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.

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?

David Levi

Esq., MBA, CPA, MSJ/Law, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller & Chief Accounting Officer
VONAGE

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Angela Schuchart

Vice President Finance Digital Transformation
U.S. Venture, Inc.

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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 operationsAddressing 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

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. 

There’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

Claire Grosjean

Senior Director of Business Process Management
Technology Credit Union

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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

Rolando Alvarez

Global Finance Process, Data, and Technology Leader
CARGILL

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Sit down with your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers and enjoy a delicious luncheon and lively group conversations.

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. 

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

Emmanuel Lai

Vice President - Intelligent Automation Program Leader
WELLS FARGO

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Seshu Yalamanchili

Director, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Application Strategy and Execution
VISA

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Peter Sursi

Head of Finance Modernization
FBI

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In today’s competitive business environment, optimizing cash flow and maximizing revenue from existing operations are key priorities for finance leaders. One critical area of focus is reducing Day Sales Outstanding (DSO) and transforming the accounts receivable (AR) function. In this session, a seasoned finance transformation leader will share valuable lessons learned from real-world experiences, detailing strategies to unlock hidden revenue within the AR process. Attendees will gain actionable insights into how to streamline AR operations, improve cash collection, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

• Leveraging Data Analytics for DSO Reduction: Explore how data-driven insights and predictive analytics can identify inefficiencies and accelerate collections, reducing DSO and improving cash flow.
• Implementing Automation and Technology: Learn how to integrate automation tools to streamline AR processes, reduce manual errors, and enhance the efficiency of collections, enabling quicker revenue realization.
• Building Cross-Functional Collaboration: Understand the importance of fostering collaboration between finance, sales, and customer service teams to create a holistic approach to AR management that aligns with revenue objectives.

Chris Montgomery

Digital Finance Leader
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

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Get to know your finance, technology, operations, and CoE peers better by spending some downtime together socializing.