“Using data-analytics to drive today’s businesses and train tomorrow’s accountants” with Rich Fox of Apex Parks Group (San Diego, USA)

"Things are being constantly created...so it's very exciting to
be not only in the finance area but in the data area."


GBD64. Rich Fox is Vice-President of Data
Science and Analytics for Apex Parks Group, one of the
USA's largest amusement park operators. Kyle Hannan (AICPA &
CIMA, London, UK) talks to this 20-year analytics industry
veteran and experienced thought leader, discussing how
finance professionals can combine data, information, insights,
action & results to improve businesses. Rich also shares some
inside perspectives on how academia is working to train
tomorrow's accountants in these new skills today.


 


WE DISCUSS: 


* What is data analytics?


* What does it mean to be “data-driven”? 


* When did data analytics become a ‘thing’? 


* Get started with the 5 step process: Data. Information.
Insights. Action & Results.  


* Does data-analysis offer an opportunity to EVERY business, or
are there some that have more to
gain than others?   


* Where should a business begin? What are some practical steps a
business-leader can take to turn new insights into effective
action?  


* How are academic institutions keeping pace with teaching these
data-analytics skills to the CPAs and CMAs of
tomorrow?  


* Richard’s presentation at this August’s “Beta Alpha Sci”
conference (the US educational accounting fraternity annual
conference). 


 


OUR GUEST  


Richard Fox has held several leadership roles in analytics and
finance including CFO and six years with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He is a frequent speaker at Analytics conferences and
Universities, and in 2018, built the Executive Track
for the AICPA's new Data Driven Leader program focusing on
how analytics is changing the Office of Finance.  He
blends an analytical and data-driven strategy with a deep
understanding of business and finance to drive business
performance in a breadth of industries including
e-commerce,  restaurants,
hotels, retail, distribution, manufacturing and real
estate. Rich also teaches Analytics in a Master’s
program at San Diego State University and has
a Graduate Certificate in Predictive Analytics
from Northwestern University. Connect with him on LinkedIn.


 


LINKS


* AICPA & CIMA resources and certificate courses on Data
Analytics


* Ashok Noah is Vice President, Managing Director Learning,
Education & Development, for the AICPA. See a preview list of
his CFO -related presentations here.


 


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