FutureCFO Excellence Awards 2024 | CXOCIETY | 29 November 2022 | The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178

Among finance leaders, the commonality we hear is goals that include developing digital skills, restructuring/reframing finance to support a digital-first, digital-native enterprise, further improving flexibility of budgeting and finance recognising the uncertainty of what lies ahead and improving the return on enterprise-wide digital investments.

One thing is certain, automation will play an important role in the elevation of finance from the mundane, but still relevant, to the value-driving organization leadership across the ranks believe it can be.

CFOs will lead the charge in helping the business to meet the evolving needs of customers, employees, investors, and Board, while navigating the ever-fluid nature of rising inflation, supply chain constraints, and regulation. Finally, executing an ESG strategy that delivers on the social as well as economic aspirations of the community, company, and its shareholders.

About the Categories:

Leadership Practice Awards

• CFO of the Year award
The CFO has demonstrable experience and expertise in the areas of managing growth, achieving operational efficiency, providing sound counsel to internal and external stakeholders of the company, is a strategic thinker and has great communications skills. Societal contributions will also be considered.
• Controller of the Year award
A great financial controller must have a keen attention to detail and comfortable working with the big picture. The Controller of the Year must have proven experience in financial management and regulatory compliance. He or she is trustworthy, detailed-oriented, a problem solver, an effective communicator, unquestionable skills in accounting, and capable of meaningful financial analysis and reporting.
• FP&A Lead of the Year award
The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) has become a very strategic function within the finance function, more so in times of unpredictable and unrelenting crisis. The FP&A leader is analytical, inquisitive, detail-oriented, self-motivated, good at managing internal stakeholders, strong communicator, and enjoys using Excel and PowerPoint.
• Finance Team of the Year award
A high-performance finance team comprising professionals from diverse backgrounds, have high emotional intelligence, have a strategic focus, driven to improve efficiency, holistic view as to how their function fits the broader business model, see themselves as strategic partners with the leadership team, and bring undeniable value to the organization.

Business Leadership Awards

• Leadership in Competencies and Capabilities
A great leader is skilled in what he or she is tasked with, knows his or her capabilities and limitations. He or she is relentless in finetuning and harnessing his or her capabilities. Acutely aware of personal limitations, you are able to bring the right resources from others to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Leadership in Digital Transformation
A success digital leader understands the vision behind the digital transformation and knows how his or her job responsibilities support it. Aware of the digital resources available to the job, you draw upon the necessary resources to maintain a competitive advantage. This digital leader explores how technology can be used to help the business become much more responsive to the needs of customers amid the changing business requirements.
• Leadership in Risk and Regulation
Against the backdrop of unpredictable risks and evolving regulation, the leader in this category sees courage as the most critical quality, is willing to challenge others, and make tough choices. As a leader, you will have spearheaded the development and execution of risk management strategies that proactively identify, assess and protect the company from internal and external risks.
• Leadership in Sustainable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
An ESG program is a form of risk management. A wide range of stakeholders — from investors, lenders, and government agencies, to communities, customers, employees, and others — is looking at corporate ESG performance.

Operational Excellence Awards

• Excellence in Audit, Compliance and Governance
The winner has demonstrated effective internal control and independent assurance mechanisms, including Internal Audit; External Audit; Risk Management; Annual Statement of Accounts; Corporate Governance Framework.
• Excellence in Financial Planning & Analysis
The winner has demonstrated excellence in the planning and budgeting, integrated financial planning, management and performance reporting, and forecasting and modeling.
• Excellence in Shared Services
The winner has developed a successful shared services organisation, including accounts payable, accounts receivables, travel and expense, payroll, and time collection and reporting.
• Excellence in Treasury and Cash Management
The winner has demonstrated excellence in modernising their treasury management, whether in the deployment of funds across borders or investment of idle funds. 

Readers’ Choice Awards

• Best AI/ML Partner
Planned and deployed well, artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can help finance automate repeated functions, minimize errors associated with repetition, and enable finance professionals to focus on more strategic activities.
• Best Finance Automation Partner
The primary goal of finance automation is to improve process efficiency by reducing or eliminating repetitive tasks or activities that do not add value. The best finance automation solution not only improves the operational efficiency of the finance team but its performance including reduction/elimination of errors, and empowering/enabling the finance team to deliver value to the business.
• Best Finance Transformation Partner
A finance transformation partner is there to help businesses not only upgrade their finance systems and implement cost-saving measures that help the departments run more efficiently overall, but also to understand why finance transformation is important and the best pathway for the finance organisation to take.
• Best FP&A Partner
The best FP&A partner is one who is always engaged and thoughtful, is willing to share ideas and offer insights or feedback without compromising on the integrity of the organization.
• Best Insurance Broker
CFOs use insurance as a tool to respond to risks that cannot be fully mitigated operationally. The right insurance broker helps CFOs identify assists in assessing risks and identifying appropriate measures to reduce risk exposures and ultimately reduce insurance costs.
• Best Recruitment Consultancy – Finance & Accountancy
In addition to supporting diversity and inclusion and demonstrating excellence in recruitment methods that are in line with the values and vision of companies, recruitment excellence encompasses excellent skills in shaping the workforce through talent acquisition and hiring processes.
• Best Risk Advisor
Valuable risk management guidance and solutions are one of the main facets of a trusted risk advisor. They identify, analyze and mitigate potential risks, ensuring that the operations of each enterprise remain resilient and successful.
• Best Trade Credit Partner
Trade credit is a core component of international trade enabling businesses to deliver on their commitments without taxing the organisation’s financial position. The Best Trade Credit Partner has a proven track record in enabling organisations to conduct “business as usual” while ensuring that the transaction complies with the terms and conditions of the agreement.
• Best Treasury & Cash Management Bank
Businesses require a banking partner that offers necessary financial resources, has a proven track record of offering cutting-edge financial products and services and embraces emerging technologies that help improve the operation and productivity of the business.
• Best Treasury Management Partner
One of the outcomes of the past 3 years is the rise in importance of cash (liquidity). This category aims to showcase the importance of a treasury management solution in enabling organisations to optimise their cash flow by providing real-time visibility into their cash position. Additionally, it enables them to forecast future cash needs.

2023 Winners

Leadership Practice Awards

CFO of the Year
• Ta Siang Leng, QBE Asia

Controller of the Year
• Ravishankar Ambalaparambil, Hindustan Unilever Limited

FP&A Lead of the Year
• Nobuaki Hojo, SAP Australia Pty, Ltd

FP&A Lead of the Year
• Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad

Operational Excellence Awards

Excellence in Treasury and Cash Management
• RGE Group

Excellence in Audit, Compliance and Governance
• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

Excellence in Financial Planning & Analysis
• Jabil Sdn Bhd

Excellence in Shared Services
• DFS Venture Singapore (Pte) Limited

Technology Innovation Awards

Most Innovative Use of Cloud, Platforms and Ecosystems
• Lion Parcel

Most Innovative Use of Business Application
• CCH Management Services Pte. Ltd.

Most Innovative Use of Automation
• Traveloka Services Pte. Ltd.

Business Leadership Awards

Sustainability Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
• International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Digital Transformation
• HELP University Sdn Bhd

Competencies and Capabilities
• Beyond Medical Group