The Digital Accountancy Forum and Awards 2021

Biography: Samantha Louis is Chief Executive Officer of Praxity Global Alliance, joining in June 2021 from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants where she was Vice President in charge of International Advocacy. She’s an experienced leader and prior to her moving to London she was Regional Vice President for Africa at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) where she directed the growth of the member and student population in Africa from 2,000 to over 25,000 and led the expansion of CIMA into Southern and Western Africa.   Samantha has served  on various local and international boards and senior leadership groups, including the Professional Accountancy Organisation Development Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and has extensive experience in several non-executive directorships.  She currently serves on the Council and Finance Committee of Roedean School, UK.   Samantha is a Fellow of CIMA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.  She holds a Batchelors degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and holds post-graduate courses in public relations and management, as well as a Master’s degree in business administration, with distinction, from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria.

Session Details: Profitably purposeful – reporting on sustainability and ESG 04-11-2021, 1:50 pm Panel: Does the future look bright? 04-11-2021, 3:10 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: Chair’s opening remarks 04-11-2021, 8:50 am View In Agenda

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Biography: With extensive experience in the accountancy industry across roles in auditing, IT, process re-engineering and product management, Evan has an excellent track record of delivering high profile projects and successful business consultancy. He joined Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK in 2014 as a professional services consultant and became Lead Technology Product Manager in 2018. From both a technical and strategic business point of view, his career has always been tightly aligned with increasing productivity within accountancy practices. Starting out as an auditor in his early career, Evan progressed on to senior IT roles in accountancy firms including six years with a top 15 UK practice, and over three years with Rouse Partners. The expertise and knowledge he gained led him to start his own business in 2014, providing consultancy and training for accountancy practices and other professional services providers. At Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK, Evan focuses on representing and managing the customer and market needs, covering both existing on-premise and the company’s future cloud products. He holds the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification from the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT and is certified by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). He also holds certifications from Microsoft.

Session Details: Preparing your Clients Ahead of the MTD for Income Tax Deadline 04-11-2021, 11:30 am Panel: What does the rapid acceleration in digital adoption mean for the industry? 04-11-2021, 12:30 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Carl Reader is chairman at multi-award winning firm d&t and Head of Accounting (EMEA) at Practice Ignition. Carl serves as Chair of the Practitioner Panel at ACCA. ​Carl is widely recognised as a thought leader in the accounting profession, speaking globally to accountancy audiences about a range of topics. He has been recognised as one of the leading voices on social media by ICAEW, is regularly featured in the accounting press, and was formerly a member of the Accountancy Age 35 under 35.

Session Details: Happy clients, happy bank account 04-11-2021, 12:10 pm Panel: What does the rapid acceleration in digital adoption mean for the industry? 04-11-2021, 12:30 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Jamie Lyon leads ACCA’s cutting-edge insights programme that explores the implications and opportunities presented by advancing digital technologies, corporate governance, enterprise risk, financial and business transformation and talent management. By working with employers, governments and regulators across the world, Jamie and his team produce cutting edge, practical and accessible advice and insights on the most pressing issues impacting the business environment. Jamie’s extensive experience of financial management, corporate transformation, risk management and talent development was gained during his career in industry with a number of leading FTSE 100 businesses including Royal and Sun Alliance and Marks and Spencer. Jamie is a chartered certified accountant with a degree in Economics from Sheffield University.

Session Details: Professional Accountants at the heart of sustainable organisations 04-11-2021, 9:40 am Panel: What does the post-Covid accountancy firm look like? 04-11-2021, 10:20 am View In Agenda

Biography: Sam Plotkin is a Chartered Accountant with a masters degree in computing science which focused on human-computer interaction. Experienced in applying technology across audit, assurance, and advisory, Sam is chair of the Deloitte global audit analytics working party, and authored the strategy which set the firm on a path to data driven audit. Sam’s experience as an auditor established a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities data and analytics can bring to the audit industry. This led to his appointment as programme director of the analytics platform Spotlight, which was successfully deployed globally on thousands of audit engagements. He now takes responsibility for the development of analytic content in the next-generation data platform, Cortex. During his time at Deloitte, Sam has fostered a holistic, people-centred, and purpose-driven approach to using technology to improve audit. He believes that a high-quality audit has societal benefit and using technology to improve audits is vital to capturing public trust and confidence in the profession.

Session Details: Data and Detectives, Not Diesels: What matters more - loud engines and powerful tools OR access to data and tech-enabled auditors? 04-11-2021, 9:00 am Panel: What does the post-Covid accountancy firm look like? 04-11-2021, 10:20 am View In Agenda

Biography: As the mastermind behind Inflo, Mark aims to transform the audit and accounting profession by making innovative technologies and broader expertise available to all.   With the global audit profession facing heavy criticism after high-profile business failures and frauds, Mark has stepped forward as a voice for progress. As well as being quoted in Sir Donald Brydon’s and other audit market reviews, Mark has been called upon to support international efforts to modernise and transform the audit and accounting profession.   Mark is a member of the Advisory Panel to the IAASB’s Technology Working Group as well as the Reference Group supporting the development of the IAASB’s new standards for auditing less complex entities. He also leads a US AICPA working group to tackle innovation barriers through advancing data standards.   Mark’s efforts centre around developing the relevance and value of the accounting profession’s work, and ensuring accountancy offers an exciting career pathway.   Mark has a strong passion for advancing the skills and expertise of his peers in the profession and Inflo now performs a key role within education, including within the ICAEW’s Chartered Accountant qualification.

Session Details: Digital + Data = Irreplaceable 04-11-2021, 2:50 pm Panel: Does the future look bright? 04-11-2021, 3:10 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Kirsty McGregor is founder and Chairman of The Corporate Finance Network, a group of independent regional accountancy firms, and Accountant-in-Residence at Capitalise.com, the capital advisory platform. As an experienced SME Corporate Financier, she now shares her knowledge and practical resources with accountants who aim to assist owner-managed businesses to grow profitable businesses and ultimately to exit. She is also a speaker, professional trainer and is regularly called upon to provide commentary on SME issues to the press and media.

Session Details: Where are you on the Pyramid of Advisory? 04-11-2021, 2:30 pm Panel: Does the future look bright? 04-11-2021, 3:10 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: The Journey to the Cloud: It’s Easier Than You Think 04-11-2021, 9:20 am Panel: What does the post-Covid accountancy firm look like? 04-11-2021, 10:20 am View In Agenda

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Session Details: The competitive advantage of mental well-being 04-11-2021, 10:00 am Panel: What does the post-Covid accountancy firm look like? 04-11-2021, 10:20 am View In Agenda

Biography: Shane Lukas is passionate about giving people more choice in their lives. Working with accountancy practice owners for more than 23 years, he’s seen how people suffer when they believe they can’t change the way they work or the way they live and he is committed to changing that situation. As Managing Director of AVN Inspiring Accountants he helps accountants to develop their businesses so they can do the work and live the life they choose – and then help their business owner clients do the same. He runs his own business based on the same philosophy. Shane is also the author of several books including the Amazon best sellers, Putting Excellence Into Practice and What’s Next For Accountants.

Session Details: Go digital and be more human 04-11-2021, 11:50 am Panel: What does the rapid acceleration in digital adoption mean for the industry? 04-11-2021, 12:30 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: Powering Your OneStop Client App to Transform the Accounting and Tax Client Journey 04-11-2021, 2:10 pm Panel: Does the future look bright? 04-11-2021, 3:10 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: Top tips for growing your practice in 2022 04-11-2021, 4:00 pm Closing panel: What are the essential takeaways as we step into 2022? 04-11-2021, 4:40 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: Closing panel: What are the essential takeaways as we step into 2022? 04-11-2021, 4:40 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Rob Brown is co-founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable, a think tank and door-opening club for specialists/vendors who serve the accounting/fintech profession. He runs a training company called Business Development Academy which trains busy technically smart accountants to be confident, effective work winners. He is the bestselling author of Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk ‘The Personal Brand of You' has been viewed 280K times on Youtube. He co-hosts the international podcast Accounting Influencers with Martin Bissett and is a professional host, moderator and chair for accounting/fintech events, conferences and panel discussions. He is a committed Christian, a black belt in kickboxing, enjoys backgammon, loves chocolate orange and is allergic to grapefruit.

Session Details: Panel: What does the post-Covid accountancy firm look like? 04-11-2021, 10:20 am Closing panel: What are the essential takeaways as we step into 2022? 04-11-2021, 4:40 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Mark Koziel became President and CEO of Allinial Global in August 2020 after 14 years with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In addition to leading a team of twenty-seven staff members, he is responsible for strategic planning, financial performance, and the association’s overall growth and success. From the beginning of his career at a large local accounting firm in Buffalo, New York, to his tenure as Executive Vice President of Firm Services at the AICPA, Mark has been a leader and consistent advocate for CPA firms. Well known and highly regarded within the profession, he has appeared among the top 10 of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and been named to the International Accounting Bulletin’s Global Accounting Power 50 List.

Session Details: Creating a Digital Strategy to Support Growth 04-11-2021, 11:10 am Panel: What does the rapid acceleration in digital adoption mean for the industry? 04-11-2021, 12:30 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Jack Skov is one of the founders of Konsolidator and the CFO. He is State Authorized Public Accountant and has a Master of Science in Business Economics and Auditing. Jack has been working in finance and public accounting for 20 years. He has been working with consolidation accounting, financing, and M&A activities throughout his career, and has served publicly and privately-owned groups when working in public accounting and worked as a State Authorized Public Accountant at Deloitte.  

Session Details: One more step towards increasing profitability with financial consolidations in 2022 using technology 04-11-2021, 4:20 pm View In Agenda

Biography: Will Farnell is the founder and a director of Farnell Clarke Ltd, an innovative and pioneering accounting firm based in East Anglia and London, UK offering a fresh approach to SME accountancy and business advisory services. Farnell Clarke was one of the first firms globally to fully adopt cloud accounting technology back in 2009 and remains one of the most innovation firms in the UK. The firm has been named Best Independent Firm (East of England) three times at the British Accountancy Awards, including in 2019 and was awarded Medium Firm of the Year award at the Accounting Excellence awards in 2019. The firm also won the 100% Xero award in 2017.   Will is author of ‘The Digital Firm’ a blueprint for digital transformation.  He is a regular speaker on how accounting firms can leverage technology, people and process to achieve practice growth, as well as providing consulting services to support firms in becoming a digital practice.  

Session Details: Panel: What does the rapid acceleration in digital adoption mean for the industry? 04-11-2021, 12:30 pm View In Agenda

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Session Details: Closing panel: What are the essential takeaways as we step into 2022? 04-11-2021, 4:40 pm View In Agenda