DFK International

On 9 September, the DFK International Accounting Services Group hosts 'Talent Development: Training and Retaining High-Performing Bookkeeping Teams.'

In a competitive market, discover how firms are hiring, training and keeping top bookkeeping talent - and bring your own strategies to share. Designed as an open discussion, this is a chance to exchange strategies with fellow professionals across DFK.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/CfCiA7rM8Z

A reminder that registration is open for the DFK LATAM Annual Conference 2026, taking place in Monterrey, Mexico from 30 September – 2 October.

Three days with colleagues from across the region and the wider association - sharing what's working, comparing challenges and building the relationships that make cross-border referrals straightforward.

Hotel booking is also available at a special DFK delegate rate, but rooms are limited, so don't leave it too late.

DFK members can register now on Glue Up.

Join us for 'Pathways to Partnership: Demystifying the Journey' - a webinar from the DFK International Women in Leadership Group on 8 September.

The route to partnership can often feel opaque or exclusive. This session explores how to make the path clearer, fairer and more accessible for emerging women leaders.

The Group will be running it twice so members can join from anywhere: 9am or 3pm GMT.

Click on the link below to register:
https://forms.office.com/e/KNchUTHu2c

That's a wrap on the DFK Annual Global Conference 2026!

The final day in Vancouver brought two more brilliant keynotes: Brian Blaha challenged firms to rethink the traditional partnership model in his session on enterprise value, and Dr Preet Banerjee brought his world-class expertise in behavioural finance to the stage.

Delegates also heard from Warren Baker, BKL, UK, DFK's new President of the Board, and Stephen Bushell, DFK Gooding Partners, Australia, Immediate Past President, who together shared DFK's strategic plan and the vision for the years ahead.

And with that, an unforgettable few days came to a close. A huge thank you to everyone who made this year's conference what it was - our members who travelled from all corners of the world, our exceptional speakers, our generous sponsors and everyone working behind the scenes to bring it all together.

One community, united globally.

See you at the next one!

And the conference continues!

Delegates heard from two more of our keynote speakers: Donny Shimamoto, internationally recognised thought leader in accounting technology and transformation, and Matthew Blank, business development strategist and 2024 NACE Speaker of the Year.

We also enjoyed a fireside chat with one of our sponsors, Beeye, joined by Nigel Jacobs from member firm Taylor Leibow LLP Accountants and Advisors, Canada - followed by breakout sessions that saw delegates explore key topics in smaller, discussion-led groups.

Then it was time for everyone to come together for a fantastic Gala Dinner, a real highlight of the conference so far.

Now, on to the final day!

We're starting this post with a huge congratulations to BRC, United States, winner of DFK Firm of the Year 2026!

The award recognises BRC's outstanding dedication to DFK: their commitment to building connections with fellow members around the world, their active engagement across the association and the generosity with which they share their expertise with the wider DFK community. Congratulations to the whole team - thoroughly deserved!

It was another fantastic day of sessions in Vancouver. Delegates heard from Fred Fox of the Terry Fox Foundation, who shared personal memories of growing up with his brother Terry and the extraordinary legacy of the Marathon of Hope - which has now raised over $1 billion for cancer research. We were also joined by Amy Beth Kessinger, an award-winning educator and ICF-accredited coach, who brought her 25 years of experience to a session on leadership, communication and building high-trust teams.

And in between sessions...delegates found time to catch the World Cup - some things bring the world together even faster than a global conference!

We're looking forward to another full day of sessions today, before we come together this evening for the Gala Dinner.

The DFK Annual Global Conference is officially underway in Vancouver and it's off to a great start!

This year we're thrilled to have 231 attendees joining us from 16 different countries - what a fantastic reflection of the strength and reach of the DFK community.

So far, the tax seminar brought delegates together for an expert-led discussion, the DFK Members Council held its meeting and the welcome reception gave everyone the chance to reconnect with familiar faces and make new connections.

There's plenty more to come and we'll be sharing updates throughout the conference!

Introducing our next conference sponsor: Basis.

Basis is an AI platform built specifically for accounting firms, providing teams with AI agents that understand accounting, learn the specific needs of each client and work independently to execute core workflows end-to-end. From client accounting services to tax and audit, Basis handles the ex*****on - delivering finished work ready for review, at the standard your clients expect.

The result is a fundamental shift in how accounting teams operate: less time spent on manual, time-consuming work and more capacity for the higher-value advisory work that strengthens client relationships and drives firm growth.

We look forward to introducing you to Basis in Vancouver. Find out more at https://www.getbasis.ai/

In under three weeks, DFK members from across the world will be united in Vancouver for our Annual Global Conference and we are delighted to be joined by our sponsor, Beeye.

Beeye is a resource scheduling and practice management platform built specifically for professional services firms. Designed to place collaboration at the core of how firms operate, it brings together team performance tracking, automated task scheduling and project profitability monitoring - all in one place.

For accounting firms looking to improve visibility across their operations, strengthen team collaboration and free up time for higher value work, Beeye offers a powerful and intuitive solution.

Find out more at mybeeye.com

To round off our keynote speaker announcements, we are delighted to welcome Fred Fox to the Vancouver conference.

Fred Fox was there when his brother Terry set out on the Marathon of Hope in April 1980 - one of the most extraordinary and enduring stories in Canadian history. He joined Terry on the road that summer and witnessed firsthand as Canadians rallied behind his brother's mission.

That experience shaped a lifetime of commitment. Fred went on to lead the Terry Fox Foundation's British Columbia and Yukon Office and later served at the National Office as Manager of Supporter Relations. He speaks at events across Canada and around the world, sharing his personal story of growing up with Terry and the remarkable legacy that continues to grow, with over $1 billion raised for cancer research to date.

We are looking forward to welcoming Fred to Vancouver for what promises to be a truly memorable session.