Most finance professionals would agree with the following statement:
The highlights of any year are the conferences you get to attend.
They break up the monotony of the daily grind, introduce new concepts and advancing solutions, and provide an opportunity to network. 2020 shook up this aspect of our work life as conferences shifted to being virtual and social-distanced. Thankfully, 2021 is shaping up to be an improvement and conferences are beginning to be held in-person once again.
It's more imperative than ever in 2021 to ensure you're up-to-date so that you can navigate the changes COVID-19 has had on B2B payments.
Whether you're a CFO, Controller, CIO, or Accounts Payable (AP) Manager, you have a variety of exciting conferences to choose from. In 2021, there are on-site and virtual conferences, webinars, blogs, ebooks, and podcasts available to you.
For your convenience, we compiled a list of the most exciting conferences coming up in 2021 and a selection of other virtual learning resources for those who prefer to stay virtual or remote.
Without further ado, here's our list of conferences worth checking out for financial professionals!
2021's Top 13 Conferences for Finance
1. AFP's FinNext 2021 Virtual Conference
After their 2020 virtual conference was a tremendous hit, it was natural for them to decide to continue it in 2021, but with more real-time insight and long-term planning. More analysis and participant engagement. The primary goal for 2021 is to empower you with fresh ways to deliver more.
When: March 23-25, 2021
Where: Online
Attending is easy, and it is a key way to keep your finance and other business skills current.
Get details and tickets here.
2. AICPA & CIMA CFO Conference
This in-person conference gets the honor of happening the earliest in the year! Understandably, it's happening in May when it's predicted that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be widely available and social distancing will be relaxed enough to allow on-site and in-person conferences.
When: May 5-7, 2021
Where: Loews Coronado Bay, Coronado CA
At this event, seasoned CFOs from across the United States come together to provide the latest innovations and trends that will enable you to stay on the cutting edge of your field.
AICPA members get a discount!
Get details and tickets here.
3. APP2P Spring Conference + Expo
Attending the AP & P2P Conference & Expo has a high ROI for Accounts Payable Managers. It boasts an in-depth multi-day AP leaning experience that brings together experience professionals and innovative strategists.
When: May 16-18, 2021
Where: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL
This event is an ideal place to discover innovative solutions and make connections!
Get details and tickets here.
4. AICPA Engage 2021
Reimagining the accounting and finance world starts at Engage 2021!
When: June 7-10, 2021
Where: On-site and online options
There were a lot of major developments in 2020, and the pace of change is not slowing down. At Engage 2021, you learn how to reimagine your future! This event provides exclusive insights, methods for developing practical skills, and an opportunity to network with your professional community across ten crossover tracks.
Get details and tickets here.
5. AICPA Edge (EDG) Career Development
This is a specific track within Engage 2021. It focuses on can't miss sessions for financial leaders. Hone the skills necessary to advance in your career and bring innovation to your department.
Get details on this track here.
6. ACE 2020 - IMA's Annual Conference and Expo
This event boasts a conference community of more than 800 finance and accounting professionals! It is an ideal conference for building networks, gaining knowledge and CPE credits, while enriching your career journey with fresh perspectives from your peers.
When: June 13-16, 2021
Where: Scottsdale, AR
ACE offers three session formats:
- Deep Dives: workshop style sessions
- Specialty Tracks: combination of classroom-style instruction, case studies, and interaction with peers
- General Sessions: talks hosted by experts
Get details and tickets here.
7. SFVegas 2021
Previously this year's conference was scheduled to take place in May but has since been pushed back to July. Prior attendees to this event include in Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, and FICO.
Last year, over 8,200 participants gathered to have important conversations that will be continued and advanced in this year's iteration.
When: July 25-28, 2021
Where: Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
In 2021, the Structured Finance Association (SFA) is holding a large capital markets conference. It is a program developed by and for leaders within the finance industry. The involved leaders cover the full spectrum of fields, including investors, financial intermediaries, issuers, regulators, law firms, accounting firms, technology firms, rating agencies, servicers, and trustees.
Get details and tickets here.
8. Finance + Accounting Conference
The Finance and Accounting Conference is coming together to provide financial leaders with the guidance and education needed to help you shift your thought process and look at the whole picture and use your financial expertise to play a huge role in your organization's success.
When: August 9-11, 2021
Where: Dallas, TX
This event includes an exhibit hall and talks given by experts. Past attendees include professionals in roles such as CFOs, CPAs, and Key Financial Staff.
Get details and tickets here.
9. Smarter Faster Payments 2021
A unique event where diverse and innovative organizations come together to drive innovations, deliver value through new solutions and products, and discuss how to best meet business needs and transact with clients. Smarter Faster Payments 2021 is another event that was originally scheduled for earlier in the year, but was pushed back from April to August.
When: August 9-12, 2021
Where: San Francisco, CA
This conference includes unparalleled payments education, a dynamic exhibit hall, and exciting networking opportunities.
Get details and tickets here.
10. AFWA's Women Who Count 2021
Industry professionals from across the country attend AFWA’s Women Who Count Conference every year. Gain knowledge on industry trends and a competitive edge with leadership development. Conference veterans and new attendees alike connect, network, and share experiences in order to inspire each other.
When: October 20-22, 2021
Where: Reno, NV
Attend with 200+ accounting and financial professionals, take advantage of career resources and support, and access AFWA's marketplace and resource
Get details and tickets here.
11. Money 20/20 Conference - 2021
Money20/20 is an event where Fintech, Payments, and Financial Services industries unite to explore how consumers and businesses manage, borrow, and spend money.
When: October 24-27, 2021
Where: Las Vegas, NV
Widely considered the world's leading networking platform for the global money ecosystem — this is an event you can't afford to miss! It features in-depth analytics, inspirational speakers, world-class insight, and networking opportunities. All designed to empower you to get ahead of the competition.
Get details and tickets here.
12. AICPA & CIMA Women’s Global Leadership Summit
Join hundreds of accounting and finance professional commited to creating an inclusive and equal professional environment. The time has come for women to harness opportunities available for their success and advancement!
When: November 3-5, 2021
Where: Dallas, TX
This year's summit will feature sessions on leadership, boardroom diversity and best practices, and the potential of women leaders within the accounting and finance community. It's a three-day event that will leave you refreshed, inspired, and ready to take the next steps towards your future.
Get details and tickets here.
13. APP2P Fall Conference + Expo
APP2P's second conference of the year will be held in fall and provides attendees with an in-depth multi-day learning experience.
When: November 8-10, 2021
Where: Denver, CO
Get proven best practices and insights from industry experts. The conference offers opportunities that can't be found behind your desk and that are hard to do virtually, including nightly networking receptions and after-hours outings!
Get details and tickets here.
Virtual Alternatives for 2021
Some finance professionals may not feel comfortable attending conferences yet this year, and that's okay! A few of the opportunities listed above offer virtual attendance, and there are new virtual educational opportunities for finance professionals popping up every day.
Here's a list of conference alternatives for remote finance and AP professionals:
1. IOFM
The Institute of Finance & Management has been a source for research and knowledge for finance and AP professionals for years. They're also hosting two of the conferences we went over above: APP2P Spring and Fall.
In addition to their in-person conferences, they have a variety of industry webinars. Registration is free and many of their past webinars are easily accessible.
For webinars, resources and town halls, we recommend starting here for AP and here for AR.
2. PYMNTS.com
There's no better news resource than PYMNTS for finance and B2B payments. They have articles covering what it will take to really kill the paper check, and what 20 Payments Execs think the ripple effects of COVID-19 will be.
You can subscribe for free to get notifications, or just check their website when you're looking for industry updates. Over six million professionals access their content each month, and they have a good track record for accurately predicting future trends in B2B payments and finance.
3. The CFO Leadership Council
In past years, CFOLC and their annual events have made our list of top conferences. As of now, they haven't announced when they're holding 2021's events or whether they'll be in-person or virtual.
They offer virtual programs such as livestreams, webcasts, and keynote series from industry experts. You can access their resources here.
They are also currently offering modified Zoom sessions and virtual networking opportunities to their local chapters!
4. Association for Financial Professionals
The Association for Financial Professionals is a world-renowned resource for training and career-building.
They're listed among the conferences above for their virtual event, but their resources aren't limited to that. Their community forum is a great place to discuss challenges with others in your field anytime, anywhere.
Conclusion
Whether you're ready to venture to conferences on location, or prefer to stick to remote options, there's something for you in 2021!
OnPay Solutions is proud to present this list of conferences and virtual resources to you as a leading provider of corporate Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Automation. We automate and optimize payments and invoice workflows through cloud-based solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Ready to talk about taking advantage of progessing techonology via automation? Reach out today.
We also have these resources available anytime, anywhere, for free: