The CFO’s Role in Enterprise Risk Management (A&A)

John Levy, CPA, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

Corporate risk management is under increasing scrutiny from auditors, regulators, and shareholders. Properly managed, an organizations risk management process embraces opportunity and avoids hazards. When risk is improperly managed, the organization’s value can plummet, and key executives resign in disgrace. While nominal risk management responsibility rests with the board of directors, boards increasingly turn to the CFO to lead risk management efforts. This session will help you take a leadership role within your organization.

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

1. Cash Conversion Cycle: Tools & Techniques

   Richard A. Karwic, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   How well do you understand your company’s cash flows? Good cash management techniques can provide a competitive advantage! This session will show you how to effectively measure and manage your cash conversion cycle. With a more complete understanding of how cash flows through your organization, you can eliminate impediments. Better cash management lowers your borrowing costs, reduces financing needs, and creates financial flexibility in your company.

   
   

2. Fraud Alert! Loss Prevention and Control (A&A)

   Robert Berry, CPA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   Fraud Alert! is one session you cannot afford to miss. Fraud will affect you in some manner; prepare for the inevitable. A study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners estimated fraud costs the world economy in excess of $3.5 trillion per year (the equivalent of $4,500 per employee). This same study estimated the course of normal audits discovers only about 11% of frauds versus approximately 19% discovered by accident. This session will examine various types of frauds and discuss ways to prevent, detect and investigate these activities.

   
   

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

1. Measuring and Reporting on Sustainability (A&A)

   John Levy, CPA, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   Accountants are ideally suited to measure sustainability efforts because we collect and analyze our organizations’ information. Until we can adequately measure sustainability efforts and their returns in terms of time and money, many businesses will not fully embrace sustainability. Accountants should lead efforts to report on sustainability because we have the experience and knowledge to create clear, concise, and informative documents. This session reviews the challenges in measuring and reporting sustainability efforts, discusses current best practices and provides thoughts about the future of sustainability measurement and reporting.

   
   

2. Making Predictions: Plans for the Future

   Robert Berry, CPA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   We all make predictions in our personal and professional lives. We base our decisions to marry, buy a house, launch a new product, or hire staff on expectations about the future. In the past few years, research into improving predictions has advanced. We will look at this research and current best practices in forecasting to help us prepare better budgets and projections.

   
   

It's time to have lunch with colleagues and visit sponsor tables. Lunch is provided.

1. Ethical Leadership: Power, Influence, Integrity, and Trust (Ethics)

   Richard A. Karwic, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   Trustworthy leadership in the workplace is a business advantage, but trusted leaders are not necessarily trustworthy leaders. We will review where ethics and trust should always intersect and specific behaviors that are building blocks to create and authentically apply trust. How can we wield influence without formal authority? What are the different types of power and how power can be used or abused? Ethics and trust require one another, you must have both. If you believe that ethics and trust truly matter, please join us to learn more.

   
   

2. Controlling Management Continuity Risk: Ready for the Next Change in Leadership? (A&A)

   John Levy, CPA, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

   Does your organization risk operational disruption due to a key personnel loss? Are your internal auditors and risk management personnel routinely assessing your exposure to losing key skills and talent? Is your Auditor satisfactorily assessing succession and planning risks? What will happen when the next leader takes over? The math is straightforward, the sixty-year old leader will leave the organization and today’s thirty-year-old will be on tomorrow’s leadership team. What does the younger generation want? What can we do today to protect our business and value? Are our people engaged? Procrastination is not a sound strategy. Leadership will change. Learn how to analyze the risks and prepare in advance, so the organization will be properly positioned. This session could help your organization prevent its next crisis.

   
   

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

Big Four Reasons Why CPAs are Fired — Panel Discussion

Robert Berry, CPA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

Richard A. Karwic, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

John Levy, CPA, MBA, The Knowledge Institute, LLC

Why do clients fire CPAs frequently? Client turnover, or churn, damages relationships, reputations, and economics. What lessons can we all learn from the everyday mistakes made by seemingly savvy CPAs? What are the four reasons why CPAs are replaced? We will discuss the action steps to take to improve client satisfaction today. Additionally, these lessons are applicable for every business leader, not simply for CPAs. The four reasons why CPAs are replaced are not merely something “nice to do” but can mean the difference between success, failure, and survival in today’s competitive environment. If you want to improve your business and professional relationships, this session will open your eyes.