Schladming Treasury & Finance Convention already sold out at the premiere

After almost two years of preparation, the first Treasury & Finance Convention took place at congress Schladming from September 13 to 15. More than 400 participants attended over 30 different presentations, talks and workshops on six stages.

"As organizers, we have set ourselves the goal of creating a new platform for treasury and finance topics at the cutting edge," explains Michael Juen, Managing Director of SLG Treasury GmbH (SLG). "We are naturally delighted that we have already succeeded so well in our first year."

A diverse program of high quality content was offered. It covered a wide range of "classic" treasury topics such as cash and risk management, current challenges such as the sustainability aspect in finance, the question of the opportunities of artificial intelligence and the perennial topic of cybersecurity. The keynote speeches by publicist Antonia Rados and well-known economist Hans-Werner Sinn were undoubtedly among the highlights.

Multiple crises and challenges

Unstable times also pose challenges for treasury, even though uncertainties in risk management are part of day-to-day business, as SLG partner Günther Bauer emphasizes: "At the panel discussion 'Risk management in times of constant change - time for tried and tested or new approaches? What is new is the frequency and rapid succession of crises. For this reason, there are no major innovations in the strategic area: It is always necessary to weigh up the various manifestations of risks. Scenario analyses or more complex simulations can provide good support here. However, as has always been the case, hedging decisions must be made in an environment of uncertainty."

The event's top-class "CFO Talk" dealt with the much-discussed buzzword of the "new normal". The financial sector has been affected not least by the rapid succession of different crises and their effects in recent years. "That of inflation and interest rates has not yet been conquered either," as Michael Juen emphasizes. In such a phase of uncertainty, the importance of securing liquidity increases. Although the importance of liquidity planning and protection has always been high in finance departments, it has increased significantly in recent years.

An immanent part of the "new normal" are the ever-increasing challenges in the area of cybercrime. "This is taking on unprecedented proportions and can actually jeopardize the existence of companies,"explains Felix Stegmüller, Manager at SLG and expert in cybercrime prevention. Only those who know the dangers and are aware of their implications can protect themselves against them. Regular checks and training are essential for companies to ward off cybercrime. The focus here should be on the three attack vectors of processes, people and technology.

Sustainability keeps the industry busy

The transformation towards more sustainability in the economy is a very current challenge for financial managers in companies as well as their partners in banks. "Reporting obligations and regulatory measures are important steps towards a sustainable economy and the associated social transformation," explains SLG partner Edith Leitner. The financial sector has a key role to play here: by integrating ESG factors into lending decisions, by supporting the development of innovative financing instruments, by developing holistic rating approaches and by positioning itself as a "sustainable" part of the corporate supply chain. "The participants in our panel discussion provided insights into strategic areas of innovation, shared experiences from the implementation of sustainable financing transactions and argued for more 'efficient' data requirements," says Edith Leitner.

The fact that sustainability is close to the hearts of the SLG team is also demonstrated by the fact that sustainability and resource conservation are key issues in the planning and implementation of the Treasury & Finance Convention. These efforts were rewarded with certification for green events. The Treasury & Finance Convention is now entitled to use the "Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events".

A successful premiere

56 experts, who shared their expertise with the participants, ensured that all presentations, panels and workshops were very well attended. The diversity and depth of the program was very well received and was met with consistently positive feedback. "We are delighted that the first Treasury & Finance Convention was a success and would like to thank all participants who contributed to this great event as exhibitors and sponsors. The consistently positive feedback confirms our decision to launch this unique event in Schladming," says Michael Juen.

The great response from all sides certainly whets the appetite for more and preparations are already underway for the next Treasury & Finance Convention in 2024. "See you in Schladming!"summarizes Michael Juen.