Speaker: Mike Volk – PSA Insurance

The only way to eliminate cyber risk is avoid using technology – clearly not a viable option. Technology is essential to innovate, increase efficiencies and achieve organizational goals. However, securing the technology, protecting data and anticipating new cyber risks is becoming increasingly difficult.

The purpose of this presentation is to help participants build a baseline cybersecurity knowledgebase to improve cybersecurity decision-making in todays interconnected environment. Topics included a review of the cyber threat landscape, the evolution of cybersecurity, and a review of key strategies your business can consider to improve cyber risk management.

Speaker: Dr. Guido Geerts – University of Delaware

Big Data has caught our imagination with cases such as real-time fraud detection, real-time marketing, flu outbreak prediction based on social media postings, and many more. This presentation will inform you what Big Data is and how it can create value for your business. Free, easy-to-learn technologies will be discussed that can get you started right away.

Speaker: David DeJong, JD – Stein Sperling

The session will focus on the leading developments of the May 2017-April 2018 period as they affect business and industry. Emphasis will be on the major provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act including the expansion of cash basis accounting, the new rules on expensing and bonus depreciation, the new limitation on the deduction of business interest and the Qualified Business Income Deduction. A discussion on choice of business entity in the current tax environment will follow.

Speaker: Jennifer Elder, CPA, CMA, CIA, CFF, CGMA – Business Learning Institute

Could your business resume operations or process payroll if you didn’t have power or internet for 9 weeks, like New Jersey after Super Storm Sandy.  Or worse yet, could your business even survive if you had been waiting for an insurance settlement for over 6 months, like Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.  According to the IRS, 35% of businesses go under after a disaster. Don’t become the next sad statistic!  In this session we will discuss a simple method for addressing, mitigating, and recovering from a disaster – whether it’s a hurricane, the loss of key personnel, supply chain failure, cybercrime, or even road construction.  Learn the steps your organization can take to get back to business and recover faster from a disaster!

Speaker: Karl Ahlrichs, SPHR – Business Learning Institute

High performing cultures are fragile, but powerful.   In this fast-paced session, Karl offers multiple viewpoints on HR, ethics and leadership and applies them to the challenge of building an inclusive culture.

We will begin with fresh data on the metrics that really matter, which will lead us to significant ethical challenges on the horizon.  All of this will be mapped on top of a brief review of some fundamental economic data and the client experience issues accounting and finance departments are operating in.

Speaker: Molly Boyle, CPA, Blackline

Every company and every department are constantly expected to do more with less and run leaner while becoming more effective. This is especially true for Accounting and Finance, who are now required to deliver not only periodic financial data and reports but also real-time analysis and intelligence. Finance leaders can realize the benefits of real-time insights for Continuous Accounting and how this will help your departments run more efficiently.