[Suzhou] 8th Sino-German Controlling Forum: "Navigating Business in Difficult Times"

8th Sino-German Controlling Forum

"Navigating Business in Difficult Times"

No one could predict that 2020 would be the year of COVID-19. Not only the public health sector, but the entire economy has been suffering seriously. While we observe encouraging signs of recovery and stabilization in China, there are still many hot spots in other parts of the world, impacting market demand and supply chains.

In addition to this, accelerated tensions in the relations between the USA and China have increased concerns of many decision-makers and investors. Can we still experience business in China like in the last decade? Or do we have to prepare for a new normal in the upcoming years?

"Navigating Business in Difficult Times" is the leading motto of the 8th Sino-German Controlling Forum 2020, which will take place in Suzhou on 11 September 2020, a date. As a platform of information, communication, and experience sharing among both financial & non-financial executives and controlling professionals, the forum offers opportunities for all participants to exchange viewpoints and experiences with old and new friends in this very special time.

Besides interesting keynote speeches by representatives of the German business community in China and by the International Association of Controllers in Germany, participants of this year's forum can join discussion about relevant topics and trends related to business-steering and -controlling in 6 breakout-workshops. As in the previous years, the message of this year's forum setting remains clear: Doing business in China may be getting harder, but it is also the best time for business decision-makers and controllers to build and develop capabilities for navigating business through uncertainties and crisis. An established toolbox for controlling and crisis management can help, just like new technologies, such as the digitalization of our business and controlling practices.

We would like to welcome everyone interested in future-oriented controlling and business practice in China to join the largest annual controlling event of Sino-German business community in China. Don't miss the opportunity to exchange your viewpoints and experience with old and new friends in Suzhou on September 11th, 2020! We are awaiting your attendance!

About the Sino-German Controlling Forum:

In its 8th year, the Sino-German Controlling Forum is a unique platform for finance and controlling professionals from the Sino-German business & industry community. It gives companies the extraordinary opportunity to share and exchange their knowledge about how their company's controlling performance can be improved. Carefully selected, highly qualified speakers coming from large business groups as well as small-to-medium sized companies in German business community in China attract a unique target group of approx. 100-130 participants, with the majority of attendees being of the senior management level in finance or non-finance functions. Past years speakers are from SAP, Volkswagen, Fissler, Porsche, TRUMPF, ruhlamat, Bosch, Schaeffler, Kern-Liebers, Brose, etc.

Target Group:

CEOs, CFOs and finance & controlling managers & professionals from mainly German-invested companies with a high share of participants from the industry.

Overview of the Sino-German Controlling Forum Series: 

• 1st Sino-German Controlling Forum 2013: "Controlling and Controller"
• 2nd Sino-German Controlling Forum 2014: "Controlling for Growth"
• 3rd Sino-German Controlling Forum 2015: "Controlling for More Efficiency"
• 4th Sino-German Controlling Forum 2016: "Controlling for Local Excellence"
• 5th Sino-German Controlling Forum 2017: "Controlling in Times of Uncertainty"​
• 6th Sino-German Controlling Forum 2018: "Controlling for Sustainability"​
• 7th Sino-German Controlling Forum 2019: "​Controlling 4.0: Efficiency & Digitalization​"​

Terms & Conditions:

• Payment Method: To be paid on site by WeChat, Alipay, Credit Card or Cash. 
• Walk-in Policy: Please note that participants who attend the event without prior reservation will be charged a walk-in fee of RMB 200 if spaces are still available.
• Events have limited seating, so to ensure your attendance we encourage you to register in advance. We cannot guarantee entry to those that have not pre-registered. If you registered for an event but can not attend, please do let us know in advance. No-shows who fail to cancel 24 hours before the event will be charged with the full price.
• Please note the views expressed in this event are those of our guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai. All our events follow the Chatham House Rule unless otherwise stated. The posting of presentation materials is at the speakers' discretion. We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at any of our events.
• Important Information: the registration data will be shared with the co-organizing partner of this event.

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Registration with Coffee and Snack

9:30 AM - 9:40 AM Opening Remarks

Dr. Sigrid Winkler | Executive Chamber Manager, German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai

9:40 AM - 10:20 AM Keynote Speech I: Controlling for Business Efficiency in Corona-/Post-Corona Ara – Approach of Volkswagen Group in China

Prof. Li Xin | Head of Corporate Finance, Head of Brand Controlling Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Head of Finance Skoda, Volkswagen Group China

• Increasing relevance of the VUCA market situation (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity)
• Increasing requirement on transparency & challenges for controlling
• Cost optimization & efficiency improvement: What and how to do
• Transformation of finance: Current state and future outlook of VWG China

10:20 AM - 10:35 AM Coffee Break & Networking

10:35 AM - 12:05 AM Workshop Breakout Session 1

Workshop (A) Digitalization Initiatives for Financial Forecasting and Tax at Boehringer Ingelheim in China

Mr. Arjan van der Oort | CFO, Boehringer Ingelheim

Ms. Shirley Wang | Partner, Financial Advisory Services, Deloitte China

• BI and industry specialties for financial planning
• Challenges and the plan how to overcome them
• The approach and the technical solution
• Strategic observations for similar challenges in other industries
• Use of RPA in tax

Workshop (B) Cash is King – How to Improve Credit Work & Collection Skills

Mr. Aaron Wang | Order-To-Cash (OTC) Process Leader, Senior Credit Manager at Eaton (China) Investments Co., Ltd.

• Importance of credit management & collection in times of economic downturn
• Concept and tools for credit evaluation & collection in Chinese environment
• Do's and dons for daily practice
• Do's and dons for long outstanding cases
• How to evaluate performance of credit management & collection
• The role of collection team and the integration of business & finance

（Cancelled) Workshop (C) Tooling Management in Automotive Industry – Financial Perspective? 

Mr. Jiang Songgen (Jason) | Finance Director Asia, Mubea Automotive Components (Taicang) Co.,Ltd.

• Tooling as a special assets in Automotive Industry has material impact to P&L if not managed properly
• Comprehensive tooling management system: 
• Tooling management at project nomination phase
• Tooling management before SOP
• Tooling management in life time and after EOP
• Conclusion/discussion: Finance/Controlling's role in tooling management to "Navigating Business in Difficult Times"

12:05 PM - 1:20 PM Lunch Break

1:20 PM - 2:50 PM Workshop Breakout Session 2

Workshop (D): Digitalization in Finance: First Experience & Lesson Learnt at Porsche China

Ms. Zhao Bei | Director of Accounting, Porsche China

Ms. Tang Jing | Senior Manager of Data and Risk Management, Porsche China

• Porsche Mission D - the longest journey begins with the first step
• Digital automation with RPA
• Selected cases of RPA at Porsche China and lesson learnt
• Automation of Controlling reporting with Business Intelligence
• BI to break down silos between departments
• Challenges and Outlook

Workshop (E): SPEED vs. Adaptability at Jungheinrich: Paradigm Shift in Dynamic Times?

Mr. Volker Michels | Head of Controlling APAC, Jungheinrich

• Introduction of Jungheinrich China
• The Jungheinrich SPEED program: Lean production with extremely short lead times, by coordinated planning, procurement and value creation processes, strongly shortened plan delivery times for purchased parts, best use of employees, equipment and material
• Are group-wide efficiency programs the best possible answer to today's dynamic environment? "Doing the things right vs. Doing the right things"
• Conclusions for Controlling and Leadership

Workshop (F) Gaining New Insights – Dashboarding @ Schaeffler

Mr. Michael Muell | SAP FI Consultant, Schaeffler Greater China

Ms. Shen Jie (Summer) | Supervisor for Accounts Payable, Schaeffler Greater China

• When talking about Digitalization, Dashboarding comes easily to everybody's mind. It is common to relate those solutions with colorful and data-rich charts for Top Management, replacing the monthly Financial reporting packages with the "Digital Boardroom". On the other hand, middle management's steering of daily or weekly KPI is today majorly done by MS Excel. Is there a way to those the Dashboarding solutions for the agile KPI Layer? We believe so. During the workshop we will share the approach taken at Schaeffler Greater China Finance Shared Service Center. How to make full use of SAP Analytics Cloud Solution, gain faster and deeper insights into day-to-day operations, set SMART targets and monitor the results of improvement activities.



2:50 PM - 3:10 PM Coffee Break & Networking

3:10 PM - 3:50 PM Keynote Speech II: Management of the Current Crisis and the Role of Controllers (Draft Paper of the ICV Think Tank)

Ms. Claudia Maron | Head of Governance, DATEV eG, International Association of Controllers (ICV) and Member of the Board at ICV

• How CFOs and controllers evaluate the current situation of their companies. (2nd survey of ICV/WHU)
• Phases of crisis management: ensure survival, stabilization, realignment, restart. (Draft paper of the ICV think tank)
• Case studies for crisis management and the role of controllers
• Economic outlook

3:50 PM - 4:10 PM Survey Results

Dr. Huang Zhen, Management Consultant & Trainer, Shanghai De Chen Enterprise Management Consulting

4:10 PM - 4:50 PM Panel Discussion

4:50 PM - 5:00 PM Closing Remarks

Dr. Sigrid Winkler | Executive Chamber Manager, German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Networking

Exclusive hotel room rates are offered to registered guests. Please contact Pan Pacific Hotel Suzhou to enjoy the special rate after completing your forum registration.

Contact: Ms. Ruby Jiang: ruby.jiang@panpacific.com

                T: +86 512 6510 3388 ext. 8807 | M: +86 136 1627 1522 

• Rate Deluxe Room King RMB 500 net (incl. 1 breakfast per room per night)
• Rate Deluxe Room Twin RMB 550 net (incl. 2 breakfast per room per night)

Become a Partner of the Sino-German Controlling Forum and actively:

• Engage with industry experts in the Sino-German business community
• Raise the awareness for the role your company plays in the controlling business
• Impact the Sino-German controlling community in China with your controlling expertise
• Support the improvement of controlling practices in China
• Increase professional exchange & networking

For more information about the partnership program, please click here​.

Contact:Mr. Navin HOSSAIN: hossain.navin@sh.china.ahk.de | T: +86 5081 2266 ext.1656