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Thomas R.

Kaehr, CPA
tkaehr@indy.rr.com Carmel, IN 317-362-5205
www.linkedin.com/in/ThomasKaehr

FINANCE LEADER
Analytics Planning Risk Accounting & Reporting Acquisitions
Expertise in Corporate Finance, Accounting, FP&A, Audit, SOX, and M&A. Translates strategy into
actionable business and financial plans that propel growth, expansion, and diversification. Guided
operations and financial management for startup and established companies, in decentralized and shared
services environments. Member of senior leadership teams. Big 4 Public Accounting foundation.

EXPERIENCE
CNO Financial Group, Inc., Carmel, IN (2009 Current)
Financial services holding company for life, annuity & supplemental health insurance products;
serves 4M+ customers in U.S.; ranked 608 on Fortune 1000; $4.1B revenue

Senior Director / Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis 2012 to Present
Promoted from General Auditor position to lead the FP&A team. Owned key financial forecasting models
plus M&A modeling including balance sheet recapitalizations. Worked closely with other senior managers
and numerous cross-functional teams

Partnered with Financial Systems Group to redesign financial planning and forecasting process that
increased efficiency 15% to accommodate acceleration of corporate closing timeline

Led cross-functional team that revamped cost/benefit analysis tool that more accurately evaluated
$50M+ in proposed corporate expenditures, most allocated to company growth initiatives

Provided key financial modeling and analytical support during major shifts in corporate structure,
including 2 recapitalizations and 2 divestitures, during a time period when stock price more than
doubled.

Most recently, lead cross-functional team responsible for parallel testing, data validation and issue
resolution on a large, critical corporate system development project

Asked to assume project leadership role in an effort to help expedite successful completion of a
struggling, multi-year, multi-million dollar compensation system development project

Established critical on-going status clarity for the first time to senior CNO leadership, expediting
project progress and allowing for establishment of a credible expected completion date

Vice President & General Auditor (2009 2012)


Restructured Audit Department functions to increase flexibility and efficiency. Oversaw staff and
operations to create and manage annual audit plan. Ensured SOX compliance and reporting. Member of
CNO Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Committee

Served as Financial Operations Principal (FINOP, Series 27) for Broker Dealer operation. Reviewed
and approved quarterly net capital calculations, ensured broker dealer had adequate capital, and filed
FOCUS reports with FINRA

Identified and resolved operational issues, SOX deficiencies, and internal control weaknesses
resulting from merging systems and processes involving ~30 acquisitions across 2 decades

Realigned Audit and SOX groups to expand knowledge base and skill set of staff, and increase
overall work capacity by 15%

Instituted IT data mining unit to access and expertly analyze databases, files, record layouts,
systems, and processes. Quickly uncovered critical information that led to saving $.25M in
fraudulent vendor and employee payments

Added regular, systematic interactions with ERM and Compliance to share knowledge, keep
communication lines open, and improve assessment of enterprise risk

Thomas R. Kaehr, CPA tkaehr@indy.rr.com 317-362-5205

Expanded number of branch sales audits and proactively engaged Compliance Special Investigations
Unit to reveal fraud related to paying agent commissions. Saved minimum of $.5M annually
Security Benefit Corporation (SBC), Topeka, KS 2005 2009
Specialized in annuities, mutual funds, retirement plans, asset management
& business process outsourcing; $2.5B statutory revenue; $500+M GAAP revenue

VP of Finance, Controller and Treasurer, including responsibility as Interim CFO for extended period.

Teamed with Head of M&A, President, and CEO to lead Finance in $775M mutual fund acquisition

Co-drafted purchase agreement, worked with investment bankers during negotiations and
process management, and directed tax and financial due diligence

Ceded $1.5B block of variable annuity business to help fund transaction. Represented company
to Kansas State Department of Insurance (SDI), and gained approval to move forward with
transaction

Led purchase price allocation process utilizing 3 party vendor, and negotiated competitive rate
for $12M corporate aircraft financing

rd

Directed Valuation Actuarial and Internal Audit while retaining responsibilities as Controller

Coordinated Audit Committee and presented to full Board on all financial matters

Participated in Board strategy meetings. Frontline contact for rating agencies

As Controller managed 70 staff members and led statutory and regulatory accounting and reporting
for multiple legal entities, corporate tax, FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, investment accounting,
corporate insurance, and financial systems

Upgraded underperforming department lacking technical and leadership skills to smoothly running
operation, and increased number of CPAs from 3 to 14
Lincoln Financial Advisors, Fort Wayne, IN 2002 2005
Distribution organization supporting sales agents handling affluent customers

VP & Controller

Managed 20 associates, and directed financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and FP&A. Served as
Financial Operations Principal (Series 27). Handled SEC FOCUS filings and reviews.

Created first-time standalone field financial statement and collective P&L report that measured
success of entire company across all operations, and assisted Collections with reducing
delinquencies related to loans to agents by more than $1M

Handpicked to recruit candidates from Notre Dame for new management development program
offered by parent company. Asked to personally mentor 2 trainees
Vector Technologies, Indianapolis, IN 2000 2002
Small IT consulting company with about 50 employees

CFO
Directed all financial affairs and provided operational guidance for this entrepreneurial enterprise.
Provided leadership, credibility, and transparency that earned the trust and loyalty of workforce, lenders
and other stakeholders

Instrumental in making strategic shift in business management and customer support

Decreased annual expenses by $1.5M and resolved funding problems by restructuring functions,
negotiating extension of credit line with bank, and initiating 20% wage cut across all operations

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Thomas R. Kaehr, CPA tkaehr@indy.rr.com 317-362-5205

Symons International Group, Indianapolis, IN 1999 2000


Insurance holding company that underwrote and marketed nonstandard private passenger automobile insurance

VP & CFO
Responsible for accounting, finance, investments, taxes, actuarial, and SEC reporting. Developed
companys first financial results and cash flow forecasting model
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN 1997 1999
Retail distribution unit with approximately 2K financial planners & 3K registered representatives

Second VP & Controller


Managed financial affairs of LNCs flagship insurance subsidiary. Member of executive team. Drove
assimilation of 2 large life and annuity reinsurance transactions representing $2.5B in reserves
American States Financial Corporation, Indianapolis, IN 1994 1997
Premier property & casualty operation of Lincoln National Corporation

VP & Controller
Played key role in taking company public, then subsequently selling remaining Holding Company stake to
Safeco at sizable premium. Started SEC reporting operation after firm went public. Managed all financial
activities
Lincoln National Corporation, Fort Wayne, IN 1992 1994
Fortune 250 American holding company that operates multiple insurance and investment management business through subsidiary companies

Second VP, Corporate Planning and Development (CP&D)


Recruited by SVP and Head of CP&D based on experience in M&A, employment with Big 8 public
accounting firms and 2 years as Director of Audit for Lincoln. Performed due diligence, and interfaced
with external and internal M&A professionals.

Supported LNC Chairman and CEO and senior staff. Developed and directed capital expenditure
review and approval process

Coordinated IPO of leading small case group health carrier, and was primary liaison between
subsidiary management, corporate senior management, investment bankers, legal counsel, and other
departments throughout offering process

Helped develop and execute companys strategic planning process

Note: Earlier career included senior position in Managed Healthcare Group acquisitions, financial
operations and audit, as well as Staff and Senior Staff Auditor for two Big 4 public accounting firms,
currently doing business as KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION / MEMBERSHIPS


Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting Indiana University Associate of Science in Management
Purdue University CPA (active certification) Series 27 FINOP (inactive)
Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Indiana Society of CPAs, Financial
Executives International, Financial Executives Networking Group, Institute of Internal Auditors

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