Accelerating the Accounting Close Course 2010

Redesigning the closing process – driving speed and efficiency during the last mile of finance

This event is intended to brief Vice-Presidents and Directors of Finance, Controllers, Auditors, Accountants.

Confirmed Speakers currently include:

Lisa Dorian, President, PowellDorian Services Inc.
Bill Cox, Partner, BDO Canada LLP
W. Alan Ahlgren, Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary, First Coal Corporation
Michael Yarr, Controller, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
Daniel J. Williams, Deloitte
Michelle Miller, Manager, Accounting Operations, Teekay Corporation
Ami A. Rodis, Controller, Micralyne Inc.
Ken Brown, Manager, Financial Advisory Services, Breakwater Accounting Advisors LLP
Alastair Nimmons, Director, Advisory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Stephanie Terrill, Partner, Advisory, KPMG LLP
Don Hitchen, Controller, Granville Entertainment Group
Deborah Barfurth, Director, Financial Reporting, Intrawest ULC

The topics featured in the course include:
1. What’s driving the need: steering finance in the right direction
2. Overcoming key challenges to faster financial closing
3. Benchmarking your current process
4. Process transformation
5. Implementing the fast close process
6. Software for improved financial closing
7. Striking a balance between speed and accuracy
8. Getting internal communications right
9. People & change management issues
10. Faster closing without compromising CEO/CFO certification controls
11. Workshop: Developing a fast close action plan