The Virtual Finance Event of the Year
On July 16th and 17th, 2024, the Institute of Finance Operations Leadership (IFOL) made history by hosting its first-ever Finance Operations Leadership Summit. This groundbreaking two-day virtual finance event attracted a global audience, marking a significant milestone in the realm of finance operations. Over 300 finance professionals from around the world registered for the summit, eager to gain insights and advice to transform their finance operations.
Day 1: Thought Leadership
The summit kicked off with a series of thought-provoking keynotes and panel discussions covering a range of critical topics in finance operations. The day’s agenda was meticulously designed to provide attendees with a wealth of knowledge and perspectives from industry leaders.
Keynotes
- Managing Finance Processes and Controls alongside Service Delivery: Looking at the delicate balance required to manage finance processes and controls effectively while ensuring high-quality service delivery. Attendees learned practical strategies to achieve this and achieve operational excellence.
- Cultivating Integrity: How Organizational Culture and Leadership Drive Fraud Prevention: This session highlighted the importance of a robust organizational culture and ethical leadership in preventing fraud. Delegates took away actionable insights on how to foster an environment of integrity within their team.
- Growth and Change Management: Life at New Balance EMEA: A case study on New Balance showcased how the company successfully navigates growth and change management. Attendees gained valuable lessons on implementing effective change management practices in their own organizations.
Panel Discussions
- Great Leaders Need to Inspire Change: This panel brought together seasoned leaders who shared their experiences and strategies for inspiring and leading change within finance operations. The discussion underscored the importance of visionary leadership in driving successful transformations.
- To Standardize or Not to Standardize: Understanding the Needs of Global Finance Teams: Panellists debated the merits and challenges of standardizing finance operations across global teams. They explored the delicate balance between maintaining consistency and allowing for regional flexibility.
- Driving Continuous Improvement across Finance Ops in Global Shared Services: This session highlighted best practices for continuous improvement in finance operations, particularly within global shared services environments. Panelists shared their success stories and practical tips for fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Advancing Skills and Driving Performance with Professional Development from IFOL: This session focused on the critical role of professional development in advancing skills and driving performance. The IFOL education team presented the various opportunities available for continuous learning and career advancement.
Day 2: Interactive Workshops
Day two of the summit was dedicated to interactive workshops, providing delegates with hands-on experiences and practical tools to implement in their organizations. These workshops were designed to be engaging, allowing participants to delve deeper into specific topics and collaborate with their peers.
Workshops
- Resilience in Times of Rapid Change: This workshop equipped attendees with strategies to build resilience and adapt to rapid changes in the finance landscape.
- Ethical Leadership Styles: Focusing on the importance of ethical leadership, this session provided insights into different leadership styles and their impact on organizational culture.
- The Power of Culture: Fraud Awareness from the Top Down: This workshop emphasized the role of organizational culture in fraud prevention. Participants discovered ways to cultivate a culture of awareness and accountability to mitigate fraud risks.
- Adding Value with a Finance Business Partner Mindset: Attendees learned how to adopt a finance business partner mindset to add value to their organizations. This session covered strategies for effective collaboration and communication with other business units.
Launch of the Certified Finance Operations Manager (CFOM) Certification
One of the summit’s most exciting announcements was the launch of IFOL’s new Certified Finance Operations Manager (CFOM) program. Designed specifically for finance operations professionals, this certification provides a comprehensive understanding of how to lead and optimize finance operations and teams. Completing the CFOM certification will earn professionals the most respected credential in the field, signifying their expertise and commitment to excellence.
Key Takeaways: A Digital Toolkit for Positive Change
Every delegate left with their own digital toolkit filled with new ideas and insights to take back to their teams. The main objective across the two-day summit was to provide invaluable learning and insights to help finance professionals drive positive change and implement best practices in their teams.
Feedback from our attendees…
“The topics and speakers were even more related to my specific work than I expected. It felt poignant.”
“Informative, and very relevant to my world right now.’
“Insightful and educational.”
Thank you to our event Gold Sponsor, Corcentric.
Future Accounts Payable and Finance Events
The Finance Operations Leadership Summit 2024 was a resounding success, setting a new standard for virtual finance events. By bringing together a global audience of finance professionals and leaders, IFOL has created a platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, and transformative change. As attendees return to their teams equipped with new insights and tools, the future of finance operations looks brighter than ever.
Our next events are our face-to-face Accounts Payable Leadership Conferences where we connect in-person for more learning, training and networking.
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