The finance sector in GCC has stepped into the limelight over recent years, emerging as a core pillar to drive diversification and efficiency within organisations. As per Deloitte forecasts, a net 55% of CFOs plan to increase investments in training employees on digital initiatives over the next 12 months. Another estimate by Stanton Chase claims that 65% of experts cite implementing innovative technology as the biggest challenge for a CFO.

With the aim to redefine the digital age CFO and help them understand the real value of automation, AI, analytics and other innovative technologies, IQPC Middle East is organising the “Future of Finance and CFO Summit”. The two-day event will take place in Dubai from 17 – 18 June 2019 at The Address Hotel – Dubai Mall. The region’s first-ever such event by the world-leading SSON Network will bring together the CFOs and senior finance professionals from across the Middle East.

The summit will highlight how finance is implementing new governance structures to mitigate risks and achieve cyber hygiene, automating the everyday processes with finance and intelligent solutions, mastering the company talent to keep the operational efficiency and retaining and growing company talent, and leveraging best cost control strategies to survive the profit graph with controlled budgets and high efficiency.

In its launch edition, the event has an impressive line-up of speakers from organisations including ADNOC Group, Abu Dhabi Financial Group, OMD MENA, Chalhoub Group, Careem, Fetchr, DMCC, SHUROOQ, Noor Bank, LucaNet AG and many more.

“The last few years have been challenging for most businesses around the world – due to verve in technological advances, upheavals in socio-economic scenarios, and testy geopolitical situations around the world. Proactive financial diligence is arguably the most critical element for business longevity and sustainability in these times. It is, therefore, crucial for today’s CFOs to be savvy of future trends and help their organisations brace for the impact and to capitalise on the growth prospects,” said Muhammad Ali Baig, CFO, SHUROOQ.

The two-day summit will also feature Executive Master Classes on Automating VAT compliance and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) alongside Panel Discussions by influential speakers on consequences of rolling out VAT in GCC and Finance Automation. Talking about the summit, Antonio Chedrawy, CFO MENA, OMD, says, “The global business environment has been and will be regularly disrupted by technology innovation, evolving regulation and geopolitical turbulence. Under these conditions, CFOs are gradually embracing a more strategic role to manage the risks from these disruptions, lead transformation and be one step ahead to safeguard the financial health and sustainability of their companies. The Future of Finance and CFO Summit is a pioneering and thought-leading forum to share learning, challenges, and strategies that will benefit and inspire financial leadership across industries and markets.”

“The Future of Finance and CFO Summit is the right platform for all players that are ready for digital transformation,” said Marcus Schmid, Head of International Management at the LucaNet Group, “We see the growing need for Corporate Performance Management Software which empowers CFOs and their teams to make the right business one day at a time. For us, the Middle East is the place to be and we are excited to connect to financial leaders who strive to be ahead of the financial curve,” concluded Marcus.

Special sessions on the role of VAT in UAE and GCC will discuss how it impacted the business and what it means to the finance department. Answering key questions such as – How to manage the risks in the design and application of VAT?; How has the inclusion of VAT impacted business strategies?; Did VAT increase the business efficiency?, amongst many more – the sessions will provide a great learning and exchange platform for the CFOs.