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2021 Virtual Tax and Accounting Conference Thought Leadership Sessions

September 21 // September 28 // October 5

Thought Leadership Sessions

Tuesday, September 21 | Tuesday, September 28 | Tuesday, October 5

September 21
 

10:00–10:50 a.m.

Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions
  • Grant Thornton

    Unpacking the ESG Complexity of Investment Companies

    Panel discussion moderated by Grant Thornton to unpack the following:

    • Current landscape of ESG focused funds and related trends
    • Implications of launching an ESG focused fund, including operational considerations, and impact to investors
    • Outlook for ESG Funds

    BILL DAVIS
    Managing Partner
    Stance Capital, LLC

    ANDREW OLIG
    VP & Senior Responsible Investment Strategy Specialist
    Calvert Research and Management

    RENEE STOCK
    Senior Manager
    ESG & Sustainability Services, Grant Thornton

    JUDD WRIGHT
    Audit Partner
    Grant Thornton

    The panel will also include Grant Thornton professionals with industry experience and ESG subject matter specialists, and representatives from two asset managers experienced in ESG focused investment strategies.
     

  • Taxand

    Withholding Tax Reclaims in Europe: Down the Rabbit Hole!

    During this event, Keith O’Donnell, Taxand managing partner, and Desislava Dimitrova, director at ATOZ, Taxand Luxembourg, will share the latest developments with regards to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) Article 63 reclaims in Europe. O’Donnell and Dimitrova are leaders in the field and have secured several hundred million euros in refunds for their clients, including many of the top ranked global fund houses. They will be joined by expert colleagues from around Europe. The workshop will focus on the emerging technical issues as well as practical experiences from tax authorities and courts around Europe. The panelists will also discuss the recent refunds received in Spain.

    Topics for discussion also include:

    • Italy: The amendments to Article 27, par. 3 of the Presidential Decree no. 600/1973 that occurred in 2021 and the complaint to the European Commission prepared by the Taxand Network
    • Spain: The developments following the Spanish Supreme Court judgments regarding the right of a US RIC to receive a refund of the withholding tax paid on dividends received from Spanish companies

    Speakers:

    ALVARO DE LA CUEVA
    Partner
    Garrigues, Taxand Spain

    DESISLAVA DIMITROVA
    Director
    ATOZ Tax Advisers, Taxand Luxembourg 

    KEITH O’DONNELL
    Managing Partner
    ATOZ Tax Advisers, Taxand Luxembourg 

    GUIDO ARIE PETRAROLI
    Managing Partner
    LED Taxand Italy

    ERMINIA PROCOPIO
    Senior Manager
    LED Taxand Italy

September 28
 

10:00–10:50 a.m.

Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions
  • Confluence

    When an Interconnected Digital Ecosystem Spans Across the Investment Lifecyle, Magic Happens
    A Specific Look at the Value Gained by the Back Office

    In today’s world, firms that have successfully embraced data and technology transformations are the ones with a competitive edge, as they are able to operate more efficiently and deliver what their clients demand. Firms that have taken a holistic approach to their operations and have a solid digital technology and data strategy across the front, middle, and back office are the ones positioned for explosive growth.

    Having an interconnected ecosystem spanning across the front, middle, and back office means that the back office can get back to adding value for end clients and meeting evolving expectations from the front and middle office.

    Join us as we discuss:

    • How smart investments in data and technology across the investment lifecycle can help not only support, but also drive, an organization’s growth
    • What measures need to be in place to ensure the front, middle, and back office to get the most out of these investments
    • How technology can transform back-office functions and improve the end client experience
    • The benefits of a truly interconnected front, middle, and back office

    CHRISTY CARROLL
    Head of Information Delivery and Fund Administration
    BNY Mellon

    GARY CASAGRANDE
    Vice President of Global Market Strategy
    Confluence

    JON GEZOTIS
    Director of Product Management
    Citibank N.A.
     

  • Deloitte

    Deloitte’s Fair Valuation Pricing Survey, 19th Edition

    The 19th edition of Deloitte’s fair valuation pricing survey explores how valuation processes are able to remain resilient in the face of pandemic-related disruptions and evolving regulations. A greater focus on technology and data analytics—along with good planning and agile leadership—could help investment organizations stay the course as we adapt to the next normal. The participants of the survey are small, midsize, and large registered investment company fund groups.

    KRISTIN M. ALTSCHAFFL
    Vice President, Director of Securities Valuation
    Federated Hermes, Inc.

    MICHELLE KELLY
    Assistant Vice President of Pricing and Valuation
    Virtus Fund Services

    PAUL KRAFT
    Partner, US Mutual Funds and Investment Advisers Leader
    Deloitte & Touche LLP

    TOM WINES
    Audit Managing Director
    Deloitte & Touche LLP

    KATELYN YORRA
    Senior Manager
    Deloitte & Touche LLP
     

  • SS&C/Cohen & Co.

    Operational Considerations for Interval Funds

    Evolving investor appetites are causing a sea change in the investment landscape as managers look for new and innovative ways to deliver results to their clients. Join SS&C Technologies and Cohen & Co., along with a panel of industry experts as they examine Interval Funds and the growing importance these funds play in a manager’s product line-up. We will look at operating considerations from all angles in an effort to answer: Why Interval Funds, Why now?

    BRIAN K. FITZGERALD
    Senior Business Development Executive
    SS&C Technologies, Inc.

    LORI NOVAK
    Partner, Assurance
    Cohen & Co.

    BRIAN PITTLUCK
    Senior Vice President
    PIMCO

    CHRIS SHAW
    Vice President
    SS&C Technologies, Inc.
     

  • Workiva

    Addition Through Subtraction: How to Streamline Your Processes to Improve Shareholder Communications and Transparency

    In a world where investors expect more and more transparency, reporting holds the keys to tremendous shareholder value. Join Workiva investment expert Arthy Kumar as she shares how daring to simplify processes and trim waste can help your organization communicate, develop trust with shareholders, and proactively prepare for the next regulatory (or global) challenge.

    Learning Objectives:
    After this session, you will be able to:

    • Identify key areas within your business that can be streamlined or eliminated
    • Outline a plan to reallocate saved effort toward improved investor transparency and insights
    • Improve templates to help tell a strong shareholder story
    • Use peer examples to help communicate and drive change within your organization

    Speaker:

    ARTHY KUMAR
    Director of Product Marketing
    Workiva
     

October 5
 

10:00–10:50 a.m.

Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions
  • BNY Mellon/Milestone Group

    Good Faith Determinations of Fair Valuation

    With only 12 months remaining to comply with the SEC’s Rule 2a-5 framework for determining the fair value of fund investments, registered investment companies are challenged to reevaluate existing practices and implement new policies and procedures while maintaining efficiencies and resource levels.

    Topics for discussion include:

    • The challenges fund managers and boards face in administration of the fair value process and ensuring that funds’ securities are correctly valued in accordance with policy
    • The opportunities and efficiencies a modern fund valuation process can provide to improve analysis, identification, pricing determination and reporting
    • Oversight and the valuation designee’s use of third parties to assist in the administration of the process

    ROBERT PROCTOR, Moderator
    Head of Product, Oversight and Control
    Milestone Group

    TOM BURGHARDT
    Director of Accounting Product Management
    Bank of New York Mellon Corp

    WES CAMPBELL
    Fund Treasurer & VP Fund Administration
    American Century Investments

    HARRIS GRIGORIADES
    Head of Global Security Valuation
    The Vanguard Group

    ANDREW KLOSTERMANN
    Director, Fund Administration
    Charles Schwab Investment Management