The CFO Series provides a convenient, one-stop way for CFOs and those who aspire to be CFOs, to an entire year of CPE with a single decision. Each day consists of a subject matter expert leading discussions about four different topics. The CFO Series features high-quality presentations and an interactive, executive level colleague-to-colleague approach with case studies, group discussions, and team exercises.
Each topic and each day stands on its own. If you are not sure about making a multi-day commitment, sign up for just a single day. We think you will come back for more!
This CFO Series Day
This four-topic event focuses on skills that will help you and your organization enhance your planning skills, improve innovation to thrive, provide two newer metrics to improve decision making, and accounting for lean.
Topics Discussed
Strategy and Implementation, Foundations for Success
2 Business Management & Organization credits
Does your business have an effective strategy? If you do – how well has it been implemented? This seminar will focus on developing an effective strategy and more importantly on effectively implementing the strategy so that everyone in the organization, from top to bottom, is aligned and working towards its overall success. Organizations that succeed are not accidents, they are not lucky. Every successful organization plans well and executes their strategic plan well. Come and learn how.
Topics Discussed
- Effective strategies to compete in today’s world
- Cost leadership
- Differentiation
- Finding niches
- Defining the market properly
- Effective market segmentation
- Market positioning and targeting
- Aligning the organization
Objective: To go beyond the abstract discussion of strategy, focusing on identifying attackable market segments and aligning the organization for success.
Cases and Group Discussion
This seminar includes two (2) case studies and practical examples for participants to work.
Prerequisite: At least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience, or at least six (6) credit hours of corporate finance classwork at an accredited university. Better for those who are comfortable with strategic planning.
Best Practices EVA/RCE: Metrics to Gauge Real Performance
2 Finance credits
How much profit is enough? Answering this question requires an understanding of the true risk involved and what the market requires of investments of similar risk. Learn why GAAP accounting measures can lead you astray when trying to evaluate the true economic performance of an enterprise. The measurement of economic costs and revenues requires the inclusion of opportunity costs that GAAP does not measure. The seminar looks at how this required return is established and provides hands-on guidance on two state of the art techniques for measuring true economic profit. If you are in leadership, or want to be, this seminar will provide practical, new insights.
Topics Discussed
- Why EPS, ROS, ROA, and ROCE fail
- Why can thinking like an economist be helpful?
- What is the cost of capital?
- Going beyond the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) to its fundamental principles.
- The importance of asset utilization
Objectives: To understand the weaknesses of GAAP as a financial performance measure and to propose alternative approaches.
Cases and Group Discussion
This seminar includes three (3) case studies and practical examples for participants to work.
Prerequisite: At least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience, or at least six (6) credit hours of corporate finance classwork at an accredited university.
Innovation for Continued Success: Sustaining the Organization
2 Business Management & Organization credits
Disruptive innovation has ended many businesses and led others to take their place. Learn why previously successful companies failed to innovate. We will discuss the four types of innovation that can lead to success. We will learn why and how our expectations can help or hinder innovation. We will discuss strategies to encourage innovation and how an enterprise can structure its activities to foster innovation. Successful organizations thrive, while organizations that do not innovate are on the path leading elsewhere.
Topics Discussed
- Consequences of failing to innovate
- What do innovative companies have in common?
- Four types of Innovation
- Clayton Christensen’s view of innovation
- How does accounting impact innovation?
- Strategies for successful innovation
- Structuring an organization to create and benefit from innovation
Objectives: To understand why innovation is vital to long term success and to understand our key role in creating an innovative organization.
Cases and Group Discussion
This seminar includes three (3) case studies and practical examples for participants to work.
Prerequisite: At least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience, or at least six (6) credit hours of corporate finance classwork at an accredited university.
Accounting for Lean & Agile: Staying in Step with Lean Operations
2 Accounting credits
The plodding accounting conventions of yesterday can inhibit the quickly adapting operations of today. As business processes become faster, scheduling, inventory management, and data collection must change to reflect your organization’s new reality. This session will help you adapt your accounting methods as the world is changing around you.
Topics Discussed
- What are ‘agile’ and ‘lean’?
- How ‘lean’ is different from traditional practices
- Are we doing too much or doing too little?
- Quantifying the benefits of lean
- Practical application of lean concepts in an accounting department
- Learn how to see accounting output from the users’ perspective
- Gain insights into making your department more efficient
- What are the key concepts of lean?
- How do they apply to accounting?
- Creating a culture of continuous improvement
Objectives: Determine the needs of those who use financial reports and focus on better metrics that our users can understand and use to make informed business decisions.
Cases and Group Discussion
This seminar includes three (3) case studies for group discussion.
Prerequisite: At least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience, or at least six (6) credit hours of corporate finance classwork at an accredited university.
Target Audience: Corporate Financial Leaders, business owners, Corporate Financial Managers, entrepreneurs, CFOs, CEOs, Controllers, CPAs, accountants, Board members, advisors, consultants, and the professionals who advise them. CPAs in public practice and CPAs in industry.
Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
CPE Credit: 4 Business Management & Organization, 2 Finance, and 2 Accounting
Advanced Preparation: None.
Acronym: CFOS1-23
Vendor: The Knowledge Institute, LLC
Discussion Leaders: Brian Maturi, MBA, FCA; Robert Angell, MS, CPA; Richard Karwic, MBA; Anita Layton, MBA, CPA, CMA; John Daly, MBA, CPA, CMA, CPIM
