#258 From Controller to CFO: The Playbook Behind CSAA’s Transformation, Andrea Hecht, Chief Financial Officer, CSAA Insurance Group
In this episode, host Kevin Appleby speaks with Andrea Hecht, Chief Financial Officer at CSAA Insurance Group, to explore the realities of leading finance within a member-owned insurance organisation. The conversation traces Andrea’s professional evolution—from a Midwest-based controller with a public-accounting background to a strategic CFO steering one of the nation’s major property and casualty insurers.
Andrea shares how transitioning from controller to CFO required developing a deep strategic lens, embracing enterprise-wide business partnering, and cultivating confidence to challenge executive consensus. She also discusses the complexities of the insurance sector—from pricing uncertainty and catastrophe risk to regulatory constraints—and how technology, data, and AI are reshaping financial planning and claims management. Her story offers a practical playbook for finance leaders ready to elevate their impact beyond accounting into organisational leadership.
Key topics covered:
- Andrea’s career journey from EY auditor in Ohio to CFO of CSAA Insurance Group in California.
- Why the CFO role demands strategic thinking that connects company vision with financial planning and resource allocation.
- The unique financial challenges of the insurance industry—pricing risk without knowing true costs for years, managing reinsurance markets, and handling catastrophe losses.
- How membership ownership changes financial priorities versus shareholder-driven models, placing policyholders at the centre.
- The importance of financial education and business partnering to build trust across departments and improve decision quality.
- How AI and automation are transforming finance, forecasting, and claims—bringing speed, empathy, and new skill-building challenges for future talent.
Links
Timestamps
- 00:28 Andrea’s background and move from Ohio to California
- 03:30 Inside CSAA Insurance Group: business model and coverage areas
- 05:00 Challenges of pricing insurance and managing capital risk
- 12:40 Transition from controller to CFO—learning to think strategically
- 16:10 Building finance partnerships and educating the organisation
- 18:10 Balancing collaboration and contrarian thinking with the CEO
- 25:00 Forecasting amid inflation and market volatility
- 27:35 How AI and generative tools are redefining productivity
- 34:00 Future of work, training paths, and ethical concerns in AI adoption
- 36:35 What CFOs should know about the changing insurance landscape
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