Conferences

Automating Travel and Entertainment/Managing and Expanding Your Purchasing Card Program - Atlanta, GA

DoubleTree Club Atlanta Airport • Atlanta, GA

Automating Travel and Entertainment • 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Travel and Entertainment is said to be “the second largest controllable expense after payroll”, but just how do we go about controlling that expense short of a total moratorium on corporate travel. Did you know that failure to manage T&E in a timely and effective manner can result in the misrepresentation of your corporate financial statements? During this three hour class you will learn that technology and effective corporate travel procedures are the two major methods of control.

Over 65% of firms in the U.S. today are using some form of automation to manage their travel process. Once implemented, you can expect the reconciliation software to reduce:

• Traveler expense report preparation time by 23%
• Supervisory review and approval time by 44%
• Reimbursement wait time by 27%
• The average cost to process by 58%

You will learn the specifics of best in class software offerings which will include an in-depth review of specific software features. Elements such as built in policy controls, simplified auditing processes, methods to ensure timely reporting and interface options between the software and critical corporate legacy systems will be discussed. Attendees will more fully understand technique options for:

• Integrating corporate policy into the expense reporting software
• Pre-populating expense reporting data by your issuing bank
• Managing the travel workflow process
• Routing electronically for review and approval
• Conducting effective expense report audits
• Automating employee reimbursement through an integration with payroll
• Integrating the expense reporting process with travel booking and e-mail

You will also be taught techniques to help with your decision of whether to purchase "off-the-shelf software" or building it in-house. There will be sessions on managing a vendor demonstration and implementing best practices for travel and entertainment.

By effectively automating the expense reporting process you should expect increased control, reduced processing costs, improved policy compliance and increased employee satisfaction.

Managing and Expanding Your Purchasing Card Program • 1:00 - 4:30 PM

Chances are your company already has a purchasing card program fully implemented and it has been successful, but within a limited commodity base. Excessive invoice volumes, angry supplier telephone calls regarding late payments and employee turnover in accounts payable are still all too frequent. Perhaps your current program works well for ordering emergency stationary supplies and to pay for the coffee and donuts provided at those weekly executive manager meetings, but not much more. By simply enrolling in this three hour class you will learn that experts throughout the U.S. are reporting that “purchasing cards are beginning to fulfill their promise.” Companies just like yours are rapidly expanding their programs to include new commodity types while increasing control, minimizing risk, and achieving improved productivity in the accounts payable and purchasing departments.

You will learn how companies are having their issuing banks conduct accounts payable database reviews and identifying which of your current spot buy suppliers are accepting p-card payments from others. You will also learn about:

• Calculating your current processing costs
• Benchmarking your p-card program with others
• Payment matrix guidelines
• Integrating into a one-card solution with travel
• Policing the process
• P-card commodity types
• Ghost card usage

How are your competitors achieving this success? One of their primary success factors is through use of the technology. That is technology that doesn’t have to cost “an arm and a leg” to implement. The technology section will include information on issues such as:

• Tools for on-line reconciliation, review and approval
• Interfacing with existing legacy systems to increase control and reduce workload
• Electronic invoicing
• Software providers

The session will also include an in-depth review of purchasing card best practices and the key success factors necessary to help ensure that your program is world class.

About the Presenter:
In 2002 Ted Klein retired from the General Motors Corporation after completing a distinguished career in finance. During his tenure at GM he held many managerial positions including accounts payable, corporate benchmarking, payroll, expense reporting, budgeting and internal control. Some of his process improvement projects included implementation of the purchasing and fleet card programs, automation of T&E, and creating the electronic time slip process for payment of temporary labor. Ted now heads a financial consulting firm, assisting many industry leaders in both the public and private sectors to implement and/or upgrade their financial processes.

Venue: DoubleTree Club Atlanta Airport, 3400 Norman Berry Drive, Atlanta, GA 30344. Ph: 404-763-1600.

Mention you're attending the Automating Travel & Entertainment to take advantage of the special reduced room rate of $119 for a standard, single/double occupancy (plus taxes).

Deadline to guarantee reduced rate: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 (providing group room block has not been filled); thereafter (or if the block is filled), rooms are subject to availability.

Substitutions & Cancellations: Should you be unable to attend for any reason, please inform us IN WRITING prior to August 27, 2008 and IOMA will give you a full refund less a $100 administrative fee. If you cancel after August 27, 2008, you may request a courtesy transfer to use at any IOMA event of equal or lesser value. The courtesy transfer must be used within one year of the date of your originally scheduled event. Substitutions of enrolled delegates may be made at any time, please call IOMA at 800-401-5937 ext. 2 to let us know before September 4, 2008.

You can also register for the Essentials of Accounts Payable Training & Certification Program on the preceding day. For more information on the Essentials of Accounts Payable Training & Certification Program , visit the website at www.accountspayble360.com/conferences/975.html.

To register contact IOMA Customer Service at 800-401-5937 ext. 2 or via email at subserve@ioma.com or simply make a selection below.

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