Last week, SSF UK members of the Financial Accounting & Reporting Network came together for a highly engaging and insightful event hosted at member organisation Ipsen in Wrexham. The day was filled with expert-led sessions, collaborative discussions, and practical takeaways focused on finance transformation and reconciliation best practices.
The event kicked off with a light-hearted icebreaker — a tennis-themed activity led by Network Leaders Izabella Hockenhall and Zuzana Siddall — setting a warm and energetic tone for the day.
The first session featured Andy Hickson, Director of the Finance Shared Services Centre at Ipsen, who provided an in-depth introduction to the company and its evolving service scope. Attendees were given a behind-the-scenes look at Ipsen’s flagship manufacturing site and its remarkable transformation journey. Andy highlighted how Shared Services have played a pivotal role in driving finance transformation and supporting the company’s broader growth strategy.
The core theme of the day centred on reconciliations — a critical area for finance teams. Izabella and Zuzana led a comprehensive session exploring the controls, policies, and KPIs that underpin effective reconciliation processes. Through a collaborative knowledge-sharing format, members discussed roles, responsibilities, risk assessments, and tools that ensure accuracy and compliance.
Event sponsor SplashBI delivered a standout session titled “Bugged, Bottlenecked and Broken? The Future of Finance Reporting Starts Here.” Simon Beresford and Marc McGurk shared real-world examples of the reporting challenges finance teams face today, before shifting the focus to innovative solutions. Their session sparked lively discussion and aligned perfectly with a breakout session on reconciliation tools, where members exchanged experiences and best practices.
After a networking lunch, Josh Sutherst, Financial Controller at EG Group, shared their transformation journey — from a profit and loss focus to a balance sheet-driven approach. He highlighted how BlackLine provided the foundation, but it was the people behind the process who truly drove change.
The day concluded with a thought-provoking session on defining what “good” looks like in reconciliation. Attendees explored the difference between justification and reconciliation, reviewed standardised templates, and discussed how automation can enhance both efficiency and accuracy. The session uncovered new opportunities for process improvement across member organisations.
The event was a resounding success, filled with valuable insights, peer learning, and practical strategies. SSF UK extends a heartfelt thank you to all attendees, to SplashBI for their sponsorship and expertise, and to Andy Hickson and Josh Sutherst for their inspiring contributions.
📅 Next Up: The Reflection Session will take place online on September 9th at 11:00am, where members will come together to reflect on the year’s learnings and share practical takeaways from across the network and within their own teams and organisations.
Stay tuned for more details!
