Management Accountants' Week 2024
19-22 November
Online via MS Teams
Discounts for additional tickets:
When you book your first ticket your booking confirmation email will include a 20% discount code for you to share with colleagues at your own HEP so when the code is used on any additional bookings from the same HEP they will be discounted by 20% (i.e. additional bookings will cost £76 plus VAT when using the code). Therefore, if you have several bookings to make for your HEP, ensure you book a single ticket first, wait for the discount code in the confirmation email and then book the other tickets. If you are likely to have several bookings from your HEP, please co-ordinate this process before any bookings are made if possible, to avoid the need for refunds as much as possible.
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You can now book your place on our Management Accountants' week taking place from the 19-22 November. We will be hosting a series of webinars across a range of topics which we hope you will find interesting and valuable to you and your team members.
Programme:
Day | Tuesday 19 November | Wednesday 20 November | Thursday 21 November | Friday 22 November | |||
09.30 – 10.30 | All change? What the new government means for universities and how we might navigate existing challenges and new opportunities in the sector, George Blake, Policy and Networks Officer, London Higher | The current economic climate - Will Hobbs, Head of Multi Asset Wealth, Barclays | Financial Operating Framework: Reporting and Accountability -Suzanne Garland, Head of Corporate Accounting, Jessica Scott Esserafy, Head of Finance Business Partnering, Queen's University Belfast | Using Storytelling to Influence - Shirley Dalziel, Develop Global | |||
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11.00 – 12.00 | The implementation and transformative impact of Power BI, Gary Tindell, Business Intelligence Manager, University of East London | Please note this session is 11:00-12:30 Handling Difficult Conversations: How to Be More Influential - Tom Mackay and Richard Matthews, Develop Global | Using Office 365 Technology for Process Improvement /Automation - Geoff Taylor, Process Improvement Manager, University of Salford | Managing your Career - Kate Liu Bevan, Edit Development | |||
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13.00 – 14.00 | Empowering university teams with data dashboards - Alan Rutter, Founder, Fire Plus Algebra | Monthly Reporting: Telling the Finance Story - A review of the work done at the University of Chichester - Claire Thorn, Finance Director, University of Chichester | Demystifying artificial intelligence for universities - Alan Rutter, Founder, Fire Plus Algebra | Financial Benchmarking of HEPs: Is it Worthwhile? George Whalley, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, University of Manchester | |||
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14.30 – 15.30 | A Rose by Any Other Name? The Difference between Finance Business Partners and Management Accountants - Will Argyle, Assistant Director, Financial Planning and Reporting and Julian Hatton, Finance Business Partner, Durham University | Producing Financial Contribution Information Relating to the University’s Teaching activities - Mohamed Takolia, Deputy Director of Finance, De Montfort University and Alan Bates, Independent HE Consultant | Prioritising and Saying No - Judith Strange, Develop Global | Developing a new approach to collaborative working and improving our finance service? Katherine Gardiner, Director of Finance Operations, Cat Temple, Financial Processes and Improvements Manager and Paul Layland, Head of Finance - Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford | |||
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16.00 – 17.00 | Communication and Happy Teams - Selina Brown, Laughology | Navigating sustainability and ethics: the role of the finance professional - Jessica Bingham and Joe Fitzsimons, Policy and Insights, ACCA | Using data to make better decisions - Simon Perks, Sockmonkey Consulting | Energise Me - Beth Chadwick, Edit Development |
Your ticket will allow access to all sessions throughout the week, as well as all the recorded sessions and resources post-event.
You will not need to pre-select sessions - attend as much or as little of the week as you can. Tickets cost £95 plus VAT, however, there will be a 20% discount for additional tickets for staff at the same HEP (see details above).
SESSION SYNOPSES
Tuesday 19 November | |
09.30 – 10.30 | All change? What the new government means for universities and how we might navigate existing challenges and new opportunities in the sector, George Blake, Policy and Networks Officer, London Higher. This presentation will cover what we know so far about the new governments plans for higher education, the current challenges universities face, how government might respond to those challenges, and what they will expect from universities in return. The presentation will also explore what universities can do to better prepare for future financial uncertainty. |
11.00 – 12.00 | The implementation and transformative impact of Power BI, Gary Tindell, Business Intelligence Manager, University of East London This presentation will outline the implementation of Power BI at UEL including the planning process and the lessons learned. It will then go on to look at the range of areas covered as well as the use of AI and Machine Learning models at UEL using Power BI. Finally, Gary will demonstrate the impact of collaborating with external partners in the use of external data and the impact on policy in the UK and overseas. |
13.00 – 14.00 | Empowering university teams with data dashboards - Alan Rutter, Founder, Fire Plus Algebra Universities are moving from presenting data in slide decks and printed reports to dynamically updated dashboards. These self-serve data displays create efficiency through automation and empower finance teams and budget holders to make better-informed decisions. This session will explore best practice approaches to designing dashboards using different types of software, and common pitfalls to avoid. It will cover: |
14.30 – 15.30 | A Rose by Any Other Name? The Difference between Finance Business Partners and Management Accountants - Will Argyle, Assistant Director, Financial Planning and Reporting and Julian Hatton, Finance Business Partner, Durham University A long time ago in a University not so far, far away, it was felt that Finance needed to get out more, be visible, travel about. Finance wanted to be proactive and add value. Quite right, we say. But this University didn’t want to create new positions, so it went on a marketing exercise – it rebranded its Management Accountant roles. The spectacles of the Management Accountant were swapped for the superhero suit of the new Finance Business Partner. But after a while, in a growing challenging financial environment, gaps appeared. So what is the interplay between a Finance Business Partner and a Management Accountant? How are they intertwined, can one exist without the other, are they equal partners? Can the roles be combined? What does success look like? Join us to find out one aspect of the debate and let’s discuss… |
16.00 – 17.00 | Communication and Happy Teams, Selina Brown, Laughology In the session you will:
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Wednesday 20 November | |
09.30 – 10.30 | The current economic climate, Will Hobbs, Head of Multi Asset Wealth, Barclays Will gives his insight into the current economic climate, the real story behind the headlines and numbers. He will pull out the key messages and help us identify the main factors rather than guided by economic ‘noise’. |
11.00 – 12.30 | Handling Difficult Conversations: How to Be More Influential, Tom Mackay and Richard Matthews, Develop Global This session will give you a framework to handle those conversations that you find more difficult. · Forum theatre: View a ‘difficult conversation’ that takes place between a senior manager and a management accountant · As participants, ‘guide’ the management accountant to enable them to be more effective as part of this conversation · Learn tips, techniques and a framework to handle those more difficult conversations Additional resources provided: · Some short frameworks to handle difficult conversations, such as dealing with conflict; challenging inappropriate behaviour; putting yourself in their shoes |
13.00 – 14.00 | Telling the Finance Story through Monthly Reporting - a review of the work done at the University of Chichester, Claire Thorn, Finance Director, University of Chichester A look at the management accounts reporting at the University of Chichester, what goes into the pack, how it’s displayed, what other information we send and the different audiences it goes to. |
14.30 – 15.30 | Producing Financial Contribution Information Relating to the University’s Teaching activities, Mohamed Takolia, Deputy Director of Finance, De Montfort University and Alan Bates, Independent HE Consultant The DMU Resource Allocation Model (RAM) and how it has supported the strategic financial decision making at the university. The presentation is reflecting the journey the university has taken in producing and providing this key part of information and the next phase of developing a model reflecting the contribution by student type. This will be joint presentation by Mohamed Takolia, Deputy Director of Financial Performance and Alan Bates , HE consultant. The presentation will be approximately 20-25 minutes and a further discussion with delegates. |
16.00 – 17.00 | Navigating sustainability and ethics – the role of the finance professional - Jessica Bingham and Joe Fitzsimons, Policy and Insights, ACCA What is the role of finance professionals when working on sustainability and ethics, what are they bound to deliver and what to do when we feel any boundaries are being crossed. |
Thursday 21 November | |
09.30 – 10.30 | Financial Operating Framework: Reporting and Accountability, Suzanne Garland, Head of Corporate Accounting, Jessica Scott Esserafy, Head of Finance Business Partnering, Queen's University Belfast In 2023-24, the Finance team in Queen’s University Belfast designed and co-created a new, innovative Financial Operating Framework which represents a new way of working and approach to financial management. The Framework consists of three components: a new Reporting Solution, an Accountability and an Incentivisation Framework. This transformational programme incorporated a shift from a top-down, expenditure-based resource allocation model to a full Income & Expenditure approach right across the organisational structure. The Framework incorporates the introduction of a new automated Power BI reporting tool, with new monthly reporting processes, and has driven a review of accounting procedures to accommodate Gross Contribution reporting in Faculties, Schools, and Professional Services. The Framework is designed to enhance transparency, accountability and ownership of financial performance across Queen’s and will enable informed decision-making. It reinforces our commitment to providing the most accurate, reliable and timely financial management information to our internal stakeholders and is a proactive step in ensuring that Queen’s remains financially resilient. The session will outline the drivers for change and introduce the key components of the Framework, along with challenges encountered along the way and how we have faced these as a Finance team. |
11.00 – 12.00 | Using Office 365 Technology for Process Improvement /Automation - Geoff Taylor, Process Improvement Manager, University of Salford In this session we explore how the University of Salford has used Office365 to help automate and streamline their financial processes. We will look at their approach to reducing waste and the specific O365 tools they have used to do so. We will also see how they have made secure and robust audit records within the O365 environment. It is NOT a detailed technical session so knowledge of the O365 tools is not required. |
13.00 – 14.00 | Demystifying artificial intelligence for universities, Alan Rutter, Founder, Fire Plus Algebra AI has dominated discussions about technology for the past two years. We know that there may be potential to greatly increase efficiency and enable innovation. But there are clear risks around costs, technical abilities in-house, the security of data being put into third party models, and ethical considerations. This session will look at practical applications for AI in the university sector. It will cover: |
14.30 – 15.30 | Prioritising and Saying No, Judith Strange, Develop Global To share some tools and techniques to help to prioritise, manage workload and when appropriate, say ‘no’ effectively. Content: · Reaffirm the importance of organising and prioritising work and setting boundaries, particularly when resources are limited · Explore some practical prioritisation frameworks and tools · Share ways of saying ‘no’ without saying those words · Develop confidence in setting boundaries |
16.00 – 17.00 | Using data to make better decisions, Simon Perks, Sockmonkey Consulting Making big decisions is hard. But it’s even harder when you don’t know what’s going on. In this fast-paced session, we’ll explore how universities can use data to make better decisions. We’ll consider how to generate insight into real-world scenarios that universities are wrestling with right now. And we’ll reveal how management accountants hold the key to making it happen. There’ll be plenty of time for questions and discussion, too. |
Friday 22 November | |
09.30 – 10.30 | Using Storytelling to Influence, Shirley Dalziel, Develop Global To enable you to influence your stakeholders to take action through the use of storytelling. Content: · Why using storytelling to influence using one piece of data is more effective than collating a full data report · The three essential elements to storytelling · The story arc to help you to easily and quickly create a story to influence |
11.00 – 12.00 | Managing your Career, Kate Liu-Bevan, Edit Development In this session, Kate will explore the steps to effective career management. Give you tips to gain a deeper understanding of identifying your purpose and what you are passionate and energetic about and finally discover your key strengths whilst analysing how fear may hold us back from progressing. |
13.00 – 14.00 | Financial Benchmarking of HEPs: Is it Worthwhile? George Whalley, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, University of Manchester George will talk through his experience of using benchmarking as a way of understanding better your own institution’s performance. He will look at how benchmarking can assist in setting tuition fees and in thinking about financial and non-financial metrics. It will seek to be a conversational session, inviting discussion and contributions to draw on others’ experience in this area. |
14.30 – 15.30 | Developing a new approach to collaborative working and improving our finance service, Katherine Gardiner, Director of Finance Operations, Cat Temple, Financial Processes and Improvements Manager, and Paul Layland. Head of Finance, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford Join Katherine Gardiner, Director of Finance Operations, Cat Temple, Financial Processes and Improvements Manager, and Paul Layland, Head of Finance - Bodleian Libraries, as they discuss the new, collaborative approaches being developed to drive improvement in financial administration in the University of Oxford, addressing the challenges of devolved working for sharing best practice and adopting change across the institution, and what it all means for the future. |
16.00 – 17.00 | Energise Me (resilience), Beth Chadwick, Edit Development This session will help you understand the need for resilience during times of challenge. To consider how ‘unconscious denial’ can impact us as individuals, teams and organisations during times of extensive disruption. Explore tools and techniques for dealing with anxiety and stress when you and your colleagues’ resilience is tested and maintain your energy overall to support being your best self. |
For any queries on the event, please contact gill@bufdg.ac.uk
Tagged : Management Accounting, Business Partner, Learning and Development, Events
Type : Conference
