Thomas Brock, CPA, CFA, MBA
About Thomas
Tom is an accomplished financial professional with 20+ years of accounting, corporate finance, and investment experience from serving in analyst, manager, and executive-level roles in the highly regulated insurance industry. A proven leader, he is adept at corporate governance and compliance, strategic research and assessment, risk management, financial reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, mergers and acquisitions, and financial system implementations.
Beginning his career at a publicly traded specialty property/casualty insurance company, first as a staff accountant and then as a senior financial analyst, Tom prepared financial statements and analyses per Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP). Regularly interacting with all levels of management, he enhanced the organization’s internal controls, implemented workflow improvements, established a cost allocation framework, compiled the annual budget, and created forecasting models.
Subsequently, Tom joined a super-regional insurance carrier ranked as a top 20 mutual insurance company in the U.S., where he advanced from an accounting manager overseeing the accounting practices for seven insurance companies and four non-insurance subsidiaries to assistant vice president of corporate accounting, directing the entity’s financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, and reinsurance administrative functions. He next served as an assistant vice president of treasury and investments, overseeing the management of a $4 billion investment portfolio while providing financial expertise and analytic support to corporate finance.
Tom is skilled in procurement and outsourcing practices, sophisticated software applications, and acquisitions and divestitures – including due diligence reviews, post-deal integrations, and consolidation accounting. He can lead distributed workforces, ensure compliance with internal policies and external laws and regulations, manage audits and regulatory exams, collaborate with and present to executive officers and the board of directors, and serve on enterprise risk and other corporate committees. An effective communicator who is comfortable working with people at all levels, clients appreciate Tom’s well-rounded approach to supporting growth, reducing risk and enhancing profitability for their enterprise.
Industry Experience
Asset Management, Employee Benefit Plans, Financial Services, Franchising, Insurance, Investments/Investment Companies, Marketing, Printing, Professional Services, Service, Start-up Companies
Education
- Franklin University, Master of Business Administration, Financial Leadership
- Bowling Green State University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance
Certifications
- CPA – Certified Public Accountant – Ohio
- CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst
On a Lighter Note
What was your first job?
I first worked as an all-purpose employee for my parent's small business printing and signs firm. My duties included cleaning the shop, collapsing paper boxes, collating documents and running errands. As I got older, I operated machinery, made deliveries and handled customer service matters.
Have you ever met anyone famous?
Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger came into a gym while I was working out. Some people were taking selfies with him between his sets, but I just shook his hand when we crossed paths. During our shake, I noticed he tightened his grip. The plus for me – Arnold thinks I have a firm grip!
Is there a favorite dish you make that people rave over?
I make a chicken cacciatore dish that has received rave reviews, albeit from friendly critics. My recipe differs from the traditional one because I like spicing it up with jalapeño peppers and lots of red crushed peppers.