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2024 Contemporary Issues in Accounting Conference

November 25 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CST

Gerdin in the morningThe Ivy College of Business Department of Accounting will host the 22nd annual Contemporary Issues in Accounting Conference on Monday, November 25, at Iowa State University.

Learn from industry leaders and enjoy a day on campus while you earn eight credits of continuing professional education, including two credits of ethics education. This year’s conference features five engaging keynotes speakers, with topics ranging from how to use artificial intelligence at work to the future of the accounting profession.

Continental breakfast and lunch are included in your registration fee.

Learn more about this year’s speakers.

Registration

  • Take advantage of early bird savings! The registration fee is $220 if you register by October 25, 2024.
  • After October 25, the registration fee goes up to $240.
  • Registration ends November 18, 2024.

Conference Agenda

7:30 amCheck-in and continental breakfast
8:00 amWelcome from Dirk Black
Donna J. Fuller Accounting Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting
8:10 am“AI: Where We Are and How You Can Benefit Today” (1 credit)
Adam Hesseltine, Director, PwC

This session will provide an overview of artificial intelligence. We will dive into how industry giants are investing their time and money into AI. With so much potential, it can be difficult to know where to start. We will talk about how all of us can start using AI in our professional and personal lives today. 
9:00 amBreak
9:10 am“Generative AI in the Workplace” (2 ethics credits)
Michael Bootsma, Dean’s Teaching Fellow in Accounting, Ivy College of Business

Michael will provide an overview of some of the practical ethical issues encountered by companies when integrating generative AI into daily operations. The session will provide a high-level overview of recent legal controversies related to generative AI and will culminate with a hands-on case study regarding the use of artificial intelligence.    
10:50 amBreak
11:00 am“Leveraging Citizen Development and Agile Methodologies in a Finance Organization” (1 credit)
Jim Heldt, Manager, Accounting Operations US and Canada, John Deere Financial

Learn about Citizen Development and Agile methodologies and how they can be utilized within an accounting and finance company. Paired with digital upskilling, they can effectively structure and drive digitalization and other process improvement efforts at all levels of the organization. You’ll also hear how these efforts have gone at John Deere Financial at both the company-wide and accounting department level.
11:50 amLunch
12:30 pmChoose a breakout session (2 credits)

Option 1: “Using Generative AI to Polish Your Professional Communications”
Christine Dension, Roger P. Murphy Professor in Accounting, Ivy College of Business

Generative AI can be a powerful tool for improving communications. We’ll discuss methods for prompting and evaluating output, and we’ll engage in hands-on activities using AI to improve grammar, flow, style, transitions, skim value, and more. By the end of this session, you will have a solid understanding of how to leverage generative AI to enhance your professional communications, making them more effective and impactful. 

Option 2: “Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack: Navigating Ransomware Threats in Critical Infrastructure”
Diane Janvrin, William L. Varner Professor in Accounting, Ivy College of Business

Today, many cyberattacks involve ransomware. We will discuss this growing threat and review how victims have responded to various attacks. In addition, we will examine the details of the May 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware cyberattack that crippled the gasoline supply in the southeastern United States. 
2:10 pmBreak
2:20 pm“Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset: How Individuals Can Contribute to Corporate Entrepreneurship” (1 credit)
Mike Howard, Hilsinger-Janson Professor in Management and Entrepreneurship, Ivy College of Business

The media and the public often take a stylized view of entrepreneurs – bold, risk-taking individuals who cash in their life savings to launch new ventures out of the family garage. While this certainly happens, it misses the biggest economic driver of entrepreneurial activity in our society – the pursuit of new products and markets by established corporations. This session will explore characteristics of entrepreneurs, the nature of entrepreneurial thinking, and how individual roles may combine with organizational structure and culture to promote success in corporate entrepreneurship. 
3:10 pm“The Future of Accounting: Where Do We Go From Here?” (1 credit)
Lindsey Haley, Director of Membership and Business Development, Iowa Society of CPAs
Jenny McGarry, Senior Manager, Eide Bailly National Tax Office

The accounting profession is facing a significant talent shortage, prompting a need for innovative solutions. This presentation will examine the key trends shaping its future, including societal and demographic shifts. We’ll highlight the Iowa Society of CPAs’ pipeline initiatives which aim to introduce high school students to the accounting field, as well as strategies in public accounting to recruit and retain top talent. The “Proposed Uniform Accountancy Act Changes” and “CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway” exposure drafts will be discussed. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the future of accounting and actionable steps to help enhance the profession. Let’s exchange ideas on how the profession can turn recommendations into actions that will resonate with high schoolers, college students, educators, firms, employers, and all stakeholders to keep the CPA profession growing!
4:00 pmClosing remarks

Continuing Professional Education

Eight credits of continuing professional education will be offered, including two credits of ethics education. CPE credits from this conference are accepted by the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board. Out-of-state participants should check with their state board of accountancy to determine eligibility.

Questions

For questions about registration, please contact Registration Services. For questions about the conference, please contact conference coordinators Kayla Sander or Jennifer Finch.

Notice of Photography and Media Recording

When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending this event, you consent to the possibility of your image and likeness being used in Ivy College of Business publications. This may include any of the college’s marketing materials, such as the website, social media, or other platforms.

Gerdin Business Building

2167 Union Drive
Ames, IA 50011 United States + Google Map