GT Events and Programs Guide December/January 2019

GT Events and
Programs Guide
DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019

About GT Events and
Programs Guide
Today’s global business environment is marked by a variety
of regulatory risks, profound technology changes and a
complex and competitive marketplace. We seek to bring
high-quality service to our clients and relevant insights on the
issues affecting their businesses.
GT Events and Programs Guide is a look ahead at the latest
knowledge and insights available from Grant Thornton
LLP for our clients. It includes a collection of our research,
thought leadership and a schedule of upcoming webcasts
and events.
The distinctive perspectives and featured events within aim to
help our clients navigate today's business opportunities, risks
and challenges.

Transforming an organization’s culture at strategic
moments, whether during an integration or
implementation of a new long-term strategy or to
simply stay competitive, can challenge even the
most progressive organizations. Sustaining a strong
culture requires work from everyone, but especially
from senior leadership. By modeling and reinforcing
the best possible behavior, employees will be better
prepared to navigate uncertainty and support their
organization’s mission.
Thought leadership
25 Corporate Culture Questions Every CEO
Should Ask
Corporate culture is increasingly recognized as a
critical driver of economic business value. As corporate
culture continues to rise to the top of the organization’s
agenda, the C-suite should consider five key areas in
its culture assessment: business strategy alignment;
values and behaviors; risk implications; human
resource processes and rewards; and leadership role.
Learn the 25 key corporate culture questions every
executive leader should
be asking.
Culture and talent
Newsletter subscription
Human Capital Bulletin Newsletter
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter addressing
recent legislative, regulatory and statutory
compensation and benefits issues and other human
capital matters.
It’s a Talent Sellers’ Market in Life Sciences
Attracting and retaining talented life sciences workers
is more difficult than ever. This article covers the top
factors causing staffing gaps and practical strategies
your company can take to recruit more successfully.
M&A Cultural Fit Pays for Family-Owned Firms
Selling a family-owned business impacts family
members and long-term employees and customers.
Performing comprehensive due diligence on the
potential buyer is key in accepting a deal that will
preserve legacy, culture and values.

Retool Recruiting to Become a Millennial Magnet
As CEOs across all industries look to usher in a new
generation of workers, they’re discovering that finding
top talent is no easy task. Those who understand what
drives the millennial and genZ generations of workers
will be better positioned to recruit, develop and retain
top talent in today’s employment market.
Navigating the Culture of Now
When navigating the Culture of Now, companies
need to proceed with caution. Learn how to avoid the
hazards of catering to customers in today’s 24/7, get-it-
now world.
Cultivating an Audit Culture of Innovation:
Quality, Agility, Collaboration
The audit profession is poised to fully embrace a
culture of audit innovation characterized by agility,
curiosity and creativity to deliver deeper insights and
greater client value. The audit of the future will help
ensure the highest quality audit by allowing audit
professionals to focus on those issues and business
insights that matter most.
Webcasts
Audit Your Culture for a Better 2019
December 18, 2018
Executives tend not to be nearly as methodical in the
evaluation and analysis of their corporate cultures as
they are in assessing their financial metrics. Yet culture
and the people you bet on form the foundational for
organizational and transactional success. This webcast
will help you understand the essential elements of
auditing culture to support organizational performance
and inorganic growth goals.

Download GT Events and Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you addres today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights
To receive ongoing insights:

Growth and value creation
Ninety percent of companies grow for one year,
but only 8% can do it five years in a row. Why?
Because sustained growth means new markets, new
processes, new regulatory issues, and new ways of
operating, all of which may introduce risk and delay
success. For dynamic organizations to fully achieve
their objectives, financial measures and process
efficiencies, new ways of working and stakeholder
relationships must grow.
Thought leadership
M&A Is Not the Place for Rose-Colored Glasses
For high stakes M&A, ‘We did okay’ isn’t good
enough. Maintain healthy realism and skepticism for
success in deal-making. As tempting as it is to simply
jump into the flow, hold back in favor of meticulous
planning and selection. Ask the logical questions and
read to learn more.
The Grant Thornton South Carolina 100™
For over 30 years, the Grant Thornton South
Carolina 100™ (SC100) has celebrated the essential
role played by private companies in South Carolina.
Rankings for 2018 are in the process of being
determined, though our previous lists are available to
download.
7 Growth Drivers the C-Suite Can Control
Seven areas of C-suite and managerial action drive
growth for companies across industries, according
to findings from the National Center for the Middle
Market (NCMM). Interesting, but perhaps not
surprising, the better a company performs across all
seven growth areas, the faster it grows.
Initial Public Offering (IPO) Regulations and
Reporting Requirements
Complying with laws and regulations applicable to
companies going through an IPO can be challenging
and time-consuming. Involving qualified legal,
financial and accounting advisers is critical when
navigating the complexity of securities laws and
regulations, from the Securities Act and the Jobs Act
to Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley and more.
Keep Small Expenses From Becoming Big Losses
It’s easy to see why travel and entertainment and
other small expenses don't get the same attention or
controls that are often devoted to larger items. Taken
individually, the amounts involved are generally
insignificant, and because the items involved are so
numerous and so small, auditing them individually
would be prohibitively expensive. Yet taken
collectively, these expenses are significant—abuses
can add up.
Auditorproud Myth #1 - Audit is Strictly a
Compliance Function
Audit opinions contain an enormous value for clients.
Jeff Burgess, audit services national managing
partner, explains how financial statements can be a
source of deep strategic business insights for clients
and how technology will improve audit quality and
business decision-making.
Auditorproud Myth #2 – Audit Isn’t a Good
Profession for Women's Long-Term Careers
Grant Thornton has many women in senior audit
roles around the firm. Jackie Rosenfeldt has
successfully been able to balance her family and
career while achieving the role of audit services
partner.

Auditorproud Myth #3 – Audits Will Only Be Done
By Machines or Robots in the Future
Building the audit of the future is not strictly a
technology play. Rocky Bae, audit services manager,
describes the role people play to interpret the data
and give our clients in-depth analysis and insights.
Auditorproud Myth #4 – Audit Is Not a High-Tech
Field
Watch Sarah Ross, audit services senior associate,
describe how innovative technologies like data
analytics, robotic process automation (RPA), artificial
intelligence (AI) and blockchain are changing the
way we’re performing audits. These technologies
allow us to improve our quality and provide unique
business insights to our clients.
Auditorproud Myth #5 – the Audit Profession Is
Stagnant and Boring
Megan Watkins, audit services associate, explains
how innovation is disrupting the audit practice as
we speak. We’re using innovation and technology
throughout the audit process to provide high quality
and more value to our clients.
M&A Impact of Pass-Through Conversion
While tax reform has made the C corporation
structure very attractive for many private companies
structured as pass-throughs, it’s not a given that
all pass-throughs should make this conversion. This
article explains numerous important considerations,
including the impact on M&A and the exit process.
What Tax Reform Means For Private Equity
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was highly
anticipated by the private equity community
because of the potential impact on funds themselves.
In this article we discuss this significant tax reform
legislation and the far-reaching implications for
private companies structured as private equity firms.
Impact in Action
Global charitable giving is down. In some countries,
negative headlines have caused public trust in
nonprofits to waver. In others, there are still questions
over how donations are used to help the causes they
support. To help solve some of these issues, we looked
at effective impact measurement and the way it is
communicated.Impact in action is the first of two
reports that features the findings of our research with
over 30 leading global nonprofits. We explore what
impact means to different organizations, the challenges
they face in measuring it, and the innovations
developed to overcome these challenges. Read the full
report for six steps to better impact measurement.
Future Tech: Unprecedented Opportunities,
Unrivaled Threats
In the article, “Future tech: Unprecedented
opportunities, unrivaled threats” published in
the September/October 2018 issue of National
Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
Directorship, JT Kostman, Grant Thornton managing
director, applied artificial intelligence, describes the
five key forces that will forge the future — artificial
intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, hyper-
connectivity and symbiotech systems.

Successful CIOs Tell the Story of IT Value
The role of the CIO is changing. Digital
transformation is shifting leadership roles and
responsibilities. CIOs are more visible than ever
before. They face increasing complexity, scrutiny
— and opportunity. As technology innovation and
delivery timelines accelerate, the conversation
is changing from IT cost to value. Those who can
demonstrate value and build trust with a compelling
story of digital transformation will drive their
organizations to a successful future.
National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM):
High Performing Cultures
January 2019
Survey-based report from the National Center for the
Middle Market that examines how private companies
are pursuing culture as a means for differentiation
and for financial and operational success. The
report will detail key trends and needs among this
population and recommendations for improvement.
National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM):
Middle Market Indicator Q4 2018
January 2019
Results of the National Center for the Middle
Market's Quarterly survey gauging Middle Market
executives' sentiment on a number of areas including
perspectives on growth, the health of the economy,
regulation, and prospects for investments.
Unlocking Digital Growth: Trust Is the Key
Successful organizations embrace technology to
create customer value as a critical component of
competing in a digital world. Savvy business leaders
know that trust is the key to unlocking digital growth
and ongoing success. The most significant challenge
to delivering value in the digital economy will be the
ability to build trust. According to the 2018 Digital
Society Index, trust is the leading factor in securing
digital engagement. Building customer trust is a
team effort. In order to drive value and accelerate
growth, the entire C-Suite must work together to build
trust across four key areas: customers, partners,
technology and employees.
Account for Continuous Growth Through Agile
Technology Business Management (TBM)
In an environment of flat or declining budgets,
technology leaders must optimize IT spending
and reinvest in innovation to maximize the digital
opportunity for growth. Adopting TBM allows
organizations to organize IT spend according to
an accepted taxonomy that maps to the general
ledger, enabling leaders to understand how IT brings
value to their organization and make investments
to improve business outcomes. Wherever your
organization is on the TBM maturity scale, applying
agile principles can help maximize the results from
TBM and drive speed to value.

Sponsorships and events
Private Equity International (PEI) CFOs & COOs
Forum
January 16-17, 2019
New York, NY
The PEI CFOs and COOs forum brings together
senior finance and operations executives from the
world's foremost private equity and venture capital
firms. Join us as we explore the taxation, regulatory
and compliance issues that are pertinent to the
private equity operations professionals.
After the Midterm Elections: a Look Ahead to
2019
December 10, 2018
On this webcast our speakers will cover what
the election results mean for business, including
leadership changes to key committees, impact to
fiscal policy and priorities, and the outlook for 2019.
Energy Survey 2019: the Latest Trends in the Oil
and Gas Sector
January 15, 2019
Grant Thornton and Hart Energy conduct an annual
survey of oil and gas executives to track trends in
investments and business practices. The results of the
survey and what they mean for corporate leaders will
be examined.
Webcasts

Leveraging technology
Today’s organizations are working differently
— they are facing global competition, changing
customer and employee expectations, evolving
regulation and more. The strategic application and
use of technology can often help companies drive
innovation and competitive advantage. Today’s
technologies, including cloud, social media and
the internet of things, can accelerate business
performance and help companies gain visibility into
their operations and derive actionable insights to
efficiently achieve their objectives.
Thought leadership
Innovation Driving the Audit of the Future
We’re in the midst of a revolution in the audit
industry. That revolution is being driven by disruptive
technologies and the ability to effectively analyze
and interpret data with new tools. Find out more.
Innovation-Changing Audit: Better, Faster, More
Efficient
With a transition to the audit of the future, emerging
technologies such as robotic process automation,
artificial intelligence and data analytics will allow
today’s auditors to deliver efficient, high-quality
audits. Smarter, technology-driven audits will generate
deeper insights to help today’s businesses make better
strategic decisions.
Auditorproud Myth #1 - Audit is Strictly a
Compliance Function
Audit opinions contain an enormous value for clients.
Jeff Burgess, audit services national managing
partner, explains how financial statements can be a
source of deep strategic business insights for clients
and how technology will improve audit quality and
business decision-making.
Auditorproud Myth #2 – Audit Isn’t a Good
Profession for Women's Long-Term Careers
Grant Thornton has many women in senior audit roles
around the firm. Jackie Rosenfeldt has successfully
been able to balance her family and career while
achieving the role of audit services partner.
Auditorproud Myth #3 – Audits Will Only Be Done
By Machines or Robots in the Future
Building the audit of the future is not strictly a
technology play. Rocky Bae, audit services manager,
describes the role people play to interpret the data
and give our clients in-depth analysis and insights.
Auditorproud Myth #4 – Audit Is Not a High-Tech
Field
Watch Sarah Ross, audit services senior associate,
describe how innovative technologies like data
analytics, robotic process automation, artificial
intelligence and blockchain are changing the way
we’re performing audits. These technologies allow us
to improve our quality and provide unique business
insights to our clients.
Auditorproud Myth #5 – the Audit Profession Is
Stagnant and Boring
Megan Watkins, audit services associate, explains
how innovation is disrupting the audit practice as
we speak. We’re using innovation and technology
throughout the audit process to provide high quality
and more value to our clients.

Retailers Focus on Tech in Post-Quill World
In South Dakota v. Wayfair, the Supreme Court
overturned the precedent that barred states from
requiring an out-of-state seller with no physical
presence to collect sales tax on a sale to a resident of
the state. In this article, we address the uncertainty
about how individual states will address the sales tax
issue and the technology implications of compliance
requirements for retailers.
Unrivaled Threats
Unlocking Digital Growth: Trust Is the Key
Successful organizations embrace technology to
create customer value as a critical component of
competing in a digital world. Savvy business leaders
know that trust is the key to unlocking digital growth
and ongoing success. The most significant challenge
to delivering value in the digital economy will be the
ability to build trust. According to the 2018 Digital
Society Index, trust is the leading factor in securing
digital engagement. Building customer trust is a
team effort. In order to drive value and accelerate
growth, the entire C-Suite must work together to build
trust across four key areas: customers, partners,
technology and employees.
Account for Continuous Growth Through Agile
Technology Business Management (TBM)
In an environment of flat or declining budgets,
technology leaders must optimize IT spending
and reinvest in innovation to maximize the digital
opportunity for growth. Adopting TBM allows
organizations to organize IT spend according to
an accepted taxonomy that maps to the general
ledger, enabling leaders to understand how IT brings
value to their organization and make investments
to improve business outcomes. Wherever your
organization is on the TBM maturity scale, applying
agile principles can help maximize the results from
TBM and drive speed to value.
Successful CIOs Tell the Story of IT Value
The role of the CIO is changing. Digital
transformation is shifting leadership roles and
responsibilities. CIOs are more visible than ever
before. They face increasing complexity, scrutiny
— and opportunity. As technology innovation and
delivery timelines accelerate, the conversation
is changing from IT cost to value. Those who can
demonstrate value and build trust with a compelling
story of digital transformation will drive their
organizations to a successful future.

Risk management
In today’s ever-changing business environment of
market complexity, globalization and increasing
investor expectations, managing risk while protecting
value is more important than ever. Companies
understand the need to be more proactive in
managing their risk to mitigate losses, reduce the
risk of reputational damage and more. Leading
organizations will find ways to harness risk to
help grow their business and achieve exceptional
performance.
Thought leadership
Meeting the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL)
Data Challenge
CECL reporting will be driven by data and
information systems. Data is how the risk
management, finance, and accounting functions
will come together to comply with CECL—this is
where institutions need to focus their attention and
investment.
Unrivaled Threats
Webcasts
2019
December 10, 2018

Washington impact
Only time will tell what the Trump administration
really means for business. Many companies are
patiently waiting to see how his policies will affect
their industry — from trade to tax reform, health care
and more. Although there’s uncertainty surrounding
the administration’s policy agenda, business leaders
are anticipating his policies with both curiosity and
cautious optimism.
President Trump Orders Department of Labor
(DOL) and Treasury to Consider Expanding
Access to Multiple Employer Plans
In an Executive Order issued on August 31, 2018,
President Donald Trump directed the Department
of Labor to consider whether guidance can be
issued to expand access to multiple employer plans
(MEPs), including by allowing employers that are not
associated or lack a common bond to participate in
a single retirement plan.
Trump Considers Indexing Capital Gains for
Inflation
President Donald Trump recently confirmed he’s
weighing a proposal to index capital gains to inflation,
suggesting that doing so could help stimulate the
economy.
2019
December 10, 2018
Webcasts
Thought leadership

GT.COM
“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL),
and/or refers to the brand under which the GTIL member firms provide audit, tax and advisory services to their
clients, as the context requires. GTIL and each of its member firms are separate legal entities and are not a
worldwide partnership. GTIL does not provide services to clients. Services are delivered by the member firms in their
respective countries. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not
liable for one another’s acts or omissions. In the United States, visit grantthornton.com for details.
© 2018 Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved. U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd
We want to hear from you
Please take this quick survey and
tell us what you thought of this content.

GT Events and Programs Guide December/January 2019

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Similar to GT Events and Programs Guide December/January 2019 (20)

More from Grant Thornton LLP (17)

Recently uploaded (20)

GT Events and Programs Guide December/January 2019