SLG celebrates extremely successful congress premiere in Schladming

Together with over 400 participants, we were able to celebrate a successful start to our new event format - the Treasury & Finance Convention (TFC) - in mid-September.

For around two years, we have been working on creating a top event for finance managers and the treasury community in Austria. Based on our many years of expertise and excellent networking in the treasury and finance sector, our goal was to launch a convention that would become a new highlight in the annual calendar of the financial world. The first Treasury & Finance Convention was held at congress Schladming from September 13 to 15, 2023.

3 days - 6 stages - 31 presentations

Over the three days of the event, together with 28 exhibitors on 6 stages, we were able to welcome over 400 participants. This exceeded our own expectations and underlined the need for the event. The various panels, presentations and workshops were all very well attended and there were lively discussions. The feedback we received on the quality of the presentations was also positive across the board.

Thematically, it was important to us to cover both "treasury standards" such as risk and cash management as well as new and current topics. These undoubtedly include the possible areas of application of artificial intelligence in treasury and finance or the diverse challenges that
cybercrime poses for companies. There was also high-quality input in this area and both topics were discussed very controversially.

The key notes by publicist Antonia Rados and well-known economist Hans-Werner Sinn were certainly among the highlights. While Antonia Rados addressed international upheavals and the current political situation under the title "The world in upheaval - What will become of Europe?", Hans-Werner Sinn explained his theories on the further development of the economic situation.

A number of "turning points" and upheavals have been proclaimed in recent years, leading to talk of the "new normal" everywhere. This buzzword was also the subject of the high-caliber "CFO Talk". 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, Managing Director and Partner at SLG, emphasized. In such a phase of uncertainty, the importance of securing liquidity increases. Although the importance of liquidity planning has always been high in finance departments, it has increased significantly in recent years.

Multiple crises and green finance

Unstable times pose challenges for treasury in particular, even though uncertainties in risk management are part of day-to-day business, as was emphasized during the panel discussion "Risk management in times of constant change - time for proven or new approaches?". Because crisis scenarios and situations are "daily business", so to speak, there are no major innovations in the strategic area: It is always necessary to weigh up the various manifestations of risks, as was emphasized in the panel. Scenario analyses or modern simulations can provide good support here. However, as has always been the case, hedging decisions must be made in an environment of uncertainty.

Security decisions, albeit of a different kind, are also necessary in the face of increasing cybercrime. "This is taking on unprecedented proportions and can actually jeopardize the existence of companies,"explained Felix Stegmüller, Manager at SLG, during the expert panel on cybercrime. 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 defend themselves against cybercrime. The focus here should be on the three attack vectors of processes, people and technology.

The issue of sustainability has become much more important in recent years. It is the European Union's declared goal to decarbonize the economy and society by 2050, i.e. to make them climate-neutral. The financial sector has a key role to play in this, as was emphasized in the corresponding expert panel. By integrating ESG factors into lending decisions, by supporting the development of innovative financing instruments, by developing holistic rating approaches and by positioning itself sustainably as part of the corporate supply chain.

In this context, it goes without saying but is nevertheless worth mentioning that particular emphasis was placed on sustainability and resource conservation during the planning and implementation of the convention, meaning that TFC is officially entitled to use the "Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events".

Thank you for the TFC 2023 and see you see you again in 2024!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters - our participants, exhibitors and partners and especially the two main sponsors Erste Bank and Sparkasse and Raiffeisen Banking Group.

As organizers, we are also grateful when we look at the results of the survey on satisfaction and evaluation of the event: The recommendation rate for the TFC is 94 percent and the average score for the categories of satisfaction, quality of networking and fulfillment of expectations is 4.4 out of 5 possible points.

In view of this feedback, we have already moved on to the preparations for next year's Treasury & Finance Convention with vigor.

No matter in what form - whether as a visitor, partner, exhibitor or speaker - we are already looking forward to welcoming you (again) next year. Highly motivated by the extremely pleasing visitor numbers and the positive personal impressions we were able to gain on site, we look forward to seeing you again next year.