Educational Sessions
The AFP 2023 Task Force is a group of your practitioner peers who build an agenda focused on the issues that matter most to you. AFP 2023 features 130+
sessions* across 7 tracks and our new Principle in Practice deep dive sessions. Check out the tracks and topics that you can expect for this year.
- Capital Markets & Investments Track
- Career Development
- Executive Institute
- Financial Planning & Analysis Track
- Payments Track
- Risk Management Track
- Treasury Management Track
- Principles in Practice Series
Capital Markets & Investments
The Hidden Power of Cash: Meeting Yield Targets While Elevating DEI Efforts
Treasury teams have a unique opportunity to leverage their balance sheets to meet corporate diversity, equity and inclusion goals while also earning targeted returns on cash. However, navigating this complex landscape can be challenging, especially in today’s volatile yield environment. That’s why accessible, next-generation data platforms and community finance institutions are becoming critical tools for treasury teams to achieve their DEI goals. In this session, speakers share their experiences and effective strategies for seamlessly allocating cash to impact-driven community financial institutions, minimizing risk in their portfolio, and earning returns comparable to conventional investments.
Your Essential Guide to ESG Deposits
The influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors on how companies manage their businesses is ever evolving. With mounting pressure from investors, banks, consumers, and government regulations, the momentum for sustainable finance continues
to grow. As more companies undertake sustainability initiatives, sustainable deposits have become an emerging topic of treasury conversations. It’s therefore critical that Treasurers understand how to align an ESG style deposit with their
enterprise goals and incorporate ESG into their company’s cash optimization strategies and securing buy-in to participate in ESG initiatives. In this session speakers share insights on how treasurers can position themselves as strategic thinkers
and contribute to enterprise goals beyond their traditional role.
Cash Pooling at Iron Mountain and AbbVie
Learn how Iron Mountain executed a global strategy to maximize liquidity and minimize excess cash, by implementing cash pools in different regions around the world. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain helps organizations protect their information, reduce storage
costs, comply with regulations, facilitate corporate disaster recovery, and better use their information and IT infrastructure. With approximately 225,000 customers in 60 countries and a business in continuous expansion and growth, Treasury faces
the challenge of guaranteeing funding in each of these countries. Cash pools were implemented in the APAC region and another cash pool in the EMEA region. Funds are automatically transferred from/to countries participating in the pools, and thereafter
from/to the pools to our main concentration bank in the USA.Benefits include minimizing cash balances, maximizing liquidity, decreasing leverage and gaining operational efficiencies by eliminating manual processes.
ESG and Treasury Teams: Reality Meets Opportunity Amid Growing Expectations
As the world faces climate change and social challenges, businesses are under increasing pressure to incorporate sustainability and social awareness into their operations. However, rising ESG expectations, coupled with complex supply chains, myriad customer
types and areas of activity makes this a daunting task. Despite the challenges, there is a way for organizations to stand out by becoming “authentically sustainable.” This session outlines a path towards meeting ESG expectations,
by making sustainability a part of the company’s mission and highlights how embracing ESG expectations can benefit operations and demonstrating commitment in corporate government practices.
Navigating a High-Rate Environment
The recent flurry of Fed rate hikes has presented new opportunities for corporate cash portfolios. In this enlightening session, two seasoned treasury practitioners, an accomplished investment manager, and an expert investment consultant delve into effective
strategies and securities that not only promise impressive yields but also safeguard against potential downsides. The discussion further covers essential aspects such as duration and credit strategies, sector and security selection, and specific recommendations
for avoiding pitfalls in this new high-rate environment. Treasury practitioners can learn about strategies and dynamic portfolio positioning to capitalize on new opportunities, protect principal and maintain liquidity.
A Ride (Share) with Uber Through Economic Uncertainty
Recent global macroeconomic trends — including volatile interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions — combined with growing internal corporate demand to drive growth have created a challenging cycle for corporate treasurers.
To navigate these challenges, treasurers have focused on preserving capital, maintaining liquidity, and optimizing operating liquidity and payment activity. This panel, featuring thought leaders from Uber and Goldman Sachs, share key learnings from
the past three years and provide insights on how to approach cash investment portfolios in the present environment.
How Corporate Treasurers Can Invest with a Social Purpose
Corporate treasury teams are increasingly seeking ways to align their actions with their organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) mission statements and drive meaningful advancement. One way corporate treasury teams have supported
these goals is by participating in investment products and programs that support affordable housing and education. This panel discusses the relative merits and impact of available socially conscious investment options and sheds light on the role Community
Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play in reaching underserved communities, which mainstream finance has historically ignored, and shares how they have raised internal support for implementing socially conscious investment approaches.
Qualtrics' Approach to the Delicate Dance Between Liquidity, Risk & Investment Return
Treasury teams today are facing unyielding pressure to maintain liquidity and earn investment income while protecting global cash. The delicate balance between these competing demands requires a practical strategic approach. Join two seasoned members
of the Qualtrics Treasury Team as they share their hard-won insights into developing a comprehensive investment program that effectively manages counterparty risk. Through their practical recommendations and actionable information, gain valuable insights
into optimizing your own investment and risk programs. Whether you are looking to build a new program from scratch or improve an existing one, this session provides you with the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Impacting Change Through Treasury
Treasury teams have the potential to play a critical role in the advancement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, both within the organization and externally through diverse-owned broker dealers and service providers. As DEI continues
to gain interest in the boardroom, it is important for treasury teams to consider how they can incorporate DE&I into their capital markets, cash management, and hedging activities. In this session, panelists share best practices for designing
a firm selection process, implementing DE&I initiatives, and measuring success and impact while enhancing economic value.
ESG Financing, How Do I Start?
As ESG financing gains popularity in the U.S., treasury practitioners will face pressure to incorporate ESG elements into their debt issuances. The process requires careful planning and collaboration between internal stakeholders, external advisors and banks. Speakers representing companies with a focus on environmental and social responsibility share their experiences and lessons learned. This discussion also addresses the consideration of third-party verification communication with investors, structuring legal documentation, negotiating KPIs and selecting a sustainability coordinator.
Commercial Paper: Fool’s Gold or Strategic Funding?
Commercial Paper markets have seen their share of negative headlines. From being labeled one of the “causes” of the financial crisis, to inherently unstable during the opening stages of the COVID pandemic. As a result, certain companies have steered clear of setting up a commercial paper program, despite strong evidence that it is one of the lowest cost sources of operational and strategic funding. This session presents the risk/reward trade-off of maintaining a CP program, the logistics of establishing a program, the day-to-day challenges and benefits of operating a CP program, and the best practices that issuers have developed to work with investors, dealers and internal stakeholders.
ESG in the Foreground: 3 Perspectives on Risk, Reporting, Regulators, and the Road Ahead
The Environmental, social and governance (ESG) wave has swept ashore, bringing with it new challenges for treasury and finance practitioners. Increasingly charged with ESG reporting, which differs from financial reporting, minimal subject matter guidance or training keeping up with requirements, data requests, changing definitions and stakeholder demands threaten to swamp finance and treasury teams. This interactive moderated discussion highlights: the success earned from embedding ESG in the culture while building Board engagement and support; data challenges and finding solutions in the existing ERP, with guidance on tools to close the gap; and focuses on emerging reporting requirements, regulatory oversight, and capital access.
Michigan State's Blockchain Project: A Success Story!
Financial services, including bond issuance, is being transformed by blockchain technology but most financial practitioners are not certain how and where to begin the process or determine which collaborators and providers are trustworthy and capable. At Michigan State University (MSU) the treasury team worked collaboratively with a Blockchain Bond Advisory Group comprised of students, faculty, staff, alumni and external advisers to develop a new paradigm for raising capital using blockchain distributed ledger technology. Attend this session to hear how MSU, with a proven success model, realized the potential of blockchain to create new nodes of opportunity for treasury functions to meet financial goals.
Career Development
Connection Matters: Building Team Resiliency and Engagement
Trying to manage the seismic shifts within the workplace has been disruptive and unsettling; the increased strain of emotional and mental health is real. We’ve been left feeling disconnected, uncertain and oftentimes lonely. The presenters draw from their experiences to help attendees focus on moving beyond the digital and physical constraints of the workplace to reconnect with the human aspect of work. Attend this session and take away tools to help increase your team’s productivity, collaboration and retention.
Accelerating Change: Actions to Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Finance Industry
A rapidly transforming finance industry demands new capabilities and innovation. Research supports that a more diverse workforce and culture of inclusivity can drive business results by increasing creativity, innovation and profitability. In this engaging discussion, panelists review considerations, best practices and initiatives that can have a measurable impact on an organization’s DE&I goals. This includes organizational policies and programs that support employees, clients and their communities, and how to create and foster a pipeline for the new generation of diverse treasury and finance talent.
Navigating Downsizing with Gen Z and Millennials
As the job market ebbs and flows, members of the Gen Z and Millennial generations are learning to adapt and reset, navigate through downturn scenarios, and find new paths and opportunities by upskilling, pivoting professionally, and utilizing infinite new resources not previously available to prior generations to ensure they are more “recession proof.” In this session, speakers explore how to build resilience in your individual marketability, what qualities really add value to a job, and what sills are important to have in relation to future careers.
So, You Want to be a Treasury Social Media Influencer?
Social media offers treasury and
finance professionals the opportunity to showcase their subject-matter
expertise, to be an influencer for their industry and expand their professional
network. However, many financial professionals are hesitant to engage with
social media due to the many unknowns, a lack understanding of its value, or
the fact that their organization may have policies against engagement with it. Attend
this panel discussion with social media experts and influencers to gain
insight on the many positive applications for social media, including promoting
thought leadership, being a corporate brand ambassador, getting a new job and
building your personal brand.
Revitalizing Employee Engagement in a "Quiet Quitting" World
"Quieting quitting” is the buzzword following in the wake of The Great Resignation. The impact of employees who are emotionally and psychologically disengaged, even if they are physically present, can be significant including reduced productivity
and low morale. This can result in financial costs, disruption, and demoralization for any organization. In this session, leaders at all levels can learn science-backed, evidence-based principles, practices and power skills to create a workplace culture
that fosters engagement and productivity. Attendees gain insights into strategies for fostering genuine cross-sectional collaboration, thus dissolving informational silos, and establishing rituals and routines that generate a sense of belonging within
the organization.
Increase Mental Resilience to Boost Creativity, Problem-Solving & Strategic Thinking Power Skills
Change is inevitable, and can negatively impact our mental and emotional well-being. As a result, burnout, stress, and change-fatigue levels have reached an all-time high, leading to decreased creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills. The consequences of these power skill deficits are tangible and can impact an organization's bottom line. This session provides practical, actionable steps to help attendees improve their mental resilience, reduce stress, and enhance their creativity and performance. By building and boosting individual agility and team resilience, practitioners can better adapt to change, drive creativity, and increase company performance and profitability.
Prioritizing Well-being: Strategies for Communicating with More Empathy in ANY Situation
Fostering an environment of psychological safety and well-being through more compassionate communication can boost performance in healthy ways and enhance your bottom line. However, with so many interactions in the run of a day, it’s reasonable
to expect that some of them are going to be difficult. Whether these conversations are with staff or stakeholders, there are emotional intelligence (also called EQ) tactics to ensure conversations go more smoothly for all involved. In this session,
Leadership Communication Strategist, Shakira M. Brown, delivers valuable insights to manage difficult conversations and shares tools to avoid the headaches that come from miscommunication and misunderstandings.
Achieving Career Success in the New Hybrid World of Remote & In-Person Teams
The shift to remote and hybrid work has become the norm for many organizations and has presented several challenges for corporate treasury and finance professionals, including technology issues, unequal participation in meetings, and difficulty maintaining social connections and company culture. This requires new approaches to communication, collaboration, and leadership, as well as the ability to balance the demands of both personal and professional life. Treasury and finance practitioners share the methods they have employed to address these challenges. Discussion includes the efforts leaders have made to level the playing field for remote workers and hybrid / in-person teams and strategies for maintaining social connections and fostering creativity.
Boardroom Personalities
Misunderstanding personalities can undermine your professional efforts — unless you know how to turn conflicts into personality connections. This interactive session is designed to help treasury and finance professionals understand their own—and others’—core personality types in order to bridge gaps and create successful interactions. Attendees master the unique dynamics of Boardroom presentations—part dialogue, part presentation and part improvisation—and stakes are high. Additionally, the session explores ways to identify different personality types through verbal and non-verbal cues; and illustrate how to make critical modifications to your approach that will help you successfully motivate and manage potential conflicts before they arise.
It’s ALL Visual: A New/Old Look at Data Presentation
Every year, data visualization becomes a hotter and hotter topic, as graphing software becomes more powerful and ever-increasing volumes of data need to be summarized. Sadly, this has led many treasury and finance professionals into making
false choices. Graphs and other visualizations are NOT always the most effective way to present information or to make a point. Today’s Excel and other table software offer presenters plenty of often-overlooked opportunities to present concise
and visually effective tables; put another way, all numbers presentations are visual. This session reviews the five critical questions that need to be asked before presenting a visualization to an audience.
Financial Planning & Analysis Track
Delivering Actionable Insights: Converting Analysis to Action
In today’s rapidly changing business environment, companies must have well-rehearsed alternative paths for achieving their goals. In this campfire talk, the speakers cover best practices for establishing effective scenario plans that define the required actions and align the stakeholders with those actions. Examine the role of finance in identifying the underlying drivers of the business, and hear about the major uncertainties, both internal and external, that the speakers have successfully navigated in the past, as well as the potential challenges and opportunities businesses may face in the future. Finally, the techniques and tools required to make a company’s scenario planning processes efficient, robust, and scalable — including contingency planning to protect profitability, as well as plans to address unexpected surges in demand — is covered.
Living with AI
No longer just a futuristic fantasy played out for our entertainment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a reality that’s available to us in various applications today. This session provides attendees with valuable insights into AI by presenting three different perspectives on its application: the importance of laying a strong foundation for building AI into your processes, starting with a solid data foundation; non-intuitive uses of AI, specifically the GPT algorithm and how it can be leveraged by finance practitioners; and the critical importance of challenging AI model outputs including practical ways to do so. These perspectives provide attendees with valuable insights for harnessing current and future AI advances for optimal business operations.
Avoiding Common Data Integrity Issues and Challenges in Finance Service
Maintaining data integrity is critical for any organization making financial decisions driven by data. As treasury and finance professionals, it’s essential to have the capabilities and skills to detect and address issues before they become critical — and even prevent them in the future. This informative session covers key topics such as detecting manual and automated errors, the most common account reconciliation problems, and practical strategies to avoid them to protect the quality of your organization’s data integrity.
The Impact Loop: Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Finance Transformation
Future-looking finance teams need to stay abreast of the latest transformation practices to maximize their impact within their organization, which can include driving cost savings, increasing speed and accuracy of business insights, improving decision-making, and helping to steer company strategy. It can be challenging for finance leaders and teams to understand what opportunities exist without a framework and a benchmark. This session provides attendees with an actionable framework for driving finance transformation, as well as actionable steps to improve efficiency, unlock capacity, and grow the business. From Microsoft’s and Chick-Fil-A’s transformation journeys, finance and treasury practitioners gain valuable insights they can take apply within their own organizations.
Scenario Based Planning: Tactical Steps for Achieving Strategic Outcomes
Scenario-based planning adds significant value to many companies, but only a few have 'cracked the code' as it relates to adopting and deriving material value. The Oliver Wyman 2022 CFO survey has shown a rise in the adoption of advanced planning techniques
by firms, particularly scenario-based planning. As businesses seek to better understand the link between their performance and macro-economic factors, and to identify and mitigate future risks, companies are taking action to implement these capabilities.
To help others achieve superior decision-making, this session shares insights into the foundational elements for success as well as the key tactical steps needed to bring about the adoption of scenario-based planning and other advanced planning capabilities.
Tales from the Transformation Trenches: How to be a Success Statistic
Many digital transformation efforts fail, with 70%-85% not reaching their ROI targets or being abandoned altogether. As financial practitioners are often held accountable for these initiatives, it's important to understand what success looks like and
how to achieve it. In this session, experienced transformation practitioners Robert Zondag and Sarah Grooms share 10 tactics that empower success in any digital transformation. Topics covered include the impact of process mapping, communication, and
change management on ROI, as well as planning techniques and methodologies to avoid negative impacts on the practitioner's profile, driving your digital transformation to success.
Building a World Class FP&A Team
To ensure that FP&A teams thrive in today's rapidly changing business environment, it's important to match team talent with business needs. This session provides practical guidance, via a five-step framework, for creating a world-class FP&A team that can make an instrumental impact on organizational performance. First, conduct a comprehensive review of the business's requirements. Second, assess team members' skills and identify any gaps or risks. Third, match team resources to business needs. Fourth, recruit and hire where needed using best practices. Finally, implement a development plan that is engrained in the culture and ensures a continuous feedback loop. The pace of change in the world is changing the skills FP&A teams need to thrive. Learn how to prepare your team to thrive in this informative session.
Go Outside and Play (to Win): Take an Outside-In View of Your Organization to Create Value
FP&A professionals rely on internal data to plan and operate the business; however, external stakeholders can only access information provided to them or publicly available data, giving them a limited view of the company. It is important for both
public and private companies to learn to think about their organization from an outside-in perspective in order to understand different views of company value and ensure alignment between internal metrics and external expectations. In this session,
two highly experienced finance and investor relations practitioners provide practical advice on how to leverage outside-in thinking to gain alignment across business leaders, internal networks and data platforms, ultimately allowing companies to operate
from the inside-out.
How Sustainability Programs Could (and Should) Transform FP&A
Embracing sustainability is crucial for businesses seeking investment, customers and talent retention. Reporting on sustainability or ESG is now commonplace, with 86% of the S&P 500 and 96% of Global 250 companies doing so. Sustainability programs
offer opportunities for risk management, operational decisions, and long-term financial health, making CFOs accountable for sustainability data accuracy, investments, and programmatic returns. This session provides a practical guide for navigating
the changing landscape and language of sustainability/ESG reporting, handling data challenges, and identifying business and career opportunities.
Achieving Automation and Agility Using Low Code/No Code Technologies
Technology that can easily handle, combine, and merge various large data sets and connections will empower FP&A professionals to build and iterate through models, creating more value for the business and giving analysts back valuable time to analyze the data rather than compiling it. The emergence of low-code/no-code technologies for planning, data manipulation and dashboarding has opened new possibilities for FP&A teams. This reduces the dependency on IT and allows Finance to flex with the variability of the business cycle to achieve a more nimble, agile, and powerful Finance function. Attend this session to better understand the role of low-code/no-code technologies in the FP&A functions.
Dynamic Planning, Forecasting, & Analytics at the Speed of Business
At CarMax, unprecedented economic changes from 2020 through 2022 resulted in temporary store closures and cash preservation which led to an explosion of demand and inventory buildup. Uncertainty with rising interest rates and recession winds demanded superior planning capabilities to rapidly forecast future performance. Seizing this opportunity, CarMax redesigned their planning processes and EPM platform by optimizing the level of detail, harmonizing processes across the annual plan, enabling a driver-based rolling forecast process, and eliminating offline models. Learn how CarMax reduced cycle times, enabled on-demand forecasts and robust scenario analysis, increased forecast accuracy, and delivered real-time analytics.
Transitioning From Number Cruncher to Strategic Partner
Making the transition from individual contributor to people leader and strategic partner we are increasingly asked to sit at the epicenter of decision-making, distilling alternatives to a common language of dollars and cents that considers
the full financial statement impact of tactical choices. This discussion explores the way our individual value propositions change as we make the leap to leadership, and how we need to work differently to grow our influence in the organization.
Payments Track
Why Aren't My Vendor's Taking Virtual Cards?
As organizations move towards digital
payments, virtual cards are gaining popularity as a secure and efficient
payment solution. However, despite their many benefits, many companies struggle
with increasing their virtual card usage and vendor acceptance due to
challenges with security concerns, invoice processing, and delays. This session
is designed to address those challenges by providing unique approaches and
strategies to increase virtual card spending, while also encouraging vendor
adoption.
Checks = Fraud, Fight Me: Why you Need Embedded AP Payments
Fraud in accounts payable is a growing concern for businesses. Yet many are unaware of the simple mitigation solutions that are available, or are hesitant to invest the time, resources or expertise needed to establish a solid fraud prevention strategy. Enter embedded payments for accounts payable, which provides an opportunity for businesses to simultaneously minimize fraud and reduce costs. By streamlining the payment process and eliminating manual errors, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of fraud while saving time and money. This session examines the benefits of embedded payments and provide practical guidance on how organizations can make the transition with ease.
The Payment Innovation Saving Treasurers Thousands, if Not Millions, in Fees
Up until now, payment processes have been fragmented and costly. Blame it on the different systems, processes and standards businesses use to pay and get paid. However, thanks to new innovations in payment technology, they don’t have to be. In this panel discussion, attendees hear from the treasurers at Crowdstrike and Square on how they automate payment processing with open banking APIs, enabling payments to be processed directly through their bank without needing IT support, going through financial intermediaries, or incurring third-party fees. Attend this session to learn how to optimize payment processes and eliminate friction, enabling your business to bring more value to its bottom line and ultimately improve financial performance.
Open Banking for U.S. Corporates, Avoiding the Pitfalls
Open banking is fast becoming a worldwide phenomenon. By opening access to users’ financial data by regulated companies, new companies and products will come to market faster than ever. What’s missing from the conversation about open banking and its impact on consumers is the opportunity it presents for corporations. This session discusses that opportunity through the lens of what’s currently happening with open banking in Europe, where thousands of banks have gone full in, with open APIs, etc. The result is an ecosystem where every bank is using a different language, making it tough for corporations that need consistency, reliability, speed, and security around money movement — the lifeblood of their existence.
Connecting Digital Islands: Joining up CBDCs & Payment Systems
The financial industry is being
transformed by cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and Central Bank Digital
Currencies (CBDCs). With over 100 countries exploring CBDCs, and 10 countries having
launched a digital currency, approximately 95% of the world’s GDP could be
affected. This proliferation has led to a highly fragmented environment, creating
questions on how legacy payment systems will work with these new technologies.
Join this session for a discussion focused on the direction and trends in the
market, including the integration trends being discussed for the roll-out of
CBDCs and the importance of interoperability, interlinking and tokenization in
this evolving landscape.
Overcoming Challenges of the Past to Enable Faster Payments of the Present and Future
There were just 1.8 billion real-time
transactions that took place in the U.S. in 2022, but by 2026, real-time
transaction volume is expected to hit 8.9 billion. While there has been an increase in
organizations adopting faster payments, challenges such as a lack of provider
support, a shortage of director services for financial institutions, high costs
and an absence of interoperability have hindered progress. Today we’re
witnessing significant growth in RTP participants, a wave of faster payments
innovations and the launch of FedNow, opening new channels of opportunity. In
this session, practitioners talk about their perspectives on the role
businesses play in the faster payments ecosystem and the challenges they
overcame, with the help of industry stakeholders, to support customer needs and
their operations now and in the future.
Advancing From Here to There: The Paper-to-Digital Payments Journey
Despite the continued use of checks for accounts receivable in the U.S., companies are facing mounting reasons to digitize their payment flows. In addition to the heightened fraud risks and high costs of paper-based processing, recent changes to mail
float timelines by the U.S. Postal Service have added more uncertainty for treasurers. These challenges have raised working capital concerns globally, driving companies to seek more efficient and timely ways to disburse funds and collect receivables.
This session provides insights from a corporation that worked with a major industry provider to overcome obstacles and successfully transition from paper to digital payments processing.
The Landscape of Scams
Scams continue to increase year over year, targeting consumers who unknowingly put their trust in the fraudster, resulting in financial losses and emotional distress. This session provides an overview of what a scam is, and how the fraudsters typically target both consumers and businesses. It also shares mitigation tactics utilized in the industry to help lessen the impact of these scams, and discusses the challenges and benefits of fraud education and information sharing.
Recent Cost of Payments Impacts: Post-Op Analysis and Review
In 2020, the card networks announced the most impactful changes to interchange costs in recent memory. Covid delays lead to those cost increases being rolled out over the last 2 years. While estimates of the financial impact captured the news cycle at
the time, they’ve largely ceased to be top of mind for merchants. Using the last 2 years of aggregated payment data, we’ll examine what the actual impacts were to merchants. We’ll identify and quantify the areas where the impacts
were most prevalent – card types, industries, etc. Additionally, we’ll explore the longer-term trend in card acceptance costs. How dynamics like the shift of issued card types, new assessment fees, penalty fees, and others have changed
the cost of processing over the last 10 years. Finally, we’ll explore the latest technologies and business practices that could help merchants mitigate part of the cost increases, including the interchange savings to be had from network tokenization.
How the Exchange Framework is Achieving Greater Automation in Finance
In the U.S., challenges and barriers
have prevented greater adoption of electronic invoicing and the advancement of
automation between buyers and sellers, as well as their respective systems,
platforms and service providers. In response, the Business Payments Coalition
successfully launched the Exchange Framework, which is a set of technical
standards and policies that enable businesses to share electronic invoices with
each other, regardless of their accounts payable or accounts receivable system,
network, platform or application used. This session covers how the Exchange
Framework breaks down the barriers that have prevented the adoption of e-invoicing;
how it simplifies the connection process for delivering and receiving
e-invoices; and how it results in increased payments efficiency, security and
cost reduction through an open delivery network.
7 Best Practices to Improve Your B2B Payments
In the last decade, B2B payments have gone digital, with the coronavirus pandemic accelerating the trend. This has led to increased investment in the B2B payments ecosystem to develop new use cases and address payment-related pain points. Edgar, Dunn & Company conducted research on B2B payments, interviewing over 150 stakeholders, including corporates, issuers, payment schemes, and fintech. The study identified six key payment-related pain points and seven best practices to implement a successful B2B payments strategy. This session provides insights on these pain points and best practices, based on EDC's interviews with corporates and associations of corporates.
Speaking the New Language of Payments: Delta Air Lines on ISO 20022
As the financial messaging standard ISO 20022 rapidly becomes the norm for many countries' payment rails, changes are coming to the payments ecosystem. Join this informative session with Delta Air Lines as they share their experience in making ISO 20022
their common language for payments with their banks worldwide, and the resulting benefits of doing so. Discover how speaking the same ISO 20022 language brings a common set of data elements between Delta, their ERP/TMS systems, banks, and market infrastructures
in the U.S. and globally. And learn about exciting industry developments in regard to cross-border, real-time payments that leverage the ISO 20022 standard.
Payment Perplexity: What's The Best Way to Pay?
In a changing payment landscape, keeping up with the various payment terms and types can be challenging. With options ranging from traditional checks and wire transfers to newer technologies such as Real-Time Payments, buy now pay later, and even cryptocurrencies,
the options can be confusing. In this informative session, payment experts demystify the current state of payment methods, provide an overview of the latest developments in the payments space, and share practical payment strategies to help you make
informed decisions.
Enabling Payments and Implementing a Fast Fail Mentality: How Quick is Too Quick?
In today's digital age, businesses are shifting towards enabling online transactions. However, some companies are getting ahead of themselves, implementing e-commerce and electronic payments at a faster pace without understanding the effects on the business overall. In this panel discussion, seasoned professionals with experience running and building global payments infrastructures across Amazon, Remitly, Uber and more, share insights on how payments and treasury played a pivotal role in enabling these businesses to succeed in the digital world. They explore how quickly companies can expand their payments capabilities, highlight key takeaways from successes and failures, and provide lessons for practitioners implementing and adapting to the changing field of digital payments.
Spotlight on Business Strategies for ACH Payments
The enactment of the $1 million limit has paved the way for expanded use of Same Day ACH. Attend this session for an exploration of the innovative ways businesses are leveraging this faster payment method, and discover new tools and resources designed to ensure compliance with Nacha Operating Rules, minimize errors and combat fraud. Speakers also look at enhancements in international ACH payments and delve into the latest payment trends, including B2B transactions.
Everything Everywhere All at Once: Navigating Real-time Payments
With more than 50 instant payment schemes in production globally, the challenge facing many corporates is whether faster payment options make sense for the business and how to decide which scheme to embrace. In this panel discussion, practitioners and industry experts share an update on the latest trends and strategies for making the most of real-time payments, discuss how to evaluate available options and assess features and functions, and how to integrate them into existing treasury platforms to achieve desired outcomes.
Getting Ready for Instant Payments: Request for Payments (RfP)
Request for Payment (RfP) service, offered by the RTP Network and FedNow, is creating opportunities to reshape the receivables landscape by providing new bill pay and POS experiences, while simultaneously offering payers unprecedented control when making
a payment. In this session a panel of payment experts discuss the most pressing topics concerning RfPs today including benefits to billers, merchants and consumers, as well as learnings from early adopters, compliance with RfP warranties and implications
for the future of receivables
Reducing Risk with Dispute Analytics
Forewarned is forearmed, and in this day and age, accurate analytics can give a company a tactical advantage. Utilizing analytics to fight chargebacks assists merchants in recovering revenue that would otherwise be lost to fraudulent claims, protects your reputations with both customers and banks and helps contribute to industry-wide change. However, many businesses still overlook one particularly valuable data source: chargebacks. In this session speakers from different industries discuss how businesses can analyze chargeback data to reveal vulnerabilities and identify the root causes of disputes to effectively fight fraud in 2023 and beyond.
Treasury APIs and Real Time Implementations: ‘Real’ Case Studies!
It seems the corporate treasury industry is well-versed on real-time technology and treasury API concepts, but only 7% have implemented APIs. To understand why APIs are always discussed but are rarely implemented, this panel explores scenarios on how
to implement successful treasury APIs in an environment where lack of aggregation and regulation limit broader adoption. This session walks through the architecture of how integration is accomplished, backed by diagrams and graphics, and shares perspectives
on API integration from a multinational conglomerate with decentralized technology and an organization that built proprietary payment technology to accelerate API integration and crypto-linked payments.
Central Bank Action: Rate Volatility and Its Impact on Corporate Profits and Practices
The last 18 months of adjustments in
interest rate policies by central banks around the world, led by the U.S.
Federal Reserve, have resulted in increased market volatility that has altered
historical relationships across interest rates, FX rates and corporate profits.
Companies operating globally must be prepared to assess these new risks — and
potential new opportunities — resulting from these shifting dynamics. Attend
this session to hear experts in the field assess the current markets and share
practical examples of financial risk management strategies in action. The
session caters to a broad audience, from entry-level practitioners seeking a
market update to seasoned treasury professionals looking for insight into
strategies used by others facing similar challenges.
Thriving in an Era of High Interest Rates
Although the Fed signaled a slowdown in rate hikes after two quarters of rapidly raising them, we’re unlikely to see rate cuts or a return to zero rates in 2023. Against this backdrop of sustained high interest rates, U.S. corporations must prepare
for the impact on impending debt maturities and existing floating-rate debt. In this session, senior treasury practitioners from leading corporations will share how they assess interest rate risk within their capital structures, employ strategies
such as pre-issuance hedging, cross currency swaps and others to manage those risks, and address operational considerations.
In the Room Where It Happens: Where Cash Management Practices Are Headed and How We Got Here
This session takes attendees on a journey from the past to the present and into the future, examining the great treasury innovations that have transformed the treasury function, and how they have shaped cash management as we know it. Speakers explore the latest innovations in digital treasury, such as the use of sophisticated treasury workstations and API technology, and how these tools can drive efficiency and support critical business growth objectives and potentially open the door to new innovations and best practices.
Treasury Risk Management: Lessons for Weathering a One-in-100-Year Economic Event
As businesses continue to recover from
the coronavirus pandemic, it is important for treasury professionals to revisit
the challenges they faced during the crisis to be better prepared for the future.
In this session, a panel of experienced treasury, procurement, and finance
practitioners share insights on risk-mitigation strategies and the effective
management of liquidity positions. This discussion also examines how the
adoption of digital technologies can improve cash visibility, and the
importance of contingency plans.
Surviving M&A: Convincing New Management of Your Hedge Program’s Benefits
When a company is acquired, the company’s FX hedge program will come under scrutiny by the new management. If the acquired company has FX exposures, continuing to mitigate that risk is critically important; therefore, the onus is on the acquired team to be prepared to defend why it is important to maintain the program. In this panel discussion, speakers share their experiences in navigating such situations and how they successfully negotiated with and educated the new team on the importance and contributions of their hedge program.
Mitigating Fraud Risk in Receivables and Payables
Fraud is a persistent threat faced by every company and organization. In late 2022, the company on which this case study is based experienced two instances of fraud within a month. The first was an intricate vendor imposter fraud that resulted in significant losses before it was detected. The second involved an intercepted customer check payment that was fraudulently deposited. Though these examples are not unique, what sets this company apart is its response to the situation. Instead of simply addressing the specific instances of fraud, the company conducted a comprehensive analysis of its procure-to-pay and quote-to-cash processes to identify gaps in their defenses against fraud. This session is a retrospective on the company’s fraud response and examines what worked and what didn’t.
Sharing is Caring: How the Secure Syndication of Data, Models and Network Rules Can Effectively Fight Fraud
Fraud and cybercrime are ever-present challenges. The prospect of headline-grabbing incidents that reveal costly gaps in payments processors’ ability to detect suspicious transactions are persistent dangers. However, real solutions are arriving via an era of data-sharing cooperation and collaboration, along with new technology, thus enabling the secure delivery of encrypted data. In this session, industry leaders discuss how new encryption methods, AI and machine learning models and insights, and rule/control parameters across networks could equate to the game-changing, fraud-fighting weapons we’ve been waiting for.
Fraud Never Sleeps
Treasury and finance professionals hold the critical responsibility of managing all aspects of the organization's operational health including protecting against financial or reputational loss due to fraud. Despite the size or sophistication of an organization, statistics show that fraud or attempted fraud is highly likely. Fraudsters often exploit vulnerabilities through payments and supplier data, continuously honing their skills, tactics, and strategies. In this discussion, industry experts provide insights into the current trends and methodologies of fraudsters, highlighting successful fraud attempts and solutions to safeguard your organization.
Disruption 101: Perspectives, Lessons and Strategic Shifts to Overcome Supply Chain Challenges
Treasury professionals need to be agile in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. The crises and major disruptors of the last few years, the current global inflationary environment and emergence of higher interest rates have been a challenge to corporate agility and adaptability. Navigating supply chain disruption and management of geopolitical risks continue to occupy the agenda of many organizations. Attend this session to hear how treasury leaders overcame these challenges to maintain the liquidity in each aspect of their cash conversion cycle and to ensure that their supply chains continue to deliver.
Cyber and Payment Fraud Risk: Combatting with the Latest Tools and Preparing for Incident Response
Treasury and AP departments have been working to shore up payment processes against fraud and cyber risk; however, while there are new tools and best practices widely distributed, fraudsters are also evolving to keep pace. This expert panel, which includes PMC Treasury and Kroll, covers the latest forms of attacks, strategies to minimize exposure, best practices for securing workflow and offer valuable insights into mitigating risk in today’s electronic and real-time payment landscape.
Solving Treasury's FX Problems from the Inside Out
Turnover in global foreign exchange (FX) markets reached $7.5 trillion per day in April 2022, a volume that is 30 times greater than daily global GDP. With continued and increasing FX volatility even among the major currencies, Treasury and Finance practitioners tasked with and responsible for understanding and mitigating foreign currency risk need to be able to navigate the FX space. In this session panelists with decades of experience both working and managing multiple treasury roles, living overseas, and engaging daily with global operations provide valuable insight on protecting your company’s financials from unnecessary FX impacts.
Cyber Readiness for Treasury: Practical Step by Step Solutions
Corporate Treasury departments are in the direct line of fire for cyber criminals using Business Email Compromise, ransomware, social engineering, and other methods to infiltrate the company’s defense systems. Join this session as speakers discuss strategies for blending hi-tech and low-tech approaches to become effective in cyber defenses, performing routine data hygiene exercises such as data purges for enhanced PCI and PII security and erecting proprietary rails for payment requests or payment-instruction modifications.
Understanding the Impact of a Cybersecurity Attack: Safeguarding Your Organization
As digital transformation continues to shape organizations, cyber theft and fraud has also evolved. This has created an urgent need for tighter data-security controls and related compliance measures, particularly in the fields of company and customer data. Corporate Treasury is the nerve center of any organization’s finance operations and its reliance on IT for risk operations, real-time cash visibility and analytics is critical for timely business decisions. While IT certainly works to safeguard data and mitigate risks, they can’t do it alone. In this session financial crimes experts stage a simulation that gives attendees an inside view of a cyber-crime in action.
ChatGPTreasury: How AI and Automation are Changing the Treasury Talent Game
As automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) continue to gain popularity, there are implications for new and existing teams in the workplace. While the younger generations are "digitally native" and therefore already have higher expectations for technology in the workplace, automation is changing day-to-day job expectations for everyone. These trends are particularly relevant for treasury talent, as companies drive transformation across treasury departments. This session focuses on how these trends affect the profiles, skills, and overall job experience of treasury professionals, setting new expectations and developing new capabilities to effectively work with younger talent.
Transfer Pricing and Treasury Management in a Global Organization
Transfer pricing is a critical
component of the internal operations of any global organization. A
well-designed transfer pricing strategy can significantly reduce tax and
foreign exchange risks, while ensuring smooth cash flow between parent and
subsidiary companies. However, the lack of understanding of tax regulations can
lead to negative impacts on the organization such as implementing upstream
loans that are not in line with regulatory requirements. In this session,
treasury professionals are given an overview of global taxation and transfer
pricing. Speakers delve into the importance of transfer pricing, how it impacts
global cash management, and how to manage foreign exchange risks through
properly planned intercompany transactions.
Digitizing RFPs
Despite the widespread digitization of
the financial services industry, the issuance, analysis and scoring of RFPs in both
cash management and treasury management systems remains manual and costly. Fintech organizations are making inroads in
their attempt to solve these problems by digitizing the RFP process. This
session explores the pain points of the RFP process, real-life problems facing
corporates in the U.S., and whether banks and treasury system providers are
willing and able to adapt to a new way of issuing and scoring RFPs. Ultimately,
the goal is to empower end users, including corporates and treasury
consultants, to make informed and correct decisions when evaluating proposals.
eBam: Much More Than Opening and Closing an Account
Managing multiple bank accounts can be a challenging task for companies. Each account requires significant time and effort to open, there is a high annual cost to maintain to each account, and they all demand regular updates and maintenance. With modern
technology such as APIs and electronic bank account management (eBAM), the process can be synchronized to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and ensure appropriate user/signatory updates to minimize risk. This session explores the benefits
of eBAM and APIs for synchronizing bank records, reducing operating costs and managing users/signatories to ensure compliance with internal policies and mitigate risk.
Why APIs Alone Cannot Guarantee Improved Bank Connectivity: A Candid Discussion of Myth vs. Reality
APIs have been touted as the miracle solution for all bank communications. Leveraging a bank connectivity API can reduce repetitive administrative tasks, save time, and reduce risk, making it appealing to treasurers looking to streamline processes. In
this session, four practitioners discuss ongoing changes in the industry, areas where APIs are strongest and weakest, and considerations for corporate treasurers adopting new API-based solutions. They'll also discuss the pros and cons of open banking
and working with third-party banking solution providers, and offer effective strategies for navigating the complexity of multi-bank connectivity through a combination of technology and processes.
Good vs. Great: What Makes the Best Marriages Between Bankers and Clients Work
In a business-banking relationship the
focus is typically on the basic services offered and their related costs, often
overlooking the strategic value and advantages of developing and retaining a long-term
partnership. Hear firsthand from long-time
practitioners and bankers about what makes the difference — the attributes that
exist within those relationships that have lasted for years versus those that haven’t.
Is it all about the money, or are there other, more important factors that
matter? Attend this session to learn the key advantages to long-term relationships
between a business and a bank, and how to make it last.
Treasury Technology: Navigating to Better & Faster
Treasury technology has evolved significantly since the 1980s when DOS-based platforms performed simple automation. With the advent of Software as a Service (SaaS), hosting, APIs, BI, RPA, and other tools, treasurers now have more options at their disposal. However, some treasurers struggle to maximize the benefits of their systems due to inadequate investment. This session provides context on the history of treasury technology and market developments and helps practitioners think through the possibilities, procurement strategies, and how to maximize their investments with any available tools.
Don’t Rise With the Tide! Reduce Transaction Banking Costs in the Middle of Inflation
Inflation is affecting all aspects of business, including rising bank fees. Join this informative session where leading corporations, AT&T and Under Armour, share their successful strategies in leveraging bank fee data to drive cost reductions and maximize bank services. Speakers discuss the challenges of negotiating with banks during these times, and provide best practices for analyzing and leveraging bank fee data to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve your banking relationship.
Working Capital Success in a Crisis: Game Changing Strategies for an Agile Treasury
Amidst the challenges of the last three years, demand volatility, supply chain shortages, and surging interest rates, working capital has emerged as a priority for finance and treasury. In this session, attendees have the opportunity to learn from a panel
of experts who have deployed game-changing working capital strategies to survive and thrive in these turbulent times. The panel draws on their experiences across diverse industries to share insights on how treasury can leverage new technologies, innovative
practices, and alternative sources of capital to build working capital agility and deliver long-term value for the business.
Expanding Treasury’s Credit Support Toolkit with Surety Bonds
Surety Bonds provide a unique opportunity for companies to expand their credit support toolkit relative to their more expensive Letter of Credit counterpart, or even worse yet cash. This alternative is a must-have for companies looking for smart solutions to bolster their credit with counterparties in a cost-effective manner and to build out partnerships that go beyond basic banking and cash management relationships. Leveraging a panel of experts comprised of a corporate practitioner who frequently uses Surety Bonds to support their company’s project opportunities, a broker who manages the Surety Bond issuance process, and an underwriter who is the ultimate Surety Bond issuer, this session establishes the benefits and flexibility of using Surety Bonds from all sides of the transaction.
Cash Forecasting is Hard (Or is It)?
To effectively manage cash, it is important for the treasury practitioner to master the concepts and techniques used in the process and fully understand the drivers of the organization’s cash flow. By mastering the concepts, treasury practitioners can discuss with banks and third parties how to create efficiencies in cash flow and remove any associated carry costs. Ultimately, effective cash management can be achieved by understanding how the company generates and spends cash and by fine-tuning forecasting models to achieve optimal outcomes.
The Future of Treasury Management: Are You Ready?
To succeed in a rapidly evolving financial ecosystem, treasury teams must adapt by developing new skills, embracing new technology and most importantly, gaining a new mindset. Forward-thinking practitioners want to lead the change, not follow behind, to create the best possible outcomes for their function and their organization. This discussion, which includes treasury professionals from Google, Amazon, Netflix and Staples, addresses practitioners’ pressing need to stay competitive in the marketplace, not solely with treasury capabilities, but also risk management, resource reallocation and training, digital transformation, technology integration, and working capital and liquidity management.
Taking Control of Liquidity: A TMS Transformation
As CFOs prioritize digital transformation, treasury teams are emerging as business leaders and strategic thinkers, collaborating as both advisors and drivers of financial transformation. They are increasingly being asked to invest in programs to drive productivity and unlock value. In this session, a panel of treasury leaders from Amazon, Koch Industries, and 2021 Pinnacle Award Winner HCSC, detail how they established business objectives, quantified the impact of their transformation projects, and shared best practices to increase cash returns, reduce costs, and support global financial KPIs.
I Want an In-House Bank: What to Consider
Many treasurers have heard of successful implementations of an in-house bank (IHB), but do not have the knowledge to understand how or if this would work for their organization. Assuming it could work, what would make it a beneficial exercise for their organization? What would be the benefits of implementation? This session helps treasurers assess whether an in-house bank is suitable for their organization and how to obtain internal support. Treasury leads the effort to harmoniously bring together the various components of an in-house bank, such as systems, taxes, documentation and intercompany agreements. Despite challenges, the upfront time and effort are worthwhile for the efficiencies created. The panel will discuss scoping respective areas within the company and considerations for implementation.
How to Achieve Real-time Treasury Through APIs
Whether you're looking to expedite payments, receivables, or reconciliation, or simply to mitigate risk by avoiding manual entry, the benefits of APIs are immediate and quantifiable. A digitalization SME, along with three corporate practitioners, each at a different stage in their digital journey with a unique story to tell prove “real-time treasury” is achievable and implementable with the right forward-thinking mindset and resources. Hear best practices for seamless integration with real-world examples, obtaining buy-in from leadership to prioritize real-time treasury, along with lessons they learned along the way. This session also prepares practitioners for what's on the horizon for APIs to help streamline treasury operations and optimize working capital.
Improving Cash Forecasting in a High-Rate Environment: A Treasurer’s Perspective
Forecasting accuracy has become critical in the corporate drive to optimize liquidity, investments and debt in an inflationary/high-rate environment. Accurate positioning and forecasts are the foundation for all financial decisions and are still difficult to compile and produce with accuracy. Join this session as a panel of Treasury experts looks at forecasting best practices, and challenges from both a treasury and FP&A perspective. They explore real world examples and discuss how best-in-class treasuries develop and manage their forecasting process to achieve maximum accuracy and efficiency by leveraging the latest in Treasury technology and automation.
Simplify Your Inter-Company Settlement Process
Inter-company settlement can be quite tedious, prone to error and is far more complex for businesses transacting across dozens of legal entities, many currencies and bank accounts. However, for businesses that know how to effectively
use inter-company and multi-lateral netting, the process can be nearly fully automated, simplified and more accurate. Imagine simplifying your payables and receivables so that all cash flows are netted at the end of each day, leading to a SINGLE payment
between entities. Join us to learn how companies can successfully introduce global inter-company netting to automatically settle invoices between AP/AR, while reducing manual processes by 80% and reducing errors.
*Some attendance restrictions may apply for select sessions.
Effective workplace communication is critical for your and team’s success but can also be complicated. Whether you’re leading a presentation or guiding a crucial conversation, it’s essential to be armed with confidence, clarity, and conviction to drive results. Attend this engaging workshop and learn to transform your insights into intelligent business decisions by tapping into why your topic matters to your audience, guiding them with solution-centered dialogue, and exploring compelling next steps.
Financial Modeling: Techniques and Best Practices
Financial professionals are frequently tasked with creating effective models that are accurate and dynamic. The power of a financial model comes from the ability to change the inputs and analyze the impact on outputs. This course introduces the key techniques and best practices for building financial models that facilitate a rational and rigorous decision-making process. Through hands-on examples in Excel, participants build from scratch financial models that produce baseline and dynamic outputs in response to changes in real-world scenarios. Examples and illustrations utilize financial and treasury applications.
Payments Fraud and Cybercrime
Payments fraud has been a significant problem for companies of all sizes for many years, and the growing incidence of cybercrime makes the problem even greater. This workshop provides participants with an overview of the basic types of payments fraud and discusses practices in fraud prevention and control. The session also covers the growing incidence of cybercrime and account takeover and presents best practices in dealing with the problem. Additionally, guidance will be provided on what to do when, not if, payments fraud and cybercrime occur.
The How's and Why's of Strategic Cash Management
Treasury departments responsibilities can be simplified as owning all decisions around cash for their companies. Phases of this process include receipt, concentration, risk assessment and deployment. Understanding these decision points can help Treasury Management officers support their clients and deepen the relationship. In this workshop, associates learn about the strategic cash process and the criteria for why Treasury professionals make the decisions they do. Learning can then be applied to structuring the conversation in your client meetings to focus on solutions around these real-world tasks.