The educational conference program is your opportunity to learn best practices and innovative solutions from leaders in the financial industry. Moderated by charismatic professionals who bring their individual expertise to these stimulating topics, you’ll learn tools for success and discover what’s new and what’s next.
| Thursday, May 28 11:15 am - 12:30 pm |
Integrated IT For FinanceIn 2011 Canadian publicly accountable companies will be adopting IFRS. Companies now have to adapt their IT systems to accommodate the new standards. At the same time, Canadian public companies have to certify their controls over financial reporting, creating the objective of implementing IT systems that can accommodate both. Enter, the global data tagging taxonomy – XBRL, (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The Ontario Securities Commission has “promised†that after 2011, they will be mandating the adoption of XBRL data tagging taxonomy. This is a system by which financial information is tagged and reported electronically to securities regulators and other regulatory/government agencies around the world. Currently several countries have mandated the use of XBRL, including the USA and Israel (who is simultaneously adopting IFRS). This panel discussion will present some of the latest thinking surrounding the information system requirements and solutions that can address these emerging financial management and technology issues and will provide a framework for addressing these issues in the most cost and time effective way.
Critical issues in Human CapitalThe last sixteen months have seen unprecedented layoffs in Canadian industries across the country. The impacts on companies of having to layoff skilled workers are dramatic. New human capital strategies and practices will be required to ensure that the talent that remained within your company is optimized and properly rewarded. When the economy does recover, the costs of having to attract and retain your work force could be immense. Our panel of experts will present their insights on what companies need to do right now to ensure that the talent they need for the future will be available to their companies, and what sort of strategies will be necessary for attracting and retaining the right personnel at the right time.
Strategies to Create Personal ROI - Key Lessons for Leadership in Challenging TimesAs if CFOs didn’t have enough stress today. They certify, at the peril of going to jail, that they know everything there is to know about their companies. They’re expected to find every dollar of savings, all the time…All the while speaking another language…ERM, ERP, GAAP and…one that the rest of the world still can’t figure out EBITDA! . Now, just in case they weren’t busy enough, let’s adopt a whole new accounting standard...while going through a recession! Yes, as if CFOs needed more stress. Carol Ring, Senior Telecom Executive, FCMA and Integrated Life™ expert will provide her insights on how financial executives can maintain a balanced flight plan while flying high in stressful turbulent times. Leaders, managers and front line employees all need to maximize their Personal ROI to increase personal motivation, reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. Hear her three key strategies and come away with practical exercises that will move you from passive passenger to pilot!
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| Thursday, May 28 1:45 pm - 3:00 pm |
Expansion into Global MarketsIncreasingly businesses are looking to offshore opportunities for expansion into new markets, as a source of supply, or to gain the efficiencies of global labour arbitrage. This session will look at the phenomenon of global business expansion and the movement of Canadian business and capital around the world. It will also examine what companies are doing to maximize their opportunities offshore and provide real case examples of when establishing a global presence can succeed, and sometimes fail.
Economic Impacts of the Credit CrisisAs the credit crises originating in the US puts the squeeze on the demand for Canadian exports, real GDP growth in the Canadian economy, is expected to slow to less than 1% in 2009. This session will provide a spotlight on the capital markets around the world mid-way through 2009, and trace the impacts of the credit crises on the Canadian economy as a whole. It will also look at what companies need to do, and are doing, to weather the economic storm in 2009, and examine some important strategies for capitalizing on the renewed growth expected for 2010 onward.
The Greening of the Finance FunctionThis session explores a variety of environmental and sustainability issues including trends in environmental/sustainability reporting, disclosure requirements of the OSC/CSA, environmental reporting in a Canadian company, carbon taxes (BC and QC each have one), cap-and-trade programs (the Western Climate Initiative) which both BC and Manitoba have signed on for, and the various stewardship programs and other levies intended to discourage or remedy disposal of targeted goods – batteries, tires, returnable containers, packaging, etc. It also looks at the potential cost impacts of environmental reporting on companies.
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Friday, May 29 |
IFRS Update – Lessons from the LeadersCanadian companies are expected to file financial statements under IFRS in 2011. Many have already completed their assessments of reporting, operational and strategic impacts of the new standards. This panel discussion will present the experiences of senior financial executives from public companies across a variety of industries with the aim of revealing best practices and pitfalls on the road to IFRS conversion.
Where is Private Company Reporting Going?In Q1 of 2009, the AcSB released its exposure draft proposing a new private company GAAP in Canada. This panel looks at the accounting and reporting implications of the new financial reporting standards for private companies, and addresses some of the significant differences between current and proposed practices. The expert panel offers the perspective of the standard setters, the audit community and preparers from FEI Canada’s Committee on Corporate Reporting.
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