U.S. Expansion 2026: Strengthening Cross-Border Financial Controls

Overview:

The roundtable will discuss the complexity and real cost of cross-border growth, focusing on identifying growth friction (e.g., landed cost, returns, cash flow) and cost unpredictability (e.g., shipping, duties). Experts will share how automation and integrated systems can help manage costs and control risk by improving data accuracy, reducing time to delivery, and enhancing financial stability during scaling.

Key Discussions

  • Leveraging automation and AI for scalable finance operations.
  • Protecting cash flow, compliance, and business valuation.
  • Managing state-by-state nexus and reducing audit risks.
  • Best practices for logistics, compliance, and cross-border expansion.
  • High international shipping costs cutting into margins.
  • Customs duties, taxes and unpredictable import fees raising landed costs.
  • Risk of delays or hold-ups from customs clearance or regulatory compliance.
  • Complexities and expenses in cross-border returns and reverse logistics.

Who Should Attend

  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Founder and Co-Founders
  • Chief Business and Revenue Heads
  • Director of Finance
  • Finance Head
  • GST and Taxation Head

Agenda

Event Schedule

Time (Minutes)

Sessions

05:30 – 06:00 PM

Welcome, Introductions & Opening Pulse: Where Does Complexity Start? 

Session Description:  
• Moderator-led introductions over coffee  
• Live polls on:  
Quick live poll: Where does growth friction begin? (Landed cost, duty classification, order visibility, returns, cash flow) 
• Moderator summarizes top concerns shown on screen 

06:10 – 06:25 PM

Discussion – The Real Cost of Growth 
  • Group discussion on where cost unpredictability creeps in i.e. shipping, classification, return duties, refund delays 
  • Each participant identifies one “controllable” and one “uncontrollable” cost factor 
  • Moderator builds a “Control Map” that contrasts process-led vs. market-led risks 

06:25 – 06:40 PM

Expert Brief – Managing Cost and Control in 2025 

Avalara expert shares: 

  1. How customs data errors drive margin loss 
  2. How automation connects classification, filing, and landed cost accuracy 
  3. How integrated systems improve speed to delivery and working-capital control 

06:40 – 06:55 PM

Discussion – Scaling Without Financial Fatigue 

Moderator prompt: “When cross-border orders double, what slows down first- reconciliation, refund tracking, or filings?” 
Shared learnings on fixing data and process gaps before scaling U.S. volume 
Short brand examples where visibility reduced friction in fulfilment and cash management 

06:55 – 07:10 PM

Interactive Exercise – Export Control Maturity Index 

QR poll benchmarking systems readiness across: 

  • Classification and landed cost accuracy 
  • Returns and refund reconciliation 
  • Compliance documentation 
  • Audit and reporting readiness 

07:10 – 07:20

Key Takeaways & Next Steps 

Three business insights: 

  1. Process control protects gross margin 
  2. Automation prevents shipment and refund delays 
  3. Integrated systems improve U.S. market confidence and scalability 

 “Structure finance stack for cross-border recoverability 

07:20 PM Onwards

Networking & Dinner