Finance Transformation Conference
MAIN DAY ONE: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
7:50 am - 8:50 am
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING BREAKFAST
After signing in at the Registration Desk, kick off your event experience by joining your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers for a delicious breakfast and lively conversations.
8:50 am - 8:55 am
SSON WELCOME ADDRESS
8:55 am - 9:00 am
CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS
Erum Manzoor -
Senior Vice President, Digital and Cloud Technologies,
Citi
9:00 am - 9:45 am
The Art of Finance Transformation and Strategically Navigating the Economic & Business Landscape
Angela Schuchart -
Vice President Finance Digital Transformation,
U.S. Venture, Inc.
Rolando Alvarez - Global Finance Process, Data, and Technology Leader, Cargill
Srini Cherukumilli - Head of Global Business Services, Tropicana Brands Group
Erum Manzoor - Senior Vice President, Digital and Cloud Technologies, Citi
In today’s highly digital-first and competitive landscape, most organizations have already developed their digital and business transformation 5-year strategy plans and are currently rolling out the programs they developed quite some time ago. And of course, they are knee-deep in steering the digital and business transformation initiatives they developed years ago, fine tuning them along the way based upon the reality of current day external and internal variables. Hear how leaders envision their current finance automation programs, what problems they were trying to solve, and the business value they intended to reap, now and into the next 5+ years. By better understanding their vision and objectives, you can in turn align your finance automation strategy, implementation, and budgets accordingly.
Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- What are your core objectives with respect to utilizing intelligent automation and generative AI within finance?
- What areas of finance operations should we apply our digital transformation efforts and budgets towards?
- Are there any very specific areas of finance we should focus our automation and digital transformation efforts towards?
- What type of finance automation and generative technologies have you already heavily invested in - and will continue to do so on a short and long-term basis?
9:45 am - 10:25 am
Redefining Finance Operations to Create a Customer-Centric Digitally Enabled Business of the Future
Lee Coulter -
Global Head of Transformation,
Chazey Partners
Phil Searle - Founder & CEO, Chazey Partners
Within finance operations, data analytics stands out as a transformative force that has the capability to reshape how finance operates and strategizes. Through the careful analysis of financial data, an organization can unlock invaluable insights, spotting patterns, and uncovering avenues for enhancement. This analytical prowess empowers finance professionals to refine workflows, enhance forecasting precision, pinpoint irregularities, and manage risks effectively. Furthermore, it enables agile, responsive reporting, allowing finance teams to adapt swiftly to market fluctuations. Ultimately, embracing data analytics within finance operations holds the promise of heightened efficiency, cost reduction, and enhanced organizational and finance business decisions.
Topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Establishing clear objectives and goals for data analytics initiatives within finance operations. Addressing data privacy and compliance regulations to safeguard sensitive information and ensure regulatory adherence
- Dealing with the complexity of financial data and ensuring accurate interpretation and analysis for informed decision-making
- Continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of data analytics initiatives, iterating and refining strategies as needed to maximize impact
- Examining data visualization platforms, predictive analytics software, and other specialized finance data analytics tools that can offer insights and solutions for efficient finance data analysis and decision-making
10:30 am - 11:15 am
NETWORKING BREAK
Enjoy some light snacks and beverages while meeting up with your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers - and be sure to take part in the very engaging and highly informative Demo Drive, so to maximize your time and effort in meeting with some of the leading automation and generative AI solution providers.
OPPORTUNITIES & BUSINESS IMPACT
11:15 am - 11:50 am How to Undergo a Finance Transformation Journey with Limited Investment into Your ERP Claire Grosjean - Senior Director of Business Process Management, Technology Credit UnionThere’s certainly a wide array of automation and generative AI tools to choose from these days and having a keen understanding of their capabilities, restrictions, costs, and benefits is of utmost importance prior to selection and usage. Furthermore, considering automation tool selection must be hyper-aligned with business objectives and provide scalability, navigating the complexities of selecting and integrating finance automation tools can be quite overwhelming.
In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Strategies to select the right mix of automation tools that align with specific finance processes and objectives now and into the future - and are also scalable
- Choosing automation tools that put into account your organization’s data ecosystem, technology infrastructure, workforce and resource allocations, and ability to seamlessly integrate new automation software with existing tools, as well as legacy systems
- Evaluating various vendor software licensing options and implementation partnership contract terms that align with your evolving organizational needs and budgets
- Selecting automation tools that are user-friendly - and are in sync with your finance culture, talent management, and change management initiatives
IA Select Executive Boardroom
11:15 am - 12:00 pm Fireside Chat: Developing Impactful Automation Roadmaps & Evaluating Their Feasibility & Value Amy Bryant Sieben - Intelligent Process Automation CoE Lead & Senior Manager IT, Georgia-Pacific
Amy Bryant Sieben
Intelligent Process Automation CoE Lead & Senior Manager ITGeorgia-Pacific
OPPORTUNITIES & BUSINESS IMPACT
11:55 am - 12:30 pm Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Enhance Business Impact to Finance Operations Rolando Alvarez - Global Finance Process, Data, and Technology Leader, CargillDhru Shah - Former Director, Generative AI Operations & Intelligent Automation CoE, AT&T
Many organizations are increasingly turning to generative AI as a transformative tool to drive enhanced business impact within finance operations. With its ability to streamline finance processes, optimize customer interactions, and empower advanced financial analysis, tapping into its capabilities can indeed provide a wide array of value into finance operations.
In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Exploring the diverse applications of generative AI in finance operations
- Harnessing generative AI to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency
- Leveraging generative AI for advanced financial analysis and forecasting
- Utilizing generative AI to optimize customer interactions and support personalized services
IA Select Executive Boardroom
11:55 am - 12:40 pm Boardroom Discussion: Effective IA Project Collaboration Between Automation Teams and Functional Leaders to Provide Valuable Business Outcomes Angela McKeirnan - Director, Global Supply Chain Lifecycle Management, SolenisAs organizations, most notably enterprise organizations, prioritize their digital transformation initiatives, the spotlight turns to process automation as a means to enhance efficiency across various functional areas. However, before automation can take center stage, it requires a concerted effort involving automation teams, functional departments, governance, IT, audit, and more. Furthermore, before any functional area process or processes can be automated, there are many steps that must be taken between automation teams, the functional area in need of an automation roll-out, as well as many other parties, such as governance and oversight, IT, audit, and much more, so to ensure program feasibility prior to launch.
In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Working effectively with various areas of the business, so to help identify which processes could, should, or should not be automated
- Identifying, reviewing, and analyzing current and future automation program rollouts
- Challenges and solutions of collaborating with various functional area leaders, with respect to determining if a potential automation program meets the required technical, infrastructure, workforce, audit, governance, and other business requirements
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
Sit down with your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers and enjoy a delicious luncheon and lively group conversations.
IDG 1
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Creating a Continuous Improvement and Growth Mindset Sarah Chasney - Director of Payroll, Travel and Expense, Banfield Pet Hospital
IDG 2
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Drive Out Costs and Improve Efficiencies in Financial Operations with Process Intelligence Andrew Pery - Digital Transformation Expert and AI Ethics Evangelist, ABBYY
IDG 3
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Driving Cost Savings and Efficiencies with Process Reengineering Vipul Vohra - Head of Operations Excellence & Business Transformation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise- Identifying bottlenecks and streamlines collections processes
- Discovering variations in budgeting workflows for accuracy
- Mining purchase-to-pay processes for optimization
- Ensuring compliance and accuracy in financial close processes
- Streamlining financial reporting cycles with workflow patterns
Vipul Vohra
Head of Operations Excellence & Business TransformationHewlett Packard Enterprise
IDG 4
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Leveraging AI to Streamline Finance Process Automation Austin Ayres - Head of Alliances, Klarity
2:10 pm - 2:15 pm
TRANSITIONAL BREAK
IDG 1
2:15 pm - 2:55 pm Creating a Continuous Improvement and Growth Mindset Sarah Chasney - Director of Payroll, Travel and Expense, Banfield Pet HospitalIDG 2
2:15 pm - 2:55 pm Drive Out Costs and Improve Efficiencies in Financial Operations with Process Intelligence Andrew Pery - Digital Transformation Expert and AI Ethics Evangelist, ABBYYIDG 3
2:15 pm - 2:55 pm Driving Cost Savings and Efficiencies with Process Reengineering Vipul Vohra - Head of Operations Excellence & Business Transformation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise- Identifying bottlenecks and streamlines collections processes
- Discovering variations in budgeting workflows for accuracy
- Mining purchase-to-pay processes for optimization
- Ensuring compliance and accuracy in financial close processes
- Streamlining financial reporting cycles with workflow patterns
Vipul Vohra
Head of Operations Excellence & Business TransformationHewlett Packard Enterprise
IDG 4
2:15 pm - 2:55 pm Leveraging AI to Streamline Finance Process Automation Austin Ayres - Head of Alliances, Klarity
2:55 pm - 3:25 pm
NETWORKING BREAK
Enjoy some light snacks and beverages while meeting up with your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers - and be sure to take part in the very engaging and highly informative Demo Drive, so to maximize your time and effort in meeting with some of the leading automation and generative AI solution providers.
3:25 pm - 4:10 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: Breaking Down Silos- Establishing Cross-Functional Project Collaboration
Jonathan Hardy -
CSPO, FRM, PMP, SA, Head of Intelligent Automation Software Engineering,
TRUIST
Vipul Vohra - Head of Operations Excellence & Business Transformation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Srini Cherukumilli - Head of Global Business Services, Tropicana Brands Group
Most organizations are in full throttle mode of planning or implementing a wide array of automation and generative AI initiatives, across the enterprise as well as within their finance operations. With respect to finance automation and transformation, the programs are being driven and managed by finance, technology, the CoE, and various other support functional areas of the business. With so many players in the sandbox, it’s no surprise that silo dynamics are the biggest pain point when introducing, and/or expanding upon finance automation programs.
In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Effective methods to ensure cross-functional buy in, project prioritization, and resource allocation
- Defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations for finance, technology, operations, the CoE, and other support functional areas to work together effectively
- Methods to foster cross-functional team communication and collaboration, promoting transparency, trust, and project alignment across diverse teams
- Technology platforms that provide a comprehensive view of automation projects, enabling teams to identify opportunities for cohesive collaboration and streamline workflows
Jonathan Hardy
CSPO, FRM, PMP, SA, Head of Intelligent Automation Software EngineeringTRUIST
Vipul Vohra
Head of Operations Excellence & Business TransformationHewlett Packard Enterprise
4:10 pm - 4:45 pm
Upskilling & Reskilling to Solve the Talent Supply & Demand Challenges
Jonathan Hardy -
CSPO, FRM, PMP, SA, Head of Intelligent Automation Software Engineering,
TRUIST
It’s never been easy to recruit, retain, and upskill automation talent. Furthermore, with so many organizations in full throttle mode of planning or implementing digital transformation rollouts across their enterprise, the demand for automation talent is drastically higher than supply, which creates a chaotic and off-balance seesaw ride between available automation talent and automation programs that need to move forward.
In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:
- Developing innovative automation workforce recruitment and retainment initiatives
- Various workforce engagement programs and how they can reduce automation workforce turnover and increase productivity, engagement, and employee job satisfaction
- Identifying internal workforce candidates that have the potential to be automation Champions, and/or spearhead silo Citizen Development programs
Jonathan Hardy
CSPO, FRM, PMP, SA, Head of Intelligent Automation Software EngineeringTRUIST
4:45 pm - 4:50 pm
CHAIRPERSON’S CLOSING REMARKS
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
WELCOME NETWORKING RECEPTION
Get to know your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers better by spending some downtime together socializing.
