PKF New Zealand Conference 2024: Leading Through Turbulent Times
From the 20th to the 22nd of November 2024, colleagues and friends from across the region came together in Ōtepoti Dunedin for the PKF New Zealand Conference. With the theme Leading Through Turbulent Times, this event offered a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.
Here is a look back at the key highlights from the three-day conference.
Day 1: Innovation and Collaboration: Xero Day
The conference kicked off on Wednesday with our Audit team catching up in our PKF Dunedin offices while our Xero teams congregated at The Glenroy Auditorium with our key sponsor Xero.
Xero day is a highlight of our annual conference filled with strategies for navigating AI, managing change and leveraging cutting-edge tech solutions. These sessions provided members with tools to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving world. One of the highlights of the day was the hands-on Xero workshop. Teams brainstormed ideas for doing things “More, Better, Different, or Less” and developed actionable plans to bring back to their firms.
We also learnt about PKF Digital and the powerful ways we can support our clients with Xero applications to deliver meaningful results.
The day ended with a team building scavenger hunt around central Dunedin, led by Free Spirit Training & Development. Teams worked together to solve clues, discover hidden gems of the city, and gather information to create a special edition of their very own “PKF News.” It was a fun, collaborative way to wrap up the day.
Day 2: Insights from Industry Leaders
Day 2 featured thought-provoking presentations from our sponsors and industry leaders, all focused on navigating today’s fast-paced business landscape.
Our keynote speaker, Paul Churchman, Head of Sales at Xero, shared strategies for maintaining strong client relationships, understanding emerging technologies, and the importance of cybersecurity training. He also spoke about the responsible use of data, a crucial topic in today’s digital age.
TMNZ highlighted the growing importance of Tax Pooling, while Smartly unveiled new payroll features and discussed recent employment law updates. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand offered practical advise on how to leverage CA ANZ memberships to get the most value for our firms.
Sustainability reporting was a major focus. Peyman Momenan from PKF Goldsmith Fox, shared insights into how businesses can address environmental, social and economic impacts – a priority for today’s clients.
Two of our emerging leaders from PKF New Zealand’s Leadership Excellence Programme, Chelsea Fleetwood (PKF Hamilton) and Stevan Chand (PKF Tauranga) led a session on improving communication and building accountability within teams. Participants practiced active listening through roleplay, building skills to strengthen relationships with colleagues and clients.
Day 3: Embracing Change and Building Resilience
The final day, focused on how technology and teamwork are shaping the future of accounting. PKF Digital unpacked how AI – both Narrow and Generative AI – is transforming accounting systems, along with it’s challenges and need for data security.
FYI Docs spoke about the power of automation, showing how automating routine tasks, like client on-boarding, can free up valuable time for members to focus on building stronger client relationships.
Marks and Worth and Collaborative Edge discussed Collaborative Law, and alternative approach to resolving complex legal cases. They emphasised the importance of staying neutral, being financially transparent, and maintaining a safe framework for solicitors. The collaborative process offers clients a peaceful, solution-orientated approach to resolving disputes.
Later in the day, Russ Browne from PKF Tauranga led some round table discussions growth, the network, succession planning and resilience. This was a great way to get some in-depth feedback from our teams across our network.
The conference closed with a powerful session by Shaun Kirkham, Olympic champion and former New Zealand rowing team member. Shaun shared his experience with teamwork, resilience, and strategy, offering an inspiring story of how his team’s comeback to win a gold medal was built on alignment and working together towards a shared goal.
Building Stronger Connections
The PKF New Zealand Conference was a chance to connect, collaborate, and learn. Across 19 sessions, 3 dinners, and countless conversations, we strengthened our network and deepened our sense of belonging within it.
We’re grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible. It’s clear that we’re stronger together, and our shared experiences throughout the conference reinforced this sense of community.
Join Our Network
If you’re not yet part of PKF, now’s the perfect time. Joining our network gives you access to invaluable resources, industry insight, and a community of like-minded professionals who are driving innovation and navigating change.
Take the next step in your professional journey—join PKF today.
