Finance and Accounting professionals to bridge the gap with IT

Mumbai, Oct 8, 2016

Opportunities & Challenges To Bridge, Align and Converge

IT & Business

ICAI Mumbai - IT Summit 2016Oct 8, 2016

“Challenges and Opportunities”:The role of accountancy and finance professionals to bridge the gap between the IT department and the stakeholders

“Challenges and Opportunities-The role of accountancy and finance professionals to bridge the gap between the IT department and the

stakeholders”

ABOUT ME

Dinesh O BarejaMicrosoft MVP, CISA, CISM, ITIL, ISMS, Cert ERM, Cert IPR

• COO – Open Security Alliance & IndiaWatch • Principal Advisor – Pyramid Cyber Security & Forensic Pvt Ltd• Co-Founder – Indian Honeynet Project• Ex Cyber Surveillance Advisor – CDRC (Jharkhand Police – Special

Branch)

Policy Development;Cyber Insurance; Forensic & Incident Investigation & Response; Enterprise Security Architecture; Assessment, Audit & Optimization; Governance, Risk Management;


stakeholders”

This is what you do….

My Understanding

This is what you do….

•Handle Finance•Accounting•Budgets•Cash Flow•Internal Audit•Management / Board Guidance•Etc etc


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This is what “they” do….

My Understanding

This is what “they” do….

•Computing resources•Troubleshooting•Support •Automation•Evaluate & Enable Technology•Continuity / DR… etc.


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Comparing the Twain… it’s like apples and oranges


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Yet, Some Similarities•One deals with valuable information the other manages it (financial/otherwise) •Both are critical for the entire organization •Cost reduction through efficiency and oversight•One needs strong internal control the other needs to keep an eye on internal controls•Both have “need to know” based access policies


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A quick humor break


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IT ka Jungle


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Psychology 1-2-3-4A Quick Run-Through

Causal Analysis > Problem Statement > Remediation Options > Prescription for Action


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Why Do Gaps Crop Up In RelationshipsProfessional Issues•Difference of opinion•Loss / Lack of Respect•Ego Issues•Expectations•Unrealistic Aspirations •Superseded•Ambition

Personal Issues• Incompatibility•Body talk (looks, hygiene)•Envy•Disgruntled

Causal Analysis 1


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Gaps between IT & Stakeholders •Non availability of timely support•Do not allow installation of my favorite software•Restrict internet usage•Ban personal devices •No third party apps•Shortcomings in applications provided by IT•Etc… Problem Statement2


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What does one do when gaps crop up

•Negotiation•Arbitration•Settlement•Transfer / Avoid Risk•Education•Face Facts•Fight •Expert Opinion•Go With The Flow

Remediation Options3


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Be prepared to provide all this and more..

•Dispute resolution•Arbitration•Negotiation •Mentoring•Empathy•Sympathy•Guidance•Education •Budget Fundamentals•ROI / UOI Bookkeeping

Prescription for Action4


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End Psychology 1-2-3-4


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Let’s get back to

IT & Business


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Common Enterprise User Problems•Computer slow• Too many pop-ups •Websites take forever to load• Email did not reach (or go)•Can’t open attachment•Application not starting•System takes forever to start• Printer doesn’t print

•Can’t install “my s/w”•Where are my files•Network not reachable• Intranet is down• Instant Messaging banned•No Social Media!•Restricted Internet•No budget for new license

Common problems that can lead to bad blood


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IT Department OMG Moments•Budgeting•Write a Report•Ask Money for new People, Technology…

•Oh Not! Not Again…! •Network• Anything

IT Department WTH Moments


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Some Challenges To Address•Financial Sensibility •Always on Fire •Know it all Attitude (Technical Superiority)• Inefficiency (ask for something and wait for a lifetime) •Every need is Urgent except ….•UoI (Use of Investment)•Maybe some more!


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Break Out Of The Old

The One Solution

Chop The IT Budget


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Opportunity For The F&A Professionals•Culture of Risk based approach •Finance for the F&A Challenged•Budgeting •Forecasting • Context of business• Capacity Planning

•Periodic analysis to assess and address challenges•Ask IT team (techies are bad at communication)•Step up to understand technology


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Opportunities •Efficiency and productivity from IT investments•You don’t need to be a techie to extract or build value in IT move beyond debit, credit •Ensure implementation of ITGC •Data classification across the organization •Ensure that IT capabilities are available & leveraged • IT to achieve organizational objectives •Bring risks to acceptable levels especially BCP/DR


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Opportunities – UoI / RoI• Assessment Prior to Purchase • Needs, Efficiency, Productivity, Savings, Risks• Plan for monitoring / audit and quantifiable reports• Search within

• Set benchmarks and goals• As-is / To-Be• Approach, Methodology, Rollout plan, KPIs

• Post-Purchase • Audit to ascertain UoI (level of success, issues, challenges,

weakness)• RCA • Remediation of weaknesses• Institutionalization of successful processes


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Bridging The Gap


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Prescription For Action• Understand working of technology, keep abreast

of new paradigms• Participate with IT in review of helpdesk statistics • Support team expansion plans in proportion to

enterprise growth• Push for automation with IT • Assist in budget creation, management and

review• Inclusiveness - Share management insight and

expectations• Work with IT for management acceptance of

projects • Purchase evaluation, selection, negotiation


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Bridging The Gap

How Come All This Is My Responsibility Now …


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Times are a changing and need you to step up…

roles are converging and demand everyone to be

involved in business successTHE BOTTOM LINE


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Remember the good old times

An accountant was an accountant

The Chartered Accountant audited accounts………..

And now……..


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Fundamental Truth IT Gotta Worry Before AND Also After Spending

THE BOTTOM LINE


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It’s All About

DATA

MONEYIt’s

All AboutTHE BOTTOM LINE


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All tracks are Aligned,

Are they converged?

Will they converge??IT & Business


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ABOUT ME&

MY CONTACT

INFORMATION

[email protected]

@bizsprite

linkedin.com/in/dineshbareja

+91.9769890505

dineshobareja

dineshobareja

infosecgallery.blgspot.com

securambling.blogspot.com

Information Security professional working hard to be abreast of technology, risks, threats, opportunities and looks forward to the excitement of the future..


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Who

professional infosec expertise and passion to demolish the hype and enable real-life balance in cybersecurity policy, strategy, training and operations at the national, enterprise or individual level

A Reality Check On The Past Present & Future of National Security &

Cybersecurity

ABO

UT

US

Wh

at

Whe

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E [email protected]

@bizsprite / @IW_talksL: linkedin.com/in/dineshobareja +91.9769890505 dineshobareja dineshobareja dineshbareja.com indiawatch.in


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Leadership & Management

Finance and Accounting professionals to bridge the gap with IT