#258 From Controller to CFO: The Playbook Behind CSAA’s Transformation, Andrea Hecht, Chief Financial Officer, CSAA Insurance Group

Episode notes

.entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } 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.