Complex Insurance System Transformation
Granwest Insurance Case Study
Successful projects, high-performing teams, and customized system conversions
The Challenge Read the Full Case Study
Granwest Insurance had a strong finance team, but the tools and processes supporting their work had become increasingly manual over time. With a financial system in place for over 20 years, the company had outgrown its legacy infrastructure. Financial statements were built in Excel with numbers hand-entered and hard-coded into files that required constant updating, reviewing, and reconciliation before the team could use them effectively.
Controller Kristin K., CPA, noticed the problems immediately upon arrival. The finance operation was trapped in a web of linked spreadsheets and manual data manipulation. Quarter-end reporting required careful updates across multiple workbooks, and broken references or confusing spreadsheet links could send the team back through data searching for errors. Much of the month-end process lived outside the ledger in supporting schedules, linked files, and the institutional memory of people who knew where everything was.
By the time information was tracked down and reconciled, it was stale and better suited for explaining what had already happened than helping the business make timely decisions. The disconnect between where details lived, how they moved between files, and how they fed into leadership reports meant the finance team spent too much time finding and tying out inputs rather than analyzing results and supporting strategy.
The Solution
Kristin recognized that Granwest needed more than a system replacement the company needed a finance transformation. She developed a comprehensive business case organized around four critical areas: processes, people, data, and technology. Rather than rushing into vendor selection, Granwest partnered with TAC4 Solutions to establish proper project readiness and strategic direction.
TAC4‘s approach focused on disciplined planning before implementation began. Using their proprietary Projenomics methodology, TAC4 guided Granwest through a thorough assessment of the current state, documented business requirements, and prepared the organization for the transformation ahead. This early work ensured that vendor conversations were grounded in Granwest’s specific business needs, not just software features.
- Project readiness and business requirements definition Establishing disciplined processes to move from problem identification to strategic planning before vendor selection began.
- Expert guidance on insurance-specific finance design TAC4‘s deep insurance industry expertise informed decisions on chart of accounts, allocations, reinsurance handling, and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Decision management and governance Using structured decision-making frameworks to ensure critical choices were documented, justified, and understood by all stakeholders before moving forward.
- Implementation partnership through go-live and stabilization Providing hands-on support not just during planning and design, but through the practical challenges of live operations after system launch.
The Results
The transformation delivered measurable results that extended far beyond system implementation. Finance operations became more efficient, the team gained deeper business insight, and leadership gained access to timely information for strategic decision-making.
Dramatically reduced manual work Work that lived outside the ledger moved into automated processes. By day one of month-end, direct business was already reconciled, freeing the team from repetitive data manipulation.
Accelerated month-end close timeline Net income before taxes moved from 15-20 business days to business day 10, delivering financial information up to two weeks sooner for more timely decision-making.
Enhanced reporting detail and transparency Finance gained the ability to drill all the way through to individual transactions. The team could answer questions with supporting data and help leadership understand what was driving business results in real time.
Strengthened finance team capability and engagement With automation handling routine tasks, the team shifted focus from building numbers to analyzing results and supporting strategy. Team knowledge and growth expanded exponentially as they understood the business impact of their work.
Created foundation for financial planning and analysis With more activity captured in the system and less reporting work trapped in manual files, Granwest could begin standing up a true FPA function and move toward future automation and AI integration.
These improvements were achieved through a true partnership. TAC4 stayed engaged through every stage from initial business case development through project readiness, vendor selection, implementation, and post-go-live stabilization. The result was not just a new system, but a transformed finance function that could support the strategic direction of the entire organization.
The TAC4 Approach Read the Full Case Study
What set TAC4‘s engagement apart was the commitment to partnership at every stage. Rather than following a standard implementation template, TAC4 tailored their Projenomics methodology to Granwest’s needs and pace.
Project Readiness
Disciplined planning before vendor selection ensured decisions were grounded in business requirements, not software features or vendor preferences.
Insurance Expertise
Deep knowledge of insurance finance design, regulatory reporting, reinsurance handling, and industry-specific requirements informed every decision.
Strategic Guidance
TAC4 separated vendor preference from business need, challenging recommendations that did not align with Granwest’s specific requirements and long-term goals.
Hands-On Implementation
Experienced consultants worked beside the Granwest team through design, testing, go-live, and post-live stabilization not just during planning phases.
It has been a journey, but I am so glad that we had you guys with us. We have significantly reduced manual work. By day one of month-end, direct business is already reconciled. The team has a much stronger understanding of what they are looking at, and the shift in how we spend our time is immediate. The ability to drill all the way through to the transaction is amazing. That level of detail and analytics is something we have never had before. Now, we have this capacity and this opportunity to really stand up a true FPA function. It is worth it. Make sure you have the right resources so that you set yourself up for success.
Kristin K.
CPA, Controller at Granwest Insurance
About Granwest Insurance
For over 130 years, Granwest Insurance has been on a remarkable journey from modest beginnings to becoming a cornerstone in the insurance landscape. Today, we stand as a regional mutual insurance leader, dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of farming families, vibrant Main Street communities, and bustling urban and suburban markets. With a strong presence in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, our network of agents is deeply ingrained in the fabric of these regions. Their intimate knowledge and genuine connection to the communities ensure personalized attention and tailored solutions for every client. Rooted in over a century of experience and commitment, our service remains unwavering, delivered by caring individuals who prioritize your peace of mind.
TAC4 Services
Business Case Development
Strategic planning that framed finance transformation across processes, people, data, and technology to align with business goals.
Project Readiness and Planning
Comprehensive assessment of current state processes, definition of business requirements, and organization of decision frameworks before vendor selection.
Vendor Selection Support
RFP preparation, vendor evaluation, and selection to ensure the chosen partner could meet Granwest’s specific insurance finance and reporting requirements.
Implementation Oversight
Expert guidance on chart of accounts design, allocations, regulatory reporting, reinsurance handling, and integration strategy. Decision management and stakeholder communication throughout implementation.
Go-Live and Stabilization Support
Hands-on support through system launch, process documentation, team training, and post-go-live troubleshooting to ensure successful adoption and operations.
Projenomics Methodology
TAC4‘s proprietary approach for complex insurance system transformations, adapted to the organization’s size, pace, and decision-making style.
Key Insights for Insurance Finance Leaders
Finance transformation is a strategic decision, not just a technology project. The best outcomes come when leadership treats modernization as an opportunity to change how finance supports the business, not simply as a system replacement. This requires planning that extends beyond IT to include process redesign, team development, and organizational alignment.
Project readiness before vendor selection prevents costly missteps. Organizations that invest time in understanding their current state, defining business requirements, and preparing for transformation before engaging vendors make better decisions and achieve faster implementations. Rushing to vendor selection without this foundation often leads to misaligned solutions and implementation challenges.
Insurance-specific expertise matters. Finance transformation decisions in insurance companies from chart of accounts design to reinsurance handling to regulatory reporting require deep industry knowledge. A partner who has solved these problems multiple times before can guide organizations through complexity and help avoid pitfalls that are specific to insurance operations.
Ready for Your System Transformation?
Insurance system transformation demands more than technology expertise it requires industry knowledge, proven methodology, and partnership commitment. TAC4 Solutions delivers all three. With deep insurance-specific expertise, the proven Projenomics methodology, and hands-on implementation support from planning through go-live, we have guided dozens of insurance companies through complex transformations across finance, claims, policy administration, and beyond. Our track record speaks for itself: organizations that transformed their operations, strengthened their teams, and positioned themselves for sustained growth.
Testimonials
Our clients' thoughts
I had great experiences collaborating with TAC4 while I was a Senior Manager at MCM CPAs & Advisors LLP. When I took the role of Director of Finance & Accounting with KY AGC/SIF, I knew I could use their unique and tailored experiences for our large transition accounting & system needs. The TAC4 team has valued expertise ranging anywhere from project management, systems implementation, regulatory compliance, and CFO services. With TAC4 on our side, I know the Fund is setting itself up for future success and growth.
Wes Vance
This is the first time we've ever used a partner like TAC4 and it made a huge difference. They've been a huge help with the whole implementation process which included choosing the vendor, data architecture, and business design in changing a system this large for our company. For our culture, for our company, our decision to engage TAC4 was a great decision.
Courtney Cowart
TAC4 are really good people and maybe this is the biggest differentiator: they really feel like part of our team. I don't think about them as a consulting company anymore. I think about them as part of our team, and I think about them that way because they have as much genuine interest in the positive outcome of this project as any single person on our team.
Joey Brown