Congress of Controllers
- 27/04/2026 09:00 ' - 28/04/2026 14:00 '
- Venue: The Westin Grand, Arabellastraße 6, 81925 München
- Optional app-based simultaneous translation (English)
Congress of Controllers
Diverse and informative: The Congress of Controllers – insights in the video
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More InformationThe largest specialist meeting in Europe is approaching: Be part of it!
Controlling excellence is the compass in a world that is changing fundamentally at ever shorter intervals. Companies, managers and controllers are under great pressure to adapt. The disruptive dynamic is intensified by geopolitical uncertainties, volatile markets, regulatory requirements, sustainability pressure and a shortage of skilled workers. At the same time, innovations such as artificial intelligence are opening up new opportunities.
Come to Munich on April 27 and 28, 2026 to receive strategies and examples of solutions.
Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Controllers
In top-class keynote speeches and concrete practical examples, you will experience how leading companies are leveraging efficiency potential, successfully shaping transformation and securing their competitiveness with the help of AI.
Matthias von Daacke, ICV Chairman of the Board, Moderator & Speaker at the 50th Congress of Controllers The three topic clusters of the anniversary Congress: 1. AI implementation in controlling 2. Early crisis detection and dealing with uncertainties 3. Finance & Controlling as performance drivers
Prof. Dr. Christoph Eisl, ICV Board Member, Moderator of a topic cluster at the anniversary Congress The Award ceremonies are another highlight: We honor outstanding and sustainable controlling solutions with the Albrecht Deyhle Award for Controlling Excellence and the ICV – Péter Horváth Green Controlling Award.
Prof. Dr. Utz Schäffer, Chairman of the ICV Board of Trustees, Head of the Jury for the Albrecht Deyhle Award for Controlling Excellence Get into informal conversation – with speakers, award winners, exhibitors and other participants. Take away specific ideas for your business practice.
Claudia Maron, Vice-Chairwoman of the ICV Executive Board The 50th Congress of Controllers offers you valuable impulses for practice as well as space for exchange, networking and new perspectives. We look forward to welcoming you in person in Munich – to a congress that marks an anniversary and sends a clear signal for the future of controlling.
The ICV Board of Directors with Matthias von Daacke, Claudia Maron, Carmen Zillmer, Markus Steiner, Prof. Dr. Christoph Eisl, Guido Kleinhietpaß and Pia Burkarth 1st day of the event: Morning
Matthias von Daacke, ICV Chairman of the Board
Uta Anders, CFO Krones AG Neutraubling
- Elements of the model
- Interlocking with operational business and reporting requirements
- Significance for the controller
Dr. Dirk Baukmann, EVP Corporate Accounting, Reporting & Controlling DHL Group Bonn
Axel Wachholz, CFO Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG Blomberg
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
Coming from a holding structure, MB Energy’s finance organization historically consisted of specialist teams that primarily served the needs of their respective stakeholders reactively from many locations and from their own perspective. The activities were very operational and manual based on old structures and systems. A far-reaching transformation of the finance organization was needed to support the Group’s development into an integrated energy company. A status report after year 1 of the financial transformation at MB Energy.
PRESENTATION IN GERMAN, PRESENTATION CHARTS IN ENGLISH
Annet van der Laan, CFO MB Energy Hamburg
- Regulation, volatility and AI: a new decision-making framework
- Why technological answers do not (completely) solve the problem
- The ability to change is the new core competence
Dipl. Oec. Guido Kleinhietpaß, Trainer and Consultant, CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Prof. Dr. Utz Schäffer, Head of the Award Jury, Chairman of the ICV Board of Trustees, Director of the Institute of Management and Control (IMC) at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management Vallendar
Time for refreshments at the buffets in the foyers on the ground and first floors – and also for discussions with other participants, with our speakers, with the press representatives and exhibitors as well as with our ICV functionaries.
1st day of the event: Topic clusters
Moderation:
Prof. Dr. Ronald Gleich, Academic Director Centre for Performance Management & Controlling Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Frankfurt/Main
Dr. Kim Dillenberger, Vice Academic Director Centre for Performance Management & Controlling, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Frankfurt/Main
- The basics of financial data agents: Can chatbots and LLMs really analyze complex financial data reliably?
- Typical challenges in the application of AI in controlling – solution approaches and added value achieved by front-runners
Dr. Ansgar Heidemann, Solution Expert Data Science & AI, Windhoff Software Services GmbH Gescher
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
Jan Zimpelmann, CFO Dr. Beckmann Group Egelsbach
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
- Integration of (generative) AI along clear maturity levels in planning processes
- Interactive cost planning for all user groups in natural language
- Simplified model creation / simulation without tool complexity
- Empowered departments, reduced effort – through AI in planning, analysis and forecasting
Dr. Marina Hein, Head of Marketing & Strategy, smartPM.solutions Baden
Prof. Dr. Karsten Oehler, Chief Solution Advisor, SAP Eschborn
Steffen Wittenauer, SME Data & AI in DACH, IBM Technology DACH Bern-Gümligen
Moderation:
Prof. Dr. Christoph Eisl, FH Professor FH OÖ Campus Steyr | Faculty of Business and Management Steyr
- Methods of early enlightenment
- Strategic and operational early reconnaissance
- Limits and possibilities of AI
- Embedding early detection in the controlling system
FH-Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler Member of the ICV Board of Trustees, Head of Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management, FH Upper Austria Steyr
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
- Basics of StaRUG, risk management and crisis prevention
- Case study
- Implementation of risk aggregation
- Event-driven risks
- Monte Carlo simulation and stochastic planning (bandwidth planning)
Prof. Dr. Werner Gleißner, CEO FutureValue Group AG Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Matthias von Daacke, Vice President/Head of Global Controlling BLANCO Group Oberderdingen
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
Options for action for companies
- What cost and compliance effects SESTA triggers (today & in the future)
- Levers for management & controlling: calculation, scenarios, transfer, efficiency
Carsten Thürnau, Head of Central Controlling Bremer Stadtreinigung
Moderation:
Dorothee Deyhle, Member of the Board CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Two parallel lectures
Lecture 1:
Develop strategy and operating model for finance and controlling
- Why finance & controlling need to be realigned
- Focus on internal customers: needs, expectations and added value
The path to a finance & controlling strategy and its implementation
Danny Szajnowicz, Managing Director CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Lecture 2:
Finance and controlling as designers of corporate strategy and business models
Dr. Thomas Biasi, Partner and Trainer, CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
- Why automation often fails and yet there is no alternative
- How processes and methods need to be realigned
- From objectives to management – what is the role of controlling and change?
Helene Eder, manager, trainer and coach, CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Florian Bliefert, Manager and Trainer CA controller akademie Wörthsee
Time for networking and for visitors to our exhibitors.
- Performance comes from better decisions.
- Process orientation beats functional thinking.
- Roles work through people, not through structures.
- Pure practice: You choose the implementation example.
Jens Ropers, Partner CA controller akademie Wörthsee
1st event day: Happy Hour & 50th Controllers’ Beer Garden
in the Exhibitors’ Area – Meet the Experts!
Legendary – with live music, a delicious buffet and plenty of time for good conversations with old acquaintances and new contacts.
2nd event day: Agenda
Optional: 45 minutes of yoga on the ground floor of the congress hotel The Westin Grand
Matthias von Daacke, ICV Chairman of the Board
- 10 years of finance transformation at TRUMPF
- Global value chains as the primary management element
- Sales management on the basis of group contribution margins
Dr. Andreas Aschenbrücker, CFO TRUMPF Machine Tools Ditzingen
Laudatory speech:
Prof. Dr. Reinhold Mayer, Chairman of the Péter Horváth Foundation Stuttgart
Matthias von Daacke, Chairman of the ICV Board of Directors
- Driven by geopolitical developments and a slowdown in the growth of the Chinese economy, Chinese companies are increasingly pushing into Western markets.
- Chinese companies have an advantage in terms of the speed of product development and product costs of up to 30%, and even more in some sectors.
- Western companies must therefore find ways to close the gaps while preserving their DNA.
- In der Präsentation „entschlüsseln“ wir den Ansatz von „Chinese Speed & Cost“ und zeigen Wege nach vorne auf, um die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu steigern.
PRESENTATION IN GERMAN, PRESENTATION CHARTS IN ENGLISH
Oliver Knapp, Senior Partner | Global Co-Head Operations & Procurement, Roland Berger GmbH Stuttgart
- The concept of value creation is changing in dynamic times
- The OPEX framework: Aspects and elements of integrated value creation
- Efficiency and effectiveness: AI support in operational business
- Maturity level and roadmap: The steps of the transformation
Frank Ahlrichs, Managing Director OPEX Training & Consulting GmbH Frankfurt/Main
Time to network and visit our exhibitors.
- Design and elements of future planning and forecasting processes
- Comprehensive integration and automation
- Including results from the ICV expert group “NextGen@Planning”
Michael Kappes, Partner Horváth Stuttgart
- AI-based CAC optimization in business initiation
- Microdecisions in the provision of services for conversion optimization
- Sentiment analyses in customer contact to increase CTLV
- Reporting from the lessons learned
Simone Baade-Doerfner, CEO OMERGY Hamburg
In order to be able to shape the future, it is necessary to be able to retrieve tried and tested solutions efficiently and to break new ground time and again. This requires a high level of collective problem-solving ability within the team. When it comes to developing and implementing this potential, which is also genetically determined, people have a lot in their own hands. As a consequence of the digital transformation, machines will ultimately take over everything that they can do better than humans in the professional world of the day after tomorrow. This will create space and time for people to use their greatest strength – their ability to find solutions based on empathy.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Markus Hengstschläger, Director of the Institute of Medical Genetics at the Medical University of Vienna Vienna, Dr. Markus Hengstschläger, Kitzbühel
A look back at the 50th Congress of Controllers
Matthias von Daacke, ICV Chairman of the Board
Afterwards: Shaking hands & farewell. We look forward to seeing you again at the 51st Congress of Controllers on April 26/27, 2027!
The Congress of Controllers has been my personal event highlight for more than 25 years. The intensive exchange between the main driving forces in controlling from the fields of science, business, consulting and software always contributes to the further development of controlling. GREAT CINEMA!
Steffen Sindl, Managing Director, Vecto Controlling Netzwerk GmbH Finding inspiration, discussing challenges, daring to transform: for me, the Congress of Controllers is a place full of exciting impulses where we in the public sector can measure ourselves against other companies and organizations. Thinking outside the box is a decisive source of inspiration for our own strategic development and courageously breaking new ground.
Silke Grimm, Head of Controlling, Federal Employment Agency After attending the Congress of Controllers for the first time, I am not only impressed by the content – the topics discussed were highly topical and burning. First of all, I was touched by the open, cooperative and respectful atmosphere; I felt like I was part of a family.
Małgorzata Tesmer, participant 2025 The Congress of Controllers is an annual highlight for me, providing a compact overview of current controlling topics with an outlook and enriching the content with a good and informal exchange.
Joachim Disser, CEO, Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft e.V. The Congress of Controllers is a highlight for me every year: professionally, because I get practical input on the topics that really affect finance and controlling, and personally, because the many familiar faces from the ICV community make it feel like a family reunion and the many talks and discussions always allow me to broaden my own horizons.
Khai Tran, Managing Director, Valsight GmbH The Congress of Controllers is a great opportunity for me to maintain and expand my network in the financial community. At the same time, I find out about current controlling topics and trends and always get ideas for the further development of my environment.
Roland Iff, Jury Member Albrecht Deyhle Award for Controlling Excellence For me, the Congress of Controllers is a conference filled with inspiring presentations and discussions on current topics in the CFO sector. This is where the controlling community meets, from young finance professionals to silver professionals and executives. A successful combination of professional expertise and personal exchange.
Pia Burkarth, ICV Board Member For me, the Congress of Controllers is much more than just a specialist event. For many years, it has been a source of inspiration, new ideas and valuable insights. The opportunity to update my knowledge and continuously expand my expertise is combined here with the most valuable thing: networking and appreciative exchange in a lively community and the joy of seeing many old friends and acquaintances again – a real motivation booster!
Dirk Radsziwill, Key Supplier Operations Lead Insulins Campus Frankfurt, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH For me, the Congress of Controllers is the concentrated controlling expertise in the German-speaking world. A perfect opportunity to find out about the latest developments – and particularly valuable as a platform for exchange within the controlling community!
Pauline Seidermann, Member of the ICV Board of Trustees For me, the Congress of Controllers is an important industry event that has been hosted at The Westin Grand Munich for many years. We are proud to contribute to this success story with our team and to offer participants a first-class environment for exchange and inspiration.
Pia Hollenberg, Regional Director Sales + Marketing – South, The Westin Grand Munich Speakers at the Congress of Controllers 2026
Dr. Andreas Aschenbrücker
CFO TRUMPF Machine Tools, TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG
Prof. Dr. Werner Gleißner
Management Board, FutureValue Group AG, Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Dr. Ansgar Heidemann
Solution Expert Data Science & AI, Windhoff Software Services GmbH, Gescher
Univ. Prof. Dr. Markus Hengstschläger
Head of the Institute of Medical Genetics at the Medical University of Vienna
Dr. Markus Hengstschläger, Kitzbühel
Oliver Knapp
Senior Partner | Global Co-Head Operations & Procurement, Roland Berger GmbH, Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler
Head of Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management, FH Upper Austria, Steyr
Prof. Dr. Lisa Perkhofer
Professor of Controlling & Business Intelligence, MCI Entrepreneurial School, Innsbruck
Carsten Thürnau
Head of Central Controlling, Die Bremer Stadtreinigung AöR
Ticket prices at a glance
- As a member of the ICV, you save immediately and with every booking of our ICV events and selected partner events.
- When you book a ticket for the Congress of Controllers, your investment in the membership pays for itself in full!
Annual fee
Individual member: 195.00 euros / Corporate membership 975.00 euros
Savings on ticket purchase Congress of Controllers
Individual member: you save 230.00 euros / corporate membership: you save 1,150.00 euros (230 euros per each of 5 participants)
If you decide to take part in the 50th Congress of Controllers from March 2026, we would of course also be delighted to welcome you – at our regular conditions.
The prices in detail:
- ICV member: 1.460,00 euros
- ICV corporate member: 1,460.00 euros, with an additional discount from the third registration.
- Non-member: 1.690,00 euros
- Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
Have you been actively involved in the ICV for more than 10 years and are now 65 or older? Then we look forward to welcoming you to the 50th Congress of Controllers in Munich at the standard ticket price for former functionaries of 375.00 euros.
If you are a student and are interested in controlling and corporate management as well as in our great atmosphere and meeting like-minded people at the Congress – welcome to the
standard ticket price for students of 375.00 euros.
A limited number of places are available on request for students under the age of 30 with proof of age. Unfortunately, we cannot grant an additional early booking discount.
Your ticket gives you far more than just the right to attend our Congress of Controllers. You will be well looked after with knowledge, food, drinks and contact and exchange partners at eye level. Our small and large program items ensure that the Congress days are packed full of information, inspiration and opportunities to make contacts – and are entertaining and varied at the same time.
The participation fee includes
- Your access to the online lecture documents
- Lunch on both days of the event
- All drinks (during breaks, meals, Happy Hour and Controller’s Beer Garden)
- Your participation in the Happy Hour
- Your participation in the “Controllers’ Beer Garden” – buffet and drinks included
On the occasion of the Gender Pay Gap and International Women’s Day: If you are a woman and book your ticket for the 50th Congress of Controllers from March 8 to 13, 2026 (inclusive), you will receive a special discount of 80.00 euros.
If you’re one of the ticket-buying turbo-starters, you can expect a particularly attractive discount of 200.00 euros per ticket if you book your Congress participation before the end of December 2025. We will be happy to issue you with the invoice for the 2025 financial year.
The prices in detail:
- ICV member: 1.260,00 euros
- ICV corporate member: 1,260.00 euros, with additional discount from the third registration.
- Non-member: 1.490,00 euros
- Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
We are also rewarding the fast starters into the new year: 100.00 euros discount per ticket awaits you as a thank you if you book in January 2026.
The prices in detail:
- ICV member: 1.360,00 euros
- ICV corporate member: 1,360.00 euros, with additional discount from the third registration.
- Non-member: 1.590,00 euros
- Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
If you are already thinking about the end of April in February and thus about our Congress of Controllers 2026, you will also be rewarded: We will give you a discount of 80.00 euros on your ticket purchase in February 2026.
The prices in detail:
- ICV member: 1.380,00 euros
- ICV corporate member: 1,380.00 euros, with additional discount from the third registration.
- Non-member: 1.610,00 euros
- Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
Are you a young finance professional (up to approx. 5 years of professional experience in controlling/CFO) and know a colleague or a former fellow student from controlling? Register as a couple, regardless of company or function, with the code “YFP Buddy” – and you will both only pay the special price of €375 per person. In comparison, the regular price until the end of February is €1,380 for ICV members and €1,610 for non-members. So you save around €1000. The offer only runs until the end of February 2026.
Exhibitors at the Congress 2026
Moderation at the Congress of Controllers 2026
Dr. Kim Louisa Dillenberger
Vice Academic Director of the Centre for Performance Management & Controlling, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
Prof. Dr. Reinhold Mayer
Board of Directors Péter Horváth Foundation
e-mail: phs@peter-horvath-stiftung.de
FAQs
You can of course opt for accommodation directly at the congress hotel The Westin Grand. This means you benefit from short distances. This leaves more time for you and your networking on site.
At our Congress hotel The Westin Grand, participants receive special rates for their stay during the Congress of Controllers.
We kindly ask you to reserve your room early, as we can only offer a limited special contingent.
Use this direct link to book your room at the Congress rate in our congress hotel:
The Westin Grand Munich (Congress Hotel)
Arabellastraße 6, 81925 Munich, Tel. +49 89 92640
Special price (limited) 195.00 euros per single room/night, incl. breakfast
The participation fee includes
- Access to the online lecture documents
- A free copy of the new Dream Car report from the ICV Think Tank “Ensuring controlling excellence despite demographic challenges – counteracting them with artificial intelligence, personnel development and generational leadership” from the ICV publication series
- Lunch on both days of the event
- All drinks (during breaks, meals, Happy Hour and Controller’s Beer Garden)
- Your participation in the Happy Hour
- Your participation in the “Controllers’ Beer Garden” – buffet and drinks included
For the 50th Congress of Controllers, the event will have its own logo for the first time – and an enhanced format. Compact 30-minute presentations provide concise impulses in the plenary session, while the seated ballroom creates a concentrated atmosphere. Lunch and theme centers are located on two levels on the ground floor and the second floor and invite people to exchange ideas in motion. On Monday evenings, a lounge area with music provides space for discussions in a relaxed environment.
Young Finance Professionals are personally accompanied by Pia Burkarth and Korbinian Hoffmann. A separate area for YFP and mentoring meetings is available and provides additional opportunities for networking.
The Congress combines professional depth with dialog and encounters.
Yes, you can also benefit from the content and offerings at the 50th Congress of Controllers as a non-German speaker: We offer translation into English for the presentations, awards and interactions in the plenary sessions on the first and second morning of the event as well as for all offerings in Topic Cluster on the first afternoon of the event – provided you have also booked this option (free of charge).
Please indicate your need for translation directly when registering .
Are you a controller, CFO, financial expert, student or teacher in the field of corporate management? Then the ICV Congress of Controllers is the right place for you!
We look forward to seeing you!
The ICV Congress of Controllers begins on Monday morning and officially ends on Tuesday after lunch.
Monday, April 27, 2026
from 9:00 to 13:00 in the plenum (ballroom)
from 14:00 to 17:00 in the topic clusters
followed by “Happy Hour” in the exhibitor area
followed by “Controllers’ Beer Garden” from 19:00 to 23.30.
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
6.45 (optional) Start the day with yoga
from 9 to 13:30 in the plenum (ballroom)
As an ICV member, you benefit from a significantly reduced participation fee. If you take part in other events or purchase ICV specialist literature, your savings may exceed the amount of the membership fee. Some offers are only available to you if you are an ICV member.
Become an ICV member right now. You can read more about this here.
- Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
- For ICV corporate members a discount is available for multiple registrations from the third registration.
- The participation fee is VAT-free in accordance with § 4 No. 22 UStG (DE).
- If you cancel your registration by March 31, 2026, we will charge an administration fee of EUR 300. In the event of a later cancellation, the full participation fee will be charged. It is possible to provide a substitute participant.
- Cancellation of an ICV event by us: We cannot reimburse you for any costs that you incur as a result of us having to cancel an event (e.g. hotel cancellation fees, fees for travel tickets that have already been booked). In such cases, we will of course refund any event fees already paid.
Networking is important to us so that you can also benefit from personal exchanges beyond the congress itself. There will be plenty of time for this during coffee and meal breaks, at the happy hour including “Meet the Experts!” and of course at the legendary “Controllers’ Beer Garden” with buffet and music – all on site at the Congress Hotel.
Your contact for the Congress of Controllers is Managing Director Carmen Zillmer, c.zillmer@icv-controlling.com, phone +49 (0)8153-88 974-20.
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We reserve the right to change the program if necessary.
