Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
Step into the forefront of modern financial leadership at this premier event designed for CPAs in corporate finance and controllership roles. The Corporate Finance & Controllers Conference 2027 equips finance leaders to future proof their organizations and themselves in an era defined by rapid technological change, economic volatility, and rising expectations for transparency and sustainability.
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Attendees will gain practical insights into 2027 economic and regulatory developments, advanced tax planning strategies, and the expanding role of AI and automation in finance, while strengthening internal controls and sharpening leadership skills needed to navigate complexity with confidence.
Whether you are shaping enterprise strategy, modernizing finance operations, or leading high performing teams, the 2027 Corporate Finance & Controllers Conference provides the tools, insights, and perspectives you need to lead with clarity, credibility, and confidence in the year ahead.
Prefer to attend live? We have an in person option: Learn More.
Looking to enroll 3 or more team members? Email orglearning@cpaontario.ca to explore group pricing options and find the right solution for your organization.
Agenda
Day 1
Topic: TBD
Topic: Business and Corporate Strategy: M&A and Capital Markets
Topic: Racing Regulation: Mastering GRC in the Age of Unstoppable Innovation
Topic: Corporate Tax Update (SR & ED Tax)
This session will provide an overview of recent changes in the area of income taxation for corporations, including tax implications of conducting Scientific Research and Experimental Development (“SR&ED”) activities in Ontario. The topics will be geared towards small and medium enterprises.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand recent tax developments that impact corporations in Ontario.
- Learn about tax incentives (both Federal and Ontario) for SR&ED activities.
- Recognize opportunities for maximizing deductions and tax credits.
Topic: Budget & Forecasting: Driving Performance Through Effective Planning, Forecasting, and Financial Control (Working Capital and Cash Flow Management)
Topic: Strategic Planning & Value Creation: How CFOs Can Integrate Operational, Capital and Insurable Risk into Asset Decisions.
Topic: CFO Update
Day 2
Topic: Economic Update: Economic and Financial Market Trends Shaping Capital Allocation, Financial Performance, and Strategic Decision-Making in Canada and Globally
Topic: Hands On Workshop: Leveraging AI and Automation in Finance Operations (forecasting, anomaly detection, reporting automation)
Panelists:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
Topic: The Evolving CFO: Communicating Strategy and Bridging Finance and Operations Through FP&A (Case Study)
Topic: Financial Stewardship (Reporting, Controls & Compliance): Leading Finance, Governance, and Ethics in the Age of AI
AI can draft financial commentary, support estimates and automate parts of transaction processing. Finance leaders must determine when that work can be relied on, what evidence is needed, and how to respond when speed, cost or management expectations conflict with professional responsibilities.
Using Northbridge Manufacturing, a fictional Canadian organization, this session examines four ethical challenges in reporting, controls and compliance: misleading variance commentary, replacing an ineffective manual control, responding to an unauthorized disclosure of confidential data, and determining what to document, communicate or disclose when AI changes how an estimate is produced.
Drawing on the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct and CPA Ontario's guidance on the responsible use of AI, the presentation demonstrates a three-question ethical decision test for assessing whether to proceed, seek further evidence, strengthen safeguards or escalate. Brief audience reflection connects the examples to participants' own professional responsibilities.
The session also examines the responsibilities that remain after a decision: correcting information, addressing control weaknesses, preserving evidence and reassessing conclusions. Participants leave with a practical handout for applying the discussion to one AI-assisted finance process with their teams.
Key Takeaways:
1. Recognize ethical threats in AI-assisted reporting, controls and compliance, including misleading information, automation bias, confidentiality risks and management pressure.
2. Apply the relevant CPA principles and guidance to justify a defensible next step, including when an output cannot yet be relied on.
3. Distinguish evidence, communication, escalation and disclosure needs in the circumstances presented.
4. Identify continuing responsibilities after a decision, with an owner, evidence of completion and an appropriate deadline.
Topic: Enterprise Risk & Internal Control Management - Supply Chain Risk Oversight
Topic: Burnout & Stress Management: Fire Up Your Mental Health!
Speaker(s)
| HOST | |
|---|---|
| Sarmad Gilani, CPA, CA, MBA, BHSc is a finance executive, entrepreneur and strategic advisor who has built his career at the intersection of financial strategy, operational leadership and business transformation. His experience spans nearly a decade at Brookfield Asset Management, PwC's Deals practice, and serving as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations at Waterstone Human Capital. These experiences have shaped his perspective on what separates finance teams that report on performance from those that actively influence it. Today, as Founder of CFO Gateway, Sarmad works with founders, executive teams and portfolio companies to bring institutional-quality financial rigor and strategic insight to businesses navigating growth and complexity. A recipient of CPA Ontario's Emerging Leader Award, Sarmad is passionate about challenging conventional thinking on the role of finance, developing stronger business leaders and helping organizations turn financial insight into meaningful action. | |
| FEATURED SPEAKERS DAY 1 | |
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Alex Garber, CPA, CA, MTax has been working in public practice since 2004, focusing primarily on income taxation for Canadian owner-managed businesses and their shareholders. Alex presents PD seminars for CPA Ontario and facilitates at the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program. Alex is also an adjunct professor at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where he teaches income taxation to both undergraduate and master's students. Alex started his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto. He is currently an independent tax advisor, assisting various clients, sole-practitioners and small CPA firms in Ontario. |
| FEATURED SPEAKERS DAY 2 | |
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Idalin McKenzie, CPA, MBA, CDI.D, CRMA, is a finance and corporate services executive with more than 25 years of experience across the public, private and social sectors. As Vice President, Finance & Asset Management at YWCA Hamilton, she leads finance, asset management, facilities, technology and organizational systems. She spent 17 years in Ontario’s electricity sector, with experience spanning financial control, audit, technology and organizational transformation. She is Director and Treasurer of Volunteer Canada, a Director of Partners Community Health, and Vice Chair of BridgeWay Family Centre. Her work centres on financial stewardship, governance, risk and decision-making. In 2023, WXN named her one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 in the Professionals category. Idalin brings a practical executive perspective to how finance leaders can strengthen accountability and controls while navigating the adoption of AI and other emerging technologies. |
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William (Bill) Wesioly, CPA, is a seasoned Risk Management consultant and Leadership Coach dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of individuals and organizations by combining technical expertise with a people-centric approach. Bill’s foundational experience was built within the Financial Services sector, where he held progressive leadership roles at BMO and RBC. Throughout his corporate career, he specialized in successfully designing, building, and leading robust Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) programs from the ground up. An independent consultant since 2016, Bill brings his real-world expertise to the classroom as a premier ERM instructor for CPA Ontario, CPA B.C., CPA Alberta, CPA New Brunswick and CPA Nova Scotia. Known for his engaging teaching style, his course feedback consistently ranks in the top tier among program participants. His diverse consulting portfolio spans the corporate, not-for-profit, and public sectors, reflecting his core belief that effective risk management principles are universally applicable to organizations of all sizes. |
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How to Access the Conference
This CPA Ontario PD conference is hosted on the innovative RingCentral (formerly Hopin) platform. An email invitation with a link to join the event on the RingCentral platform will be sent closer to the date. Please check your Junk and Spam folders and ensure no-reply@events.ringcentral.com has been added to your safe addresses. We recommend you join five minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in the course are non-authoritative and have not been formally endorsed by CPA Ontario and do not reflect the views of CPA Ontario. The information included in the course if for general information purposes only.
CPA Ontario, the presenters and the authors do not accept any responsibility or liability that might occur directly or indirectly as a consequence of the use or application of or reliance on this material.
Testimonials
I have attended the Controllers Conference for many years, even going back to when CGA Ontario had this offering. What I like best about the conference is the wide range of topics that are covered. It's multi-dimensional, with something for everyone. Not all topics are 100% relevant to all attendees, but it's still nice to learn something new, even if it isn't part of your job. And the quality of the speakers is top-notch.
The conference is an excellent way of staying ahead of current and future trends in the finance profession, whether it be accounting standards, technology or cyber security. You learn from industry experts, take part in meaningful discussions and get to take advantage of networking opportunities with other finance professionals and peers. Plus the food is great!