126th Annual Meeting & Celebration Agenda

2:00 – 2:50 p.m.

How Technology Is Changing the Finance Function 1-Other

• How a variety of impactful technologies are being used by companies today, including real-life examples.
• Strategies companies are using as they seek to identify the right application for technology.
• The role technology plays in a company’s overall strategy, common myths, and how to best align technology with people and processes.

 2:50 – 3:40 p.m.

CPA Leadership Unpacked 1-Other

 3:40 – 4:30 p.m.

CPA Legislators Discuss New Shapiro Administration 1-Other

Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed the first budget in early March, and lawmakers have been working through the 2023-2024 spending plan for weeks. Join us as state Reps. Nick Pisciottano, CPA (D-Allegheny), and George Dunbar, CPA (Inactive) (R-Westmoreland), share their insights and perspectives on budget negotiations, the current state of legislative affairs in Harrisburg, and what tax policy changes are on the table for consideration. This CPA Legislator Panel will be moderated by Charles Waring, CPA, chair of the CPA-PAC Board of Trustees.

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast, Registration, and Sponsor Exhibits

Grand Ballroom Foyer

8:15 – 9:05 a.m.

Professional Issues Update1-Other

Jen Cryder, PICPA's CEO and executive director, along with Aaron Risden, PICPA president, and Betsy Krisher, incoming president, will share insights gained from the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy, Pennsylvania legislature, NASBA, and other national contacts. They will also discuss what the PICPA is doing on your behalf, specifically regarding the pipeline and forces shaping the profession.

9:05 – 9:55 a.m.

Future of the Finance Function 1-Other

• The CFO / Finance role is getting exponentially more complex in an increasingly uncertain world– it’s really 10 jobs in 1.  In our bi-annual survey we see the # of areas reporting in to the CFO steadily increasing with more CFOs taking on responsibilities in digital, IR, M&A and integration, and procurement
• CFOs benefit from taking a page from the PE CFO playbook and adopt an ‘investor mindset’ to orient to a PE’s focus on long-term value maximization and a venture capitalist scrutiny of the best investment opportunities
• Fully utilizing an agile mindset and digital tools to deliver on efficiency, and finance insights, e.g., from RPA to AI forecasting
• A different set of talent skills needed to create a ‘new’ operating model: must have the deep finance knowledge but also adopt digital know-how and a flexible way of working in open-plan offices and with cross-functional team set-up
• Meet the moment on ESG

9:55 – 10:20 a.m.

Morning Break and Sponsor Exhibits

10:20 – 11:10 a.m.

1-OtherThe Current State and Future of the Accounting Profession – Best Practices of High-Performing Firms

• The current state of the profession
• A vision as to what CPA and advisory firms will look like in the next 3-5 years
• “Best practices” in firms as it relates to:
  • Strategy and direction
  • Service offerings and industry specialization
  • Transformation and innovation
  • Technology and related capital requirements
  • Human capital and the workforce of the future
  • The partnership vs. the corporate form of governance (as well as decision making)
  • Partner compensation and profitability

11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

1-OtherSession 3 – Future of Profession Panel

Hear about the practical application of the two previous sessions, get real-time reactions, and join in with questions from audience as well as a discussion on how these topics relate to Pennsylvania.

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Break and Sponsor Exhibits 

12:15 – 1:40 p.m.

Annual Meeting & Lunch 1-Other

Hear from PICPA CEO Jen Cryder, outgoing president Aaron Risden, and incoming president Betsy Krisher.

2:20 – 3:10 p.m.

1-EthicsCreating a Culture of Trust in a Fraud-Filled World

Take a look at recent cases of ethical failure and fraud, highlighting the concepts of personal accountability, responding to fraud, and expectations within the Code of Professional Conduct. We will consider whether or not frauds are becoming more brazen, methods to protect yourself and your organization, and matters of trust, particularly how to establish real trust within your organization.

3:10 – 4:00 p.m.

1-TaxPennsylvania Tax Update

This session will dive into the changes to the taxing statutes as part of this year’s budget, court decisions, and changes in department regulations, policy, and private letter rulings during the same time period. It will also discuss sales and use tax, personal income tax, corporate tax, realty transfer tax, local real estate tax, and business privilege/mercantile tax.