Finance Officers as Strategic Partners: Compliance, Efficiency & Growth

Host: Syed Younas Sadat, Director – Advisory & Consulting, Baker Tilly UAE
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE
Audience: Finance Officers (in-house & outsourced), SEOs, and Compliance Leaders

Agenda Overview

Time	Session	Description
11:00 – 11:15 am	Arrival & Networking	Arrival and networking session with coffee and light refreshments.
11:15 – 11:25 am	Keynote Address by Saad Maniar, CEO	Opening remarks highlighting Baker Tilly’s role in supporting DFSA-regulated firms and the objectives of the roundtable.
11:25 – 12:00 pm	Extended Panel Discussion: Finance Officers as Strategic Partners	A 90-minute panel discussion with four interconnected themes: (1) Regulatory Readiness – How FOs ensure DFSA compliance, prudential returns, and governance alignment. (2) Corporate Tax & Role of Tax Advisors – Importance of tax planning, alignment with Finance Officers, and ensuring robust tax compliance in DFSA firms. (3) Growth Partner Role – Shifting from compliance custodians to strategic partners driving cost efficiency and MI dashboards. (4) Technology & Transformation – ERP, AI, and Achieve ERP’s role in strengthening finance and controls.
12:55 – 1:00 pm	Closing Remarks & Key Takeaways	Summary of insights, audience reflections, and next steps