Conference on Digital Transformation of Financial Markets

Conference on Digital Transformation of Financial Markets

Digital technologies have accelerated digital transformation in the financial world at a remarkable pace, presenting both opportunities and challenges for businesses as they navigate the dynamics of a new business environment. Regulatory frameworks will also need to evolve rapidly to ensure corporate governance and compliance in the digitalized financial landscape.

To address these issues, the School of Accountancy Research Centre (SOAR) organised the inaugural Conference on Digital Transformation in Financial Markets, in conjunction with SoA’s 20th Anniversary celebrations. Following encouraging feedback received for its inaugural edition, curently SOAR organises the Conference every two years with its most recent edition in October 2024.

Click here to learn more about the 2024 Conference on Digital Transformation of Financial Markets: AI in Business and Finance. 

“Digital technologies have transformed financial markets, but we have yet to understand the full impact of this transformation and how to regulate the digital economy effectively. Through this conference, the SOA Research Centre aims to facilitate open conversations between industry practitioners, academics and regulators to discuss these issues.”  

Zhang Liandong
Lee Kong Chian Professor of Accounting
Deputy Dean, School of Accountancy

Conference on Digital Transformation in Financial Markets 2024:
AI in Business and Finance

Video Highlights 


Opening Remarks


​​​​​​​Professor Timothy Clark, SMU Provost, opened the Conference on Digital Transformation of Financial Markets 2024: AI in Business and Finance with his Welcome Address. He shared on some of the ways in which SMU is equipping students to thrive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, such as courses in digital technology being added to the graduation requirements from this academic year.

Keynote Address


​​​​​​​The keynote speaker for the event, Mr Teo Ser Luck, President of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), shared some of the findings from ISCA’s research into AI. One of the biggest takeaways from the research is that AI is not about to replace accountants altogether.

Fireside Chat 1: Opportunities and application cases of AI in finance


​​​​​​​The first fireside chat of the conference focused on the opportunities and application cases for AI in finance, as well as the opportunities and challenges that these will pose to professionals in the field. Professor of Finance at SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) Zhang Hong was the moderator for the session. The panelists included Mr Ken Guo, CEO and Founder, Reluvate Technologies, Dr Vincent Lim, CEO, Eco Sustainability Group, Mr Fabiano Suifi, Chief Financial Officer, Microsoft ASEAN, and Mr Anand Sachdev, Managing Director, Country Manager for ING Bank Singapore.

Research Presentations


​​​​​​​Research Presentations by SoA faculty touched on the impact of AI. Professor Cheng Qiang, Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Accounting and Dean, SMU School of Accountancy presented on his research into "Does Generative AI facilitate investor trading? Evidence from ChatGPT outages". This was closely followed by Mr Benjamin Lee, Lecturer of Accounting, SMU School of Accountancy, who presented on "AI integration in Accounting firms: Building firm capabilities to harness Artificial Intelligence on the journey of perpetual digital transformation".

Fireside Chat 2: Challenges of applying AI


​​​​​​​The second fireside chat focused on the challenges of AI adoption such as data security issues and data-driven discrimination. This session was moderated by Mr Shameek Kundu, Executive Director of the AI Verify Foundation and included Ms Jenny Tan, Global Head of Internal Audit, CapitaLand Investment, President, ISACA SG Chapter, Mr Richard Koh, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft ASEAN, Global Partner Solutions, Mr Koo Sengmeng, Head of LearnAI, AI Singapore and Mr Ramesh Moosa, ASEAN and Singapore Forensic & Integrity Services Leader, EY , on the panel.

Closing Remarks


​​​​​​​The closing remarks were delivered by Professor Liandong Zhang, Deputy Dean of School of Accountancy, who summarised the key takeaways of the afternoon. He also reflected on how embracing and using AI technologies has now become essential and the importance of embracing innovation in a responsible way.