11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
3 - 4 p.m.
4:15 - 4:45 p.m.
Using Decision Analytics to Manage Portfolios
The R&D portfolio management team at Bayer Crop Sciences is using the principles of decision analytics to manage their R&D investment portfolios, involving both long-term and short-term understanding of impacts, risks, etc. They are going through digital transformation at a large scale and have also started the journey of applying similar decision analysis principles to manage the digital transformation portfolio. In this session BCS’s Corporate finance professionals share their methodologies as well as what they have learned from this process.
14
From Numbers Geek to Compelling Influencer
While many FP&A professionals adequately fulfill the duties associated with their role, many are capable of attaining a high level of effectiveness with further development of their consulting and people skills. American Family Insurance has developed a framework and tool based on the skills observed in extremely effective consultants. In this session, walk through that framework and learn about a tool that you can use to enhance your own skills or those of your staff.
15
Chart Your Course to Effective Leadership
The genesis of leadership starts with two principles: knowing yourself and knowing your people. No matter how many people you oversee, this presentation outlines easy and practical techniques to first recognize the leader in yourself, how to better understand your people, then weaves this information into actionable practices. Learn important leadership lessons derived from 24 years of both military and civilian service, and how to implement these lessons into your own leadership practices.
16
Alternative Approaches to Valuation: Going beyond DCF and Multiples
Most financial professionals are familiar with the traditional approaches to valuing companies and major assets such as DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) and Multiples. However, alternative approaches such as real options, decision trees and Monte Carlo Simulations may provide a better way to value companies and/or assets that don’t fit into the standard mold. In this session, hear how these alternative compare to traditional models, and how they can be applied to difficult valuation problems such as young start-up companies, intangible assets, or projects with high degrees of uncertainty.
13
The Power of a Diverse FP&A Team
The world is globalizing, and organizations need to ensure they are evolving to keep pace. Building a diverse workforce pays dividends for both finance and the organization as a whole. A panel of finance and research leaders explore what true diversity looks like—“representing” diversity vs “being” diverse—and how to create and foster a diverse work environment that functions fluidly throughout your organization.
12
10
Recipe for Success: FP&A’s Role in Leading Digital Transformation at National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association is the largest foodservice trade association in the world, with their economic engine originally built on delivering training and education via primarily print-based solutions. Amid rapid industry changes, they embarked on a digital transformation program touching virtually all facets of the organization with FP&A serving as the essential liaison between executive leadership, business operations, IT, and external consultants. This session explores how FP&A addresses implementation challenges, creates a roadmap for success, and establishes a unique business partnering operating model.
11
Statistically Significant: Driver Based Planning
Companies rely on driver-based planning for direction in prioritizing their most important business factors. But how do you empirically identify and rigorously test the drivers in your driver-based planning? Learn how FP&A can be the strategic partner that operational managers rely on to identify the best drivers by walking through the sourcing process, correlation analysis, and how to test for and identify forecast biases in models. This session utilizes examples from multiple industries to provide practical techniques for creating driver-based models, including a “flex” budget example that adjusts budgets and targets to sales volumes.
9
Pitfalls in Partnership
Business partnership is easy—just play nice in the sandbox, right? Despite our best intentions, we may not realize some common challenges in our attempts to be a good partner. This session shares several practitioner examples of good intentions gone wrong, and how the individuals and companies recovered to build strong relationships with their partners and customers. This highly engaging discussion gives attendees the opportunity to hear and learn from their peers while also sharing their own strategies for being an effective business partner.
8
6
Deals, Dreams & Data: How a $6B Deal Accelerated Invesco’s FP&A Transformation
Invesco’s acquisition of Oppenheimer Funds includes a goal to extract $475m in cost savings (16% of combined cost base) while executing a seamless business integration. The deal provides the opportunity to expand upon their digital transformation in multiple areas, such as upskilling their people, integrating technology beyond spreadsheets, and optimizing their processes to leverage these new capabilities. Learn how the team is restructuring to incorporate multiple technology knowledge systems while also fostering the development of traditional FP&A skillsets.
7
While your organization may have successfully transitioned reporting from tables, charts, and emails to powerful dashboards, you may not be utilizing research-tested and industry leading design and data visualization principles that can take your BI from good to great. Microsoft’s finance organization has spent years researching the principles of data visualization and design to create intuitive, action-oriented dashboards and reports that drive deeper conversations and deliver more impactful business outcomes. Hear from a finance practitioner and data visualization expert as they show you how to add these principles to your own toolkit to transform your reporting, simplify your workflows, and increase your impact.
5
Integrating Accounting Changes Through Your Forecast
Changes in accounting policies can change the calculation of income or balance sheets; your ability to plan accurately requires that these changes flow through your forecasts as well. However, implementing these changes can be a complicated effort involving multiple teams and overturning entrenched habits. Learn about three companies managed major accounting changes—ASC 606 Revenue Recognition, ASC 842 Lease Accounting, and capitalization of IT costs—and hear the process of how FP&A professionals gained agreement on the impact, updated their models, and prepared the business for the new calculations.
4
Success in Simplicity: Establishing the Foundation for Planning & Analytics at Nucor
As the largest steel producer and recycler in the United States Nucor is challenged with forecasting projected cash positions for numerous projects spanning many years and consolidating data from 200+ locations and making actionable decisions across the enterprise. Get a close view of how Nucor’s FP&A team implemented a cloud-based planning and analytics solution that enabled an integrated, connected planning network across the organization. Learn how their focus on simplicity and scalability, recognizing where the solution could quickly be adopted and deployed while optimizing and providing critical business information.
3
We are entering an era of digital finance that requires on-demand continuous planning where human and Artificial Intelligence (AI) work hand in hand to achieve better analytical results for data driven decisions. This session shares how FP&A professionals can leverage AI-enabled capabilities to augment subjective estimates of future performance with insightful and unbiased analytics, AI-driven revenue and operating forecasts, operational predictive analytics, and improved decision management. Attendees learn from a case study on applying this analytical process that includes the resulting economic benefits while also addressing why many analytic cultures ultimately fail.
Using AI-enabled Predictive Analytics for Unbiased Forecasting and Decision-Making
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
The Power of FP&A in Shaping M&A Performance
In 2018, M&A activity was valued at US$3.6 trillion with over 17,000 transactions worldwide, opening the opportunity for FP&A teams to play an instrumental role in enhancing the performance of the M&A process. This session covers the practical tools that support the M&A process at different levels in your organization and analyzes the importance of synergizing business models. Whether you are the acquirer or the acquired, gain valuable insights for improving the odds of a successful integration, and how to identify and lead a merger repair.
21
The CXO Perspective: Career Pathing That Leverages FP&A Talent
FP&A is both a box on the organizational chart as well as a set of skills that are useful that you can build on to deploy in different parts of the company. Hear from a panel of business leaders who are now applying their FP&A tools in new positions, including CFO, COO, Chief Business Intelligence, and Investor Relations. Learn how their careers changed, how they applied their FP&A skills to their new roles, and how they foster a culture that continues to develop and engage their top talent.
20
Transforming the Forecast at Guardian Industries
With manufacturing operations in 25 countries across 5 continents, aligning operational decisions to financial goals is critical to the success of Guardian Industries. Beginning in 2016, Guardian set out to ensure every key operational decision is aligned to business drivers and integrated directly into financial plans. In this session hear how they reinforced a culture of accountability and execution and provided the organization with the ability to visualize, measure and manage operational plans based on the unique requirements of the business.
19
Take Your Financial Analytics & Reporting to the Next Level
To reduce time spent on repetitive and mundane tasks, companies are automating processes to allow FP&A professionals more time to focus on valuable work. This session explores how companies are leveraging automation, machine learning, and powerful new business intelligence tools to take analytics and reporting to the next level. Learn what is possible through accessible tools (such as PowerBI), including customizable interactive reports, row-level security, mobile deployment, combining data from multiple sources, and the application of AI.
18
MONDAY
TUESDAY
KEYNOTES
CLOSING KEYNOTE
OPENING KEYNOTE
The Science of Perfect Timing
We’ve all heard that “timing is everything.” The trouble is, we don’t know much about timing itself. Our business and professional lives present a never-ending stream of “when” decisions. However, we make them based on intuition and guesswork because we believe that timing is an art. In this provocative and entertaining keynote, New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink shows that timing is a science – one we can use to make smarter decisions, enhance productivity, and boost the performance of FP&A organizations. Deeply researched and packed with takeaways, this keynote provides attendees tools to look at their work, organization, and lives, in fresh and invigorating ways.
Monday, 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Daniel Pink
Bestselling Author
Thinking Beyond the Dashboard: Power-up Your Finance BI with Data Visualization Skills
2
Session dimensions
Financial Acumen
technology & data
personal & teaM effectiveness
SUNDAY
Start FinNext off on the right foot when you attend the Welcome Reception. Here you'll have the opportunity to engage with fellow attendees who are passionate, like-minded FP&A practitioners in an informal setting - and celebrate your shared love for finance.
Navigating project investment decisions is a key activity of FP&A groups and successful corporate growth plans. How does your process compare to your peers? Using the results from AFP’s benchmarking survey as background for this facilitated talk, attendees discuss their FP&A team’s role throughout the project investment process. Additionally, in small groups, attendees share best practices, learn from their peers, and grow their professional network in this highly interactive session. This event is restricted to FP&A practitioners only. Seats for the FP&A Symposium are on a first come first serve basis and seating in the room is limited. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
The landscape of planning system projects is littered with mangled, delayed or failed implementations resulting in unmet goals and budget overages. Prepare your organization for success by laying the groundwork of project strategy, organizational motivation, and vendor selection. Attendees of this practitioner-only roundtable share their lessons learned and discuss best practices to successfully implement a new financial planning system. This event is restricted to FP&A practitioners only. Seats for the FP&A Roundtable are on a first come first serve basis and seating in the room is limited. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
From Data to Reporting & Insights Through Power BI
With an array of Business Intelligence tools at their disposal, FP&A professionals are tasked with managing, organizing, interpreting and sharing data and insights throughout their organizations. But, how can they utilize these tools to prioritize the data to make effective forecasting and capital allocation decisions? In this hands-on workshop, attendees learn business partnering techniques corresponding to effective reporting with Power BI. Attendees learn how to build and design a Power BI report and walk away with tips and best practices for visualizing information to make recommendations to stakeholders and business partners. The cost to attend this Pre-Conference Workshop is $550.
Pre-Conference Workshop
Register for this Workshop here
FP&A Roundtable: Implementing a Planning System
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
FP&A Symposium: Navigating Project Investment Decisions
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
FinNext 2020 Tech Challenge
The FinNext 2020 Tech Challenge allows attendees to view, learn about and compare various planning tools under similar conditions. Selected finalists will help a fictitious FP&A team understand their strengths and weaknesses and develop a sales forecast for their products through data exploration, visualization, analysis and forecasting. Attendees will select the most compelling presentation to win the FinNext 2020 Tech Challenge. This year's finalists are Jedox, Workiva, Unit4 and Peloton. Learn more about this year's Tech Challenge here.
Creating an Agile Planning Process
Is your organization agile enough to move beyond annual budgets that are often obsolete by the time they are printed? This session provides attendees with the tactics and strategies needed to replace their static budgeting practices with dynamic, forward-looking processes that better support financial performance management and decision making. Using direct case experience from LT Apparel, and other organizations that have already transformed, this session presents the steps (both evolutionary and revolutionary) needed to implement an agile planning process to ensure your organization succeeds in a constantly changing world.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Start building your schedule
Email Your FinNext Agenda
Print Your FinNext Agenda
Closing Keynote featuring Author and Technologist Amy Vetter
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m
Tuesday, March 17
3 – 4 p.m.
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Opening Keynote featuring Bestselling Author Daniel Pink
8:30 - 10 a.m.
Monday, March 16
5 - 6:30 p.m.
3:30 - 5 p.m.
1:30 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 15
This tool is for planning purposes only and does not ensure your spot in an educational session. Also, sessions will not be transferred to the FinNext app.
MY finnext AGenda
Sponsored by Planful
Tech Lounge Closing Reception
4:45 – 6 p.m.
4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
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Select the sessions you can't miss by clicking the icon to add them to your agenda. Your agenda will be automatically populated and will appear on the final page of the Event Explorer. Note: this will not reserve your spot in the session rooms at FinNext.
Sponsored by QueBIT
Becoming a Cherished Advisor in a World of Constant Innovation
Amy Vetter
Author, Yogi & Technologist
Amy Vetter is an expert on authentic leadership, technology and innovation, work-life balance, and productivity; she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Public Accounting. Creator of the B3 Method for developing work-life harmony, she is the author of Business, Balance & Bliss: How the B3 Method Can Transform Your Career and Life. Backed by scientific research, Vetter’s methodology on how to live a more authentic life and achieve work-life harmony is based on her own career journey and those of other successful business leaders. An accomplished CPA and recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Vetter regularly contributes her business insights to Inc, Entrepreneur, and CPA Practice Advisor.
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
VIEW YOUR FINNEXT AGENDA
The landscape of planning system projects is littered with mangled, delayed or failed implementations resulting in unmet goals and budget overages. Prepare your organization for success by laying the groundwork of project strategy, organizational motivation, and vendor selection. Attendees of this practitioner-only roundtable share their lessons learned and discuss best practices to successfully implement a new financial planning system. This event is restricted to FP&A practitioners only. Seats for the FP&A Symposium are on a first come first serve basis and seating in the room is limited. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
Widening the Aperture of What is Possible, Without Losing Focus of What is Important
Increasingly complex business environments coupled with the need for rapid decision-making present a unique set of challenges for FP&A professionals. More frequently, FP&A professionals are expected to provide a holistic view of company performance that goes beyond the data in a traditional financial statement. Learn how MITRE developed an FP&A analytical framework and how they utilize BI technologies to drive smarter decisions.
17
The world is globalizing, and finance needs to evolve with it. Diversity is an attribute that pays dividends for finance and the organization as a whole. A panel of finance and research leaders explore what true diversity looks like—“representing” diversity vs “being” diverse—and how to create and foster a diverse work environment that functions fluidly throughout your organization.
Transforming the Forecast at Waste Management
With $15B in revenues, over 300 transfer stations and 20M customers, Waste Management (WM) forecasts every aspect of the business. In 2016, WM initiated a digital finance transformation effort to modernize key forecasting and analysis processes. Explore how WM built a business case to automate forecast processes to enable users to analyze transaction level and payment data for dynamic variance and trend analysis. Hear about the challenges WM experienced on their journey towards improved speed, quality, and scale of forecasting and reporting across its 12 lines of business to create detailed plans across the entire organization.
Pitfalls in Planning: Moving From Enraged to Engaged
Business partnership is easy—just play nice in the sandbox, right? Despite our best intentions, we may not realize some common stumbles in our attempts to be a good partner. This session shares several examples of good intentions gone wrong, and how the individuals and companies have recovered to build strong relationships with their partners and customers. This highly engaging discussion gives attendees the opportunity to hear and learn from their peers while also sharing their own strategies for being an effective business partner.
FP&A is a department in transition, and the required structure and skills are changing as well. AFP CEO Jim Kaitz sits down with an executive from one of the world’s largest companies to talk about how they evolved FP&A over the past ten years, and look ahead to the next decade of innovation. Topics include the FP&A mindset, organizational structure, enabling technologies and personnel management.
Regulatory bodies have made changes in accounting policies that change the calculation of income or balance sheets; your ability to forecast accurately requires that these changes flow through your forecasts as well. Learn about three headline accounting updates—ASC 606 Revenue Recognition, ASC 842 Lease Accounting, and the provision for doubtful debts—and hear the process of how FP&A professionals gained agreement on the impact, updated their models, and prepared the business for the new calculations.
Creating a Future Ready Planning Process
Would you like to move beyond annual budgets and be agile enough to succeed in a constantly changing world? Are you looking for more effective planning processes to help your organization move beyond static budgets? This session shows you how to replace traditional budgeting practices with dynamic, forward-looking processes that support financial performance management and decision making. Using a direct case experience from VELUX and other organizations that have already transformed, learn about the steps that you can take to create a more agile planning process.
1
Explore the schedule of educational sessions and Keynotes we have planned. Click on a day and a time slot to see what educational sessions are being offered then. You’ll also want to check out the full FinNext schedule to get a feel for the Networking Events and Tech Lounge Solution Showcase presentations.
Evolving FP&A
personal team & effectiveness
Connect with your fellow FP&A practitioners as you discuss a yet to be determined topic or trend from the industry. Hear best practices and discover where your colleagues stand on the matter. Check back soon for future details. This event is restricted to FP&A practitioners only. Seats for the FP&A Symposium are on a first come first serve basis and seating in the room is limited. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
FP&A Roundtable
FP&A Symposium
During the FinNext Tech Challenge attendees will see presentations from several different solution providers. Each solution provider will be presented with the same case study involving a particular challenge. Each provider will present their own unique solution and attendees will vote for the winner. Who knows, you might even find your organization's next great tech partner in the process. Challenge topics and participants will be announced at a later date.
Is your organization agile enough to move beyond annual budgets that are often obsolete by the time they are printed? This session provides attendees with the tactics and strategies needed to replace their static budgeting practices with dynamic, forward-looking processes that better support financial performance management and decision making. Using direct case experience from VELUX, and other organizations who have already transformed, this session presents the steps (both evolutionary and revolutionary) needed to implement an agile planning process to ensure your organization succeeds in a constantly changing world.
personal & team effectiveness
Technolody & Data
Finance Acumen
Closing Keynote
Sponsored by Host Analytics
Navigate to the last page to see your agenda.
The FinNext 2020 Tech Challenge allows attendees to view, learn about and compare various planning tools under similar conditions. Selected finalists will help a fictitious FP&A team understand their strengths and weaknesses and develop a sales forecast for their products through data exploration, visualization, analysis and forecasting. Attendees will select the most compelling presentation to win the FinNext 2020 Tech Challenge. Learn more about this year's Tech Challenge here.
Is your organization agile enough to move beyond annual budgets that are often obsolete by the time they are printed? This session provides attendees with the tactics and strategies needed to replace their static budgeting practices with dynamic, forward-looking processes that better support financial performance management and decision making. Using direct case experience from LT Apparel, and other organizations who have already transformed, this session presents the steps (both evolutionary and revolutionary) needed to implement an agile planning process to ensure your organization succeeds in a constantly changing world.
Select the sessions you can't miss by clicking the “+” icon to add them to your agenda. Your agenda is being built at the bottom of the page. Note: this will not reserve your spot in the session rooms at FinNext.
Tuesday
Keynote
opening keynote
CLOSING keynote
Amy Vetter, CPA
