis readiness strategy.

Through interactive breakout sessions, this workshop will help leaders bridge the confidence gap and build resilience by examining crisis management best practices from world-class organizations.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze trending topics in cybersecurity and resilience
• Calculate how to prepare for the expected and the unexpected
• Identify preventive approaches to minimize or avert a crisis situation
• Determine strategies for preparation, response and recovery

In a recent survey by Fortune & Deloitte, nearly 60% of senior leaders said that attracting, recruiting, and retaining talent is among their organization’s biggest challenges. Beginning in mid-2021, "The Great Resignation" continues to the present day (with no sign of letting up); the pandemic led millions worldwide to a desire for more meaningful, more impactful, and purpose-driven work. Today's employees have a new "worth it" equation that values time, health, family, and purpose over work. And leaders relying on the old management playbook are increasingly hard-pressed to attract, engage, and retain top talent.

In this dynamic keynote, Hamza Khan—the best-selling author of "The Burnout Gamble" and "Leadership, Reinvented"—will make the case that an organization's ability to thrive in the future of work depends on how its leaders treat their employees in the present. For how they treat their employees is how their employees will treat their clients. Leaders in attendance will be challenged to unlearn any counterproductive management practices acquired earlier in their careers. And they'll be encouraged to nurture a seemingly counterintuitive alternative: "modern leadership"—a human-centric, empathetic, self-disrupting, change-friendly, and values-driven approach to leading. It's the very same approach that enables leading companies to thrive even in chaos.

Learning Objectives:

• Indicate the pitfalls of fear-based (punitive, avoidant, and maladaptive) leadership
• Recognize the business case for adopting a more human-centric approach to leading through change
• Identify how to operationalize & maximize four human-centric and change-friendly values: Servitude, Innovation, Diversity (& Inclusion), and Empathy

By the time of the conference, the FOMC will likely have raised policy rates another 50 basis points, lifting the fed funds target range to 5.00%-to-5.25%, just a bit below the level hit before the Great Recession in 2007. Meantime, despite some early-year economic momentum, the cumulative impact of 500 basis points worth of tightening should be coming home to roost. At least a mild recession seems likely.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify why inflation is being stubborn and forcing the Fed’s hand. This will help participants better assess the risk of even more rate hikes.
• Analyze why in the face of aggressive Fed tightening, the economy still has offsetting growth supports. This will help participants better assess the risk of a deeper economic downturn.

Thank you to our all-day coffee sponsor, LucaNet North America LLC!

Overview of the U.S. Equity Capital Markets in 2023, and how each market is performing.  We will also cover what to consider when it comes to developing a financing strategy, and various execution alternatives to ensure a strong outcome.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the current dynamic of the equity capital markets.
• Identify how to raise capital in the context of today's market backdrop

Based on extensive research, executives at Accenture outline how the internet is being reimagined as a continuum where the physical and digital worlds will intersect daily. Rather than viewing digital content, people will live and be present within it.

This continuum is bringing the next major wave of digital change to enterprises, how they interact with customers, how employees interact with each other, how products and services are delivered, and how their business models will evolve.

CFOs must not only be aware of digital currencies, NFTs, and explore various perspectives for determining how the balance sheet will reflect digital assets, leaders need to start making big leaps forward in how they think about their business – today.

This session will provide baseline terminology and explore various future focused scenarios that highlight the emerging metaverse that will revolutionize consumer experiences and business applications.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify & explore the four building blocks of the Metaverse Continuum
• Recognize & analyze a variety of disruptive business scenarios and transformational possibilities for global enterprises
• Identify features of the metaverse that are most relevant to your business and begin to formulate a plan for incorporating these components into your organization strategy

In a world that is rapidly changing, it is important to think about how change is impacting and influencing our emotions. Emotions are involved in every decision we make. Emotional intelligence, or EI, is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you, and to focus your emotional energy to get things done. EI, is a flexible set of skills that can be acquired and improved with practice. In this session we will discuss how EI can be use to:

• Improve communication,
• Improve problem solving,
• Build relationships, and
• Manage stress.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify emotional intelligence.
• Recognize & understand the how emotional intelligence can be leveraged to manage change.

In this session, we will discuss how A.I can be used in finance for forecasting and prediction. Excel has traditionally been the modeling tool of choice for financial professionals. We tend to overgeneralize the relation between various data points, and it frequently produces erroneous predictions. . On the other hand, AI can create a formula based on historical data trends that can be paired with leading indicators to enhance modeling results.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify A.I for finance opportunities, limitations
• Recognize A.I use cases, Finance data strategies

Fundamental to all organizations is finding and retaining talent with the skills needed to address the challenges facing their business. Our conversations with leading finance executives continue to show that the need for new competencies in on the rise.

As businesses are increasingly interconnected, and digitized, the demands that the finance leaders of today and tomorrow must demonstrate expertise in data analysis and insights, technology, as well as the mindset and behaviours needed to succeed in a digital environment, in addition to core finance and management accounting skills.

This session will cover the challenges in today’s fast-paced economy, and how companies are striving to address this skills gap.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze emerging themes, trends, and challenges facing business today
• Identify key skills needed in finance functions to meet these challenges
• Determine & develop a plan for addressing the skills gap in your organization

Join us in the Regency Foyer after the last session on Wednesday for a networking reception, sponsored by Deloitte!

At the reception there'll be great networking opportunities, delicious food, open bar and a signature drink thanks to our Signature Drink Sponsor, Emburse!

Participate in 30 minutes of yoga onsite in the Park City room. This private yoga class will be led by an instructor and will be suitable for beginners and more experienced participants and will be focused on allowing you to gently engage, open, and strengthen your body by tapping into accessible yoga poses, fluid movement, and breath. Restore and recharge your mind and body before the day’s session with this onsite opportunity! Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.

Note: You can bring your own yoga mat if you wish, otherwise towels will be provided onsite for you.

Discover how modern accounting applications are improving collaboration, helping remote workers, and enabling a new breed of accountants to run small and medium sized businesses. In this session, you'll gain an better understanding of how the accounting system becomes the single source of truth for sales, inventory, payroll, marketing, support, and more without heavy investment in infrastructure.

Learning Objectives:

• Indicate the architectural advantages of a web-based software solution
• Recognize best practices for collaboration between accountants and internal employees as well as external vendors and customers
• Identify the pricing models associated with modern cloud systems

Early risers will be rewarded with an interactive session with Deloitte and Workiva discussing the impacts of climate risk on investor-grade financial disclosures. Join for a practical discussion about the role and purpose of climate disclosures, how to assess materiality for ESG and financial reporting, and how climate disclosure influences financial reporting exercises, including a review of common financial reporting examples that may be impacted by climate. The session will address how climate affects teams and processes and the role of technology. Questions from attendees are encouraged during the discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the impact of climate risk on financial reporting, including regulated reporting to the SEC
• Determine materiality from both an ESG and financial reporting perspective
• Identify how to combine financial and nonfinancial data for disclosure

In 2023 and looking forward, workplace flexibility, attracting and retaining talent and succession are top of mind in the C-Suite and throughout your organizations. How is your company managing the increasing demands for workplace flexibility? Are you effectively and fruitfully attracting top talent or are you seeing talent leave the organization?

With the high demand for workplace flexibility, how are you helping your managers better navigate the challenges of leading an increasing number of hybrid workers?

We’ll discuss these issues and the different perspectives in this panel discussion, with experts from a cross section of industries. We’ll also hear Best Practices from our panel as well as key areas of focus from Talent Expert, Executive Search and Board Advisor, Dara Klein, Managing Director Kaplan Partners.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish the successes and challenges of workplace flexibility, and the impact on talent retention and acquisition.
• Recognize some key opportunities, right inside your own organization, for building a more diverse workforce
• Identify how learning opportunities, career pathing and a clear succession process influences employee performance and satisfaction.

Update your profile with a complimentary professional headshot!

Thursday, May 11, 2023, 9am - 5pm in the Regency Foyer

Stop by Omega Accounting Solutions booth and pick up your "Headshot Passport", then head over to see Laura from Kinser Studios for your close up! Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity!

Sponsored by Omega Accounting Solutions

Small and medium businesses drive economic growth in the United States and are primary targets for acquisitions. However, a substantial percentage of small businesses fail and do not reach their full potential. Forward-looking risk management is key to enable emerging businesses to grow sustainably and maximize their value. During this presentation, we will discuss how to implement a forward-looking risk management mindset in your business, why proactive investments in growth capabilities lead to long-term benefits, and the keys to achieve Advanced Analytics maturity to enable effective risk management and smart business decisions.

Small and medium businesses drive economic growth in the United States and are primary targets for acquisitions. However, a substantial percentage of small businesses fail and do not reach their full potential. Forward-looking risk management is key to enable emerging businesses to grow sustainably and maximize their value. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify & understand the importance of effective risk management to enable fast growth.
• Analyze how to implement a forward-looking risk management mindset in your business.
• Determine why proactive investments in growth capabilities lead to long-term benefits.
• Identify the keys to achieve Advanced Analytics maturity to enable effective risk management and smart business decisions.

Thank you to our all-day coffee sponsor, Omega Accounting Solutions!

One of the recurring themes cited by CFO’s in today’s fast past business environment is the ongoing need for accelerated finance transformation. CFOs are increasingly becoming considered to be CVOs, or “Chief Value Officers,” in their organizations. In successful organizations, creating value is driven by value-based decisions. Value-based decisions are based on high quality data and analysis. High quality data and analysis are delivered by finance professionals that have a growth mindset.

Attend this interactive session to learn about the practical application of key business process improvement techniques and find out why you need to be M-A-D to succeed in a Finance Transformation (Mindset-Agile-Digital).

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of a growth mindset
• Identify how to empower your team to develop agile ways of working
• Recognize the tools and processes available to implement Agility in Finance

We will discuss recent business-related legislative updates and current hot topics including changes effective for tax years 2022 and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify recent legislative changes impacting businesses.
• Distinguish & discuss current hot topics in business taxation.
• Recognize & understand impacts of 2022 tax changes.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then how many spreadsheets can you replace with a more meaningful chart or graph?

By attending this session, you will come away with examples and resources for how data visualization can cause positive change for Finance and Accounting professionals. This tool-neutral session will introduce a common vocabulary for data visualization and provide examples of how to help your team reveal actionable insights in your data.

In addition to real-world examples, we will also provide some curated resources to help with continued learning after class.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify & understand a repeatable methodology for answering business and finance questions with data
• Recognize and interpret examples of data visualization and reveal actionable insights
• Indicate & discuss best practices for the use of color in data visualization
• Identify supplemental resources to allow continued learning about data analytics and visual reporting

Cybersecurity is an enterprise risk which requires cyber savvy CFOs to address in their oversight responsibilities. This presentation will provide a discussion of today’s cyber threat landscape and some of the strategic challenges facing today’s CFO in addressing cybersecurity as an enterprise risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key elements of today’s cyber threat landscape
• Recognize challenges and considerations in addressing cybersecurity as an enterprise risk

Most acquisitions fail to achieve their potential economic value because of ineffective and unsustainable integrations. No M&A integration can succeed without addressing foundational systems and processes. Key areas of discussion in this session that will enable to improve M&A integrations include the following:

· Timing of the integration planning and execution

· Consideration of similarities and differences between the organization and business being acquired to identify areas or capabilities which may not be integrated

· Communication and execution, including financial reporting post-closing

Although one size does not fit all situations, leaving a business as a stand-alone is not an integration.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify & understand the importance of planning for a successful acquisition and integration
• Analyze areas and issues that may arise if not initially addressed

Increasing concerns about ESG issues range from climate-related droughts and disasters, to diversity, equity, inclusion, as well as employee health and well-being. These increasing concerns have translated into broader expectations of businesses to address these issues, and to report on them. These expectations are not limited to requirements imposed by regulators, but also include demands by investors, private equity providers, banks and other financial institutions. Financing around the globe is increasingly being linked to progress on various ESG targets or measures.

In terms of reporting, the initial two global standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) are scheduled for launch in June 2023. In the U.S., the final SEC rule on GHG disclosures is expected to also be released mid-year. In the EU, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), has a comprehensive suite of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) in the final stages of review and approval. Also expected in 2023 is the release of the final Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework designed to address biodiversity concerns.

This session will provide an overview of the rapidly developing ESG landscape, along with examples of initiatives by leading companies to develop and implement internal strategies to meet the ESG goals of their organizations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key components of the sustainability landscape and the potential impact on your business
• Analyze the critical concepts and timelines of the key standards, regulations, and reporting frameworks
• Determine a plan for designing, implementing, and monitoring an ESG accounting and reporting program that is suitable for your organization

Performance management has come a long way from a decade ago when a Deloitte survey found that only 7% of CEOs believed that their organization's approach to performance management was effective.  But we still have a lot to learn. In this session, we'll go through real examples of performance management approaches at different organizations and dissect what works and what to avoid.  We'll share research about behavioral science and neuroscience and apply it to the design of your performance management systems.  Lastly, we'll discuss how to tailor your approach to fit the culture of your team.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine factors that contribute to an effective performance management system
• Identify factors that can detract from effective performance management
• Analyze tools that can support an effective performance management system
• Calculate how to tailor your approach to performance to the culture of your organization
• Apply behavioral science research to the design of performance management systems

In today’s volatile, uncertain and complex economic environment, business leaders are increasingly looking to their finance functions to provide information that is critical for strategic decision-making. Success in this world requires that finance functions develop the skillsets and mindsets needed for them to partner with their businesses and move up the curve from providing hindsight to providing insight that will create value.

Attend this session to learn about some of today’s best practices in finance business partnering, and how emerging technologies will change what the future of finance looks like.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key components of the Finance and Accounting Maturity Matrix (FAMM)
• Assess where your finance function sits in the FAMM and where you want to be
• Formulate ideas for driving innovation and change in your business

Discussion about equity and inclusion in the workplace. Building inclusive high performing teams. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
• Determine the importance and benefits of DEI.
• Apply an assessment tool for self-reflection.
• Identify resources for further assessment.

You won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind reception happening on the rooftop of the Sundance Terrace on Thursday evening, sponsored by Workiva! This reception will feature a full bar with some unique, specialty cocktails, a s'mores station, live music by Salt Lake City's upbeat party band, The Current, more networking opportunities & more! Meet us & Workiva's team on the terrace at 8:00pm!

Traditionally, tax processes have been treated separately from financial reporting processes, resulting in data silos and a lack of visibility into the tax implications of financial transactions. As regulatory change and scrutiny increases and becomes more complex the need for integrated tax and financial accounting systems becomes more pressing. Integrating tax-related data and processes into the financial close and consolidation process helps ensure that tax-related data is accurate and consistent with financial reporting requirements. This “Convergence” includes incorporating tax data into financial statements, automating tax calculations, and streamlining tax reporting processes, resulting in process efficiencies, reduced risk and shorter compliance cycles.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess potential impact/s of Global Minimum Tax regulatory changes
• Determine how single platform accounting system’s integrative capabilities eliminate data silos, improving the FC&C, Direct Tax and FP&A functions under the purview of the CFO

With the growing accountant shortage, how can CFOs promote the accounting profession as transitioning from traditional "bean counter" roles to focus on digital transformation and strategic business partnerships?
Furthermore, universities are integrating data analytics into accounting education creating STEM-designated programs - besides improving program outcomes, the STEM-designation is also creating a talent pipeline of international candidates who are now eligible for the 3-year post-study work authorization like the techies (instead of the traditional 1-year OPT that is applicable for non-STEM programs).

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the future of the accountant in business and the need for better positioning for accounting job roles
• Identify opportunities to increase the talent pipeline of finance and accounting talent
• Recognize the power of STEM in accounting education as it also expands the talent pipeline to include international candidates

In this session, we will talk about the value of data and how it integrates into your overall financial function.  In today's world, costs and ROI are central themes.  Additionally, financial functions are no longer just about issuing financial statements.  We are in a world where the data and variables that supports the financial function are the most critical pieces of information at times.  Knowing and understanding your supply chain becomes a critical element to FP&A and financial results.  Glen Parrillo will talk about his 8+ year journey at AccuWeather to build FP&A and supply chain functions from scratch.  These functions translated into revenues and margins growing by over 3x during that span.  Glen is also involved as the CFO of a regional construction firm in Central Pennsylvania called GM McCrossin.  In addition to his CFO role, Glen is also developing his own start-up and sports analytics business called PANDA Stronger.  In every role Glen engages, he stresses the value of information, data, and how to integrate it into his business platforms. 

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze building and expanding the utilization of FP&A and Supply Chain functions
• Formulate a conversation related to data and how that evolution will continue to accelerate

Join us as we walk through a case study of how we transformed one company's planning, analysis, and reporting functions to generate a 150% ROI in six months. We grew profitability, and provided unprecedented gains in productivity. 

In this session, we will focus closely on financial process improvement, the Excel culture, and the value of disburdening the administration and clerking of Excel in favor of analysis that improves employee morale and sets the compass towards "visionary intelligence". 

We will explore true collaboration, centralization, governance, and connectivity. 

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the value of automation and business intelligence as it relates to Planning & Continuous Forecasting
• Identify the Excel Culture that permeates all areas of Finance & Accounting
• Determine & demonstrate the need all organizations have for Financial Process Improvement

This session will provide an update on the FASB's standard-setting activities, including recently issued Accounting Standards Updates and current projects on the FASB's technical agenda that may impact private companies. Specific topics that will be covered include the new current expected credit loss standard, changes made to the accounting for convertible instruments, certain aspects of accounting for business combinations, and reference rate reform.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the FASB's current agenda and active projects
• Identify the changes mandated by the new current expected credit loss standard and plan for adoption of the standard
• Indicate whether changes made to the accounting for convertible debt instruments will be relevant for a specific company
• Identify changes to the accounting for asset acquisitions and business combinations
• Recognize & plan for potential accounting implications of the upcoming reference rate reform

The agents will present different ways individuals commit fraud along with post COVID challenges.  The agents will also identify things to look out for and provide ways to avoid or catch fraud.  The agents will also explain how to handle suspected fraud.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize Ways to Catch or Deter Fraud
• Identify Different Types of Fraud

In this session, a panel of workforce experts will navigate the intricacies of the generational groups that make up our workforce and how to identify which group they belong to. We will also discuss what we can do as leaders to evolve our leadership style, business operations, and hiring and retention practices to thrive with the workforce. Furthermore, we will take a deep dive into preparing for the future trends and direction of the workforce.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize and define workforce generations
• Determine what today’s workforce wants from their employers
• Identify how to recalibrate senior leaders’ expectations on today’s workforce
• Analyze where is the workforce now and where we are headed
• Assess hiring and retention in today’s market