A Virtual Summit for Finance, Accounting, and IT
Mastering Modern Budgeting: How to Optimize Spending Decisions with Data-Driven Insights
 September 12, 2024 |
 1–3 P.M. ET |
| Subject Finance |
Location Online |
CPE Credits 2 Hours |
- Roundtable Discussion: Get insider tips from accounting, finance, and IT leaders on proactive budget strategies and best practices for cross-department collaboration.
- Budget Best Practices: Learn how to confidently fine-tune your plans, reallocate resources, and mitigate financial risks.
- Technology Trends: Discover the tools that streamline budgeting, unlock contract intelligence, and optimize resources.
Register for Free
Agenda
1–2 P.M. ET
Session 1
Fostering Collaboration in Cross-Departmental Budget Planning (Roundtable)
Speakers:
Andrew Larson, CTO, FinQuery
Don Clarke, Former CFO, Plex Systems Inc.
Emily Fish, Director of Product Accounting, FinQuery
Justin Smith, CFO, FinQuery
Rick Fitzgerald, President, Fireside Consulting
Field of Study: Finance
2–3 P.M. ET
Session 2
How to Streamline Your Budget: Proven Tools and Techniques for Efficiency and Accuracy
Speakers:
David Duncan, Director of FP&A
Scott Strauss, Finance Manager
Field of Study: Finance
Presenters
Karen Marchione
As the CMO at FinQuery, Karen merges customer-focused marketing strategies with a wealth of expertise in compliance software and cloud-based technology. Her leadership drives innovative marketing initiatives, drawing on her seasoned background in demand generation, business development, customer life cycle management, and product marketing to craft effective strategies that yield tangible results.
Don Clarke
Former CFO | Plex Systems, Inc
Don Clarke is an accomplished finance professional serving as both a CFO and board member with at multiple public and private companies. He is sought-after by top private equity firms and sits on the boards of BigCommerce, Alarm.com, and Slice Solutions, with past roles at Salsa Labs and DataRPM. Clarke was CFO of Plex Systems until its >$2bn acquisition by Rockwell Automation in 2021, and led finance at Eloqua, overseeing its public offering and acquisition by Oracle.
Rick Fitzgerald
Richard (Rick) Fitzgerald, President of Fireside Consulting, has advised on ~$3.5B in acquisitions since 2022. Leading digital transformation for Pearce Services and advising Emmes and Claimlogiq. Previously, Fitzgerald held executive roles at Ciox, Equian, and nThrive. Recognized as Enterprise Inventor of the Year at Bank of America in 2010. Holds an MBA from Marquette University and a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University.
Andrew Larson
With over 20 years of software development experience in diverse sectors such as banking, finance, insurance, e-commerce, aviation, stock and energy trading, weather, and warehouse logistics, Andrew brings a wealth of software expertise. As the CTO of FinQuery, Andrew is dedicated to enhancing technology, capabilities, and efficiency in the products, insights, and solutions offered to customers and partners.
David Duncan
Planning & Analysis | FinQuery
David Duncan is a seasoned finance manager with expertise in integrating corporate FP&A and data analytics through advanced statistical methods and expert modeling. Before joining FinQuery, he served as the Senior Finance Manager for Microsoft’s Office Business division. David holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington.
Emily Fish
FinQuery
Emily Fish spent seven years at Pier 1 Imports, excelling as Senior Manager of Lease Accounting and Audit. Leading new lease accounting software adoption and implementing Topic 842, she was recognized as a top expert. Now at FinQuery as Director of Product Accounting, Emily guides clients on technical accounting for software compliance and product feature enhancement.
Justin Smith
As FinQuery’s CFO, Justin Smith oversees capital allocation, financial management, operational efficiency, and investor relations. With almost two decades of experience, he joined in 2023 from Goldman Sachs. At Goldman, Justin advised on IPOs, M&A, and capital raises, and was on Engage Ventures’ investment selection board. He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from The Wharton School.
Scott Strauss
Finance Manager | FinQuery
Scott Strauss, the Finance Manager at FinQuery, specializes in all things GTM. Prior to his tenure at FinQuery, Scott held a similar position at Versapay, gaining firsthand experience in the day-to-day operations of a tech company. Starting in Venture Capital, he invested in early and growth stage tech firms. Scott is a proud alumnus of Vanderbilt University, holding a Masters in Finance, and the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelors in Finance with a focus on Mathematics.
Session 1
Fostering Collaboration in Cross-Departmental Budget Planning (Roundtable)
Description
Get expert recommendations on how to foster better communication and collaboration between departments during budget planning. This roundtable will explore practical strategies for leveraging data-driven insights to align goals, allocate resources effectively, and achieve financial harmony.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how contract and spend intelligence can improve cross-departmental communication and collaboration in budgeting.
- Discover practical strategies to leverage data-driven insights from contract and spend data for effective resource allocation and goal alignment.
- Learn how to identify and address common challenges in the budgeting process, and learn expert advice on tackling those challenges
Presenters
Emily Fish, Director of Product Accounting, FinQuery
Justin Smith, CFO, FinQuery
Andrew Larson, CTO, FinQuery
Don Clarke, Former CFO, Plex Systems Inc.
Rick Fitzgerald, President, Fireside Consulting
Additional Information to Include:
Program level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advance preparation: None
Delivery method: Online
Recommended CPE credit: 1
Field of study: Finance
Who Should Attend:
This event is essential for finance, IT, and accounting professionals involved in the budgeting process. It offers the latest strategies and insights for effective budgeting, empowering you to make a significant impact within your organization. Benefit from sessions led by industry experts, focusing on the most recent trends and innovations in the field.
Session 2
Description
Discover the digital tools and techniques modernizing the budgeting process, from data collection to analysis and reporting. Learn how to leverage automation, real-time insights, and collaborative features built to optimize resources, reduce errors, and ensure financial clarity.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how technology can streamline and automate your budgeting, freeing up time for strategic decision-making.
- Explore the potential of data analytics and visualization to elevate your budget forecasts to new levels of accuracy and reliability.
- Learn how to evaluate and select the right digital budgeting tools to meet your organization’s unique needs.
Presenters
Scott Strauss, Finance Manager
David Duncan, Director of FP&A
Additional Information to Include:
Program level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advance preparation: None
Delivery method: Online
Recommended CPE credit: 1
Field of study: Finance
Who Should Attend:
This event is essential for finance, IT, and accounting professionals involved in the budgeting process. It offers the latest strategies and insights for effective budgeting, empowering you to make a significant impact within your organization. Benefit from sessions led by industry experts, focusing on the most recent trends and innovations in the field.
CPE Details
Details
Program level: Basic
Prerequisites: N/A
Advance preparation: None
Delivery method: Online
Recommended CPE credit: 2 hours
Field of study: Finance (2 hours)
Who Should Attend
This event is essential for finance, IT, and accounting professionals involved in the budgeting process. It offers the latest strategies and insights for effective budgeting, empowering you to make a significant impact within your organization. Benefit from sessions led by industry experts, focusing on the most recent trends and innovations in the field.
Sponsor Statement
FinQuery, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: NASBAregistry.org. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints, please contact CPEinfo@finquery.com.
Program Cancellation Policy
If a program is cancelled, FinQuery will notify registrants via the email address that they used to register for the program.