Agenda is subject to change. Full-day Agenda| Time | Session | Duration | 7th Floor - Foyer 08:30 - 09:30 | Breakfast & Networking | 1 hr | 7th Floor - Main Room 09:30 - 09:35 | Welcome address and agenda review - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
| 5 mins | 7th Floor - Main Room 09:35 - 10:20 | Thriving in Audit: Practical Strategies & Peer Insights for Mid-Tier & Smaller Firms Smaller and mid-tier firms face unique challenges in a landscape where regulatory complexity, talent shortages, and technological advancements are often built with larger firms in mind. This panels session is specifically designed to address: The foundational importance of data in the digital age and specifically for effective AI adoption in audit. - Competing with larger firms
- Technology adoption on a budget
- Resource constraints & talent challenges
- Regulatory burden & compliance support
- Peer collaboration & shared solutions
Facilitator: - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
Panellists: - Izabela Kuchmacz, Head of Audit and Audit RI, Ward Williams
- Jennifer Davis, Partner, Calder & Co
- Sam Snelson, Partner, Lubbock Fine
- Cristina Streather, Audit Quality Director, MHA
| 45 mins | 7th Floor - Main Room 10:25 - 11:10 | Breaking the bottleneck - How can audit firms scale without overstretching? Audit firms—especially mid-sized and smaller practices—face growing workloads, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and difficulty in scaling without stretching resources too thin. This session will explore: - Balancing growth & capacity
- Addressing the talent gap
- Maximising efficiency through smarter processes
- Future-proofing against market & regulatory shifts
Facilitator: - Caroline Winch, Commercial Director, Thomson Reuters
Panellists: - Mohamad Khanafer, Sr. Product Manager, Thomson Reuters
- Karen Wardell, Partner, Moore Kingston Smith
- Lindsey Tyler, Head of Audit, Sumer Audit
| 45 mins | | Break (15 mins) | 7th Floor - Main Room 11:25 - 12:10 | Redefining audit in the digital age - balancing assurance, AI and evolving expectations The audit profession is at a turning point. As regulatory expectations shift, AI-driven automation accelerates, and demand for advisory services grows, firms must redefine their role beyond traditional assurance. This session will explore: - The evolving audit model
- AI's role in Shaping the Future of Audit
- Commercial viability & the business of audit
Facilitator: - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
Panellists: - Ian Pay, Head of Data Analytics and Tech, ICAEW
- Robbie White, Director of Innovation and Digital Skills, Forvis Mazars
- Tom Stock, Director, HaysMac
- Martin Brown, Director of Audit Quality, Technology, Data, AI, Deloitte
| 45mins | 7th Floor - Main Room 12:15 - 12:55 | What's new with Thomson Reuters audit? - Confirmation
- APIs
- Cloud Audit Suite
- Partnerships
Facilitator: - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
- Caroline Winch, Commercial Director, Thomson Reuters
- Mohamad Khanafer, Sr. Product Manager, Thomson Reuters
- Joanne Gregory, Senior Manager FCCA – A&A and Compliance Publications, Mercia Group
| 40 mins | | Group lunch (1h 15 mins) | 7th Floor - Main Room 14:10 - 14:15 | Post lunch address - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
| 5 mins | 7th Floor - Main Room 14:15 - 15:00 | The high-stakes audit era – managing risk & rebuilding trust With increasing regulatory scrutiny, rising legal risks, and mounting public pressure, audit firms must rethink their approach to risk management, accountability, and audit quality. This session will explore: - Lessons from recent audit failures
- Strengthening risk & fraud detection
- The rising cost of failure
- Future-proofing audit practices
Key Takeaways: Practical strategies to reduce risk, maintain audit quality, and adapt to new enforcement trends. Facilitator: - Kyle Gibbons, Head of Global Accounts, Thomson Reuters
Panellists: - Rhodri Whitlock, Quality and Governance Consultant
- Paul Winrow, Partner, Forvis Mazars
- Joanne Gregory FCCA, Senior Manager – A&A and Compliance Publications Technical Services, Mercia Group
- Iain Wright, Chief Policy & Communications Officer, ICAEW
| 45 mins | 7th Floor - Breakouts 15:00 - 16:25 | Roundtable sessions Mirroring the discussions explored through the course of the day, these interactive sessions will be led by industry experts. As always, the interactive and informal discussions follow the Chatham House rules – giving you the freedom to speak your mind. Over the course of 90 mins, 3 x 30-minute sessions will run, giving you the opportunity to attend and switch across multiple sessions of interest to you. Roundtable session topics: Audit Reform & Beyond: Practical Strategies for a Resilient Future Amidst a "high-stakes audit era," this roundtable tackles the core challenges and opportunities presented by the shifting regulatory and economic environment. We'll move beyond headlines to discuss practical responses to potential audit reform (or its continued delay), the implications of deregulation for audit scope, and the ongoing push for quality. Key discussion points include adapting to new assurance services, integrating technology while meeting standards like ISO, addressing skill shortages, and navigating the specific challenges faced by mid-tier and SME-focused firms. This session aims to foster a positive discussion on achieving audit excellence and building resilient practices for the future.
Facilitator: AI & Accountancy: Ready for the Future? Accountants are embracing AI, but what comes next? This engaging roundtable session dives deep into the latest findings from the " AI and the future of the global chartered accountancy profession " report, published recently by Chartered Accountants Worldwide and ICAEW. Join us to discuss the critical skills, leadership qualities, and strategic shifts needed to thrive in an AI-driven accounting landscape.
Facilitator: - Ian Pay, Head of Data Analytics & Tech, ICAEW
Streamlining Audits with Thomson Reuters Confirmation APIs Is your audit firm looking to reduce manual effort, accelerate evidence collection, and improve data integrity? Join Mohamad, Senior Product Manager at Thomson Reuters - Confirmation, for an interactive discussion on leveraging their API offerings. Explore practical ways to integrate Confirmation APIs into your existing audit workflows, automate key processes, and unlock new efficiencies. This session is ideal for firms seeking to harness technology for a more streamlined and robust audit.
Facilitator: - Mohamad Khanafer, Senior Product Manager, Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters - Cloud Audit Suite Showcase Explore how Thomson Reuters Cloud Audit Suite is modernising audit for UK firms. This interactive showcase will highlight how our native cloud platform streamlines your audit process from start to finish. Discover how our strategic partnership with Mercia integrates familiar, trusted methodology for specialist sectors (e.g., Charities, LLPs, Academies, Pension Schemes) into a modern, efficient solution, helping you boost efficiency and ensure compliance. Bring your questions for an expert-led discussion.
Facilitator: - Max Campbell, Account Executive, Thomson Reuters
- Azeez Apena, Specialist Editor, Product - Research, Thomson Reuters
| 1h 25mins | | Break (10 mins) | 7th Floor - Main Room 16:35 - 17:10 | Guest speaker: Tim Harford Tim Harford, author of How To Make The World Add Up, looks at pivotal moments in data analysis or deception, and argues that while expertise and the right technical tools are important, there is no substitute for approaching difficult questions with the right values. | 35mins | 7th Floor - Main Room 17:10 - 17:20 | Wrap-up and close | 10mins | | Networking drinks reception (1h 25 mins) |
AGENDA
Ballroom 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Optional Session Stark Revelations: Law Firm Lessons from the SolarWinds Hack Widely perceived as one of the worst cyberattacks on American soil, the December 2020 Russian hack of Texas-based SolarWinds Orion platform impacted approximately 18,000 public and private sector clients, including the Pentagon, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Treasury, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and Deloitte. The months-long infiltration of Orion users’ data and IT systems pose serious ramifications for firms who counsel(ed) these organizations, various subsidiaries, or affiliated suppliers. Indeed, as numerous cybersecurity analysts attest, the greatest lesson law firms can glean from the SolarWinds incident is the growing preponderance of third-party threats to enterprise security and privacy. This interactive session offers a rigorous update on best practices and potential vulnerabilities for legal service providers today. Are firms prepared for the next wave of incursions to come? Facilitators:
Daniel B. Garrie, Esq., Co-Founder, Law & Forensics LLC
David Cass, Vice President – Cyber & IT Risk, Federal Reserve Bank of New York | Troon Room & Fire Pits 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Reception – First Time Attendees and LEB Advisory Board Members | Troon Room & Fire Pits 6:30 PM | Welcome Reception Please join us for informal networking over cocktails and chef-prepared specialties. |
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