Preparing for a CFO Role

John L. Daly, CPA, CMA, CPIM, MBA, Executive Education, Inc.

Many accountants spend their early career trying to develop technical skills, yet a surprising proportion of public company chief financial officers don't even have an accounting degree. What does it take to become a CFO and be successful once you get there? Whether you are early or late in your career, this session will provide valuable insights. Come hear stories of a real-world CFO’s successes and failures.

It's time to network with colleagues and visit sponsor tables.

1. Numbers Rule the World, But They Don't Speak the Words

   Bob Mims, CPA, The Knowledge Institute

   How can a numbers person master words and communication in an ever-changing and social dynamic? This session will reveal common communication mistakes financial professionals make and suggest solutions. Topics discussed include:
   

   • When should I text, email, phone or meet?
   • How to write emails that people actually read
   • How to say “no” tactfully
   • How to communicate information so others understand
   • Identifying the big picture and your communications role

 

2. Optimizing Working Capital Management

   Dana Johnson, CPA, CMA, Ph.D., Johnson Professional Services, LLC

   “Cash is king.” Strong working capital management enhances growth, profitability and liquidity, while substantially reducing risk. This session discusses proven techniques to manage through the peaks and valleys for longer term stability.

It's time to network with colleagues and visit sponsor tables.

1. Corporate Ethics: Cases in Diversity & Inclusion

   John L. Daly, CPA, CMA, CPIM, MBA, Executive Education, Inc.

   The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct makes it clear that workplace harassment and discrimination is unacceptable but gives little further guidance. Other behavior standards can help us fill the gaps. This session will discuss cases involving ethical issues relating to diversity, sexually hostile work environments, gender identity and discrimination.

 

2. The Finance Team of Tomorrow

   Bob Mims, CPA, The Knowledge Institute

   Best financial management practices have changed considerably in the last 20 years and are likely to continue to change for years to come. New tools continually make us more efficient. If we ignore our profession's advances, we will eventually become as obsolete as a 10-key calculator. This session will discuss current best practices that you may not have implemented and other techniques that are likely to become best practices of the future.
   

    

It's time for lunch and networking with colleagues.

1. Advanced Capital Budgeting

   Dana Johnson, CPA, CMA, Ph.D., Johnson Professional Services, LLC

   Since we operate in a dynamic, ever-changing market, why do we typically use static capital budgeting models? Traditional, static models are not enough. An integrated capital budgeting approach will result in greater overall returns and stronger impact to the bottom line.

 

2. Fixing Your Chart of Accounts

   John L. Daly, CPA, CMA, CPIM, MBA, Executive Education, Inc.

   A well-organized chart of accounts supports robust responsibility reporting, makes it easy to answer "what if?" questions and helps eliminate data entry errors.  However, many organizations cling to the primitive practices of a half-century ago that impose barriers to developing budgets, holding people accountable, gathering useful data and keeping errors from creeping into financial statements.
   
   Best practices today look little like the examples you may have seen in business school. If you sense that your general ledger could do far more, this session will show you how to fix your problems.

 

It's time to network with colleagues and visit sponsor tables.

Advice to My Younger Self

Dana Johnson, CPA, CMA, Ph.D., Johnson Professional Services, LLC, Bob Mims, CPA, The Knowledge Institute, and John L. Daly, CPA, CMA, CPIM, MBA, Executive Education, Inc.

The conference’s three speakers will discuss advice they would give to themselves, or other younger professionals, upon looking back at successes, failures and struggles of their careers.

Don't forget to turn in your CPE form at the registration desk. Look for an event survey; please give us your feedback so we can create another great conference next year!