Beyond the rear-view mirror: shared learning on finance systems that help your whole organisation look ahead

About the session

Most finance teams already sense that their system could be doing more. The harder questions are what ‘more’ should look like, whether the answer lies in improving what you have or replacing it, and how to bring budget holders, senior managers and trustees with you. This afternoon brings peers from across the sector together to work through those questions candidly, with a focus on the practical choices that help finance move from keeping the records to acting as a genuine strategic partner.

We’ll open with our independent view of how the finance systems market has moved over the past year – from legacy products heading towards end of support to the growing role of AI and automation. Organisations that have recently been through the change will then share what they set out to achieve, what proved harder than expected and what they would do differently, and there will be plenty of time to compare notes with others weighing up similar decisions.

What will attendees gain from attending this session?

• An up-to-date, independent picture of the finance systems market – which products are gaining ground, which are approaching end of support, and what “good” looks like for purpose-led organisations in 2027.
• A grounded view of where AI and automation are already earning their place in finance, from invoice processing and bank reconciliation to anomaly detection and natural-language reporting, and where the promises are still running ahead of reality.
• Practical ideas for giving budget holders, managers and trustees direct access to the financial information they need, through dashboards and self-service reporting rather than waiting for the month-end pack.
• Insight into connecting finance with CRM, fundraising and other core systems, so that income reconciles reliably and data silos don’t quietly return.
• Honest lessons from peers on what matters beyond functional fit – supplier commitment and product roadmaps, implementation partners, and the configuration, training and change management that determine whether a new system delivers.
• Space to consider whether your own priority is to improve, integrate or replace, and to leave with realistic next steps for your organisation.
• …and, of course, the cake – along with fruit, good coffee and a relaxed atmosphere throughout the afternoon!

Who should attend this event? 

A finance system shapes the working day of far more people than the finance team alone, so this session is deliberately cross-functional. Drawing on case studies from the sector, the discussion will be relevant to senior managers in finance, HR, fundraising, marketing and communications, and operations, as well as those leading digital and IT change. Finance directors and heads of finance expecting to review, upgrade or replace their system in the next few years will find it particularly valuable.

The programme

14,00 - Arrival and welcome

Mark Dendy, Senior Consultant, Adapta Consulting

Coffee, cake and a chance to meet fellow attendees, followed by introductions and an overview of the afternoon.

14.10 - Setting the scene

Mark Dendy, Senior Consultant, Adapta Consulting

How the finance systems market for purpose-led organisations has shifted over the past year, where AI and automation are making a practical difference, and what to weigh up when deciding whether to improve, integrate or replace.

14.30 - Case study spotlight

Stories from the sector - Two organisations describe how they modernised their finance systems and ways of working – what they set out to achieve, what worked, what didn’t and what they would do differently.

Case study 1

TEA/COFFEE - time to compare notes with peers

Case study 2

15.45 - Peer roundtable discussions

All

Small-group conversations shaped around the challenges in the room – among them AI and automation, empowering budget holders, integration with CRM and fundraising systems, and building the case for change with trustees.

16.30 - Review and close

Adapta Consulting

Main takeaways from the afternoon, followed by more networking, more cake and time with our speakers.

Register your interest

Limited to 2 places per organisation, this event is free to attend and open only to charities, membership organisation and NFPs.

Event registration will open shortly. To log your interest in attending this event email us at [email protected] with  your name, position and organisation.