Ann Collins, executive vice president and chief financial officer at EMC Insurance Cos., has been named the Business Record’s 2026 Deloitte CFO of the Year.

The award honors an individual for outstanding performance in their role as corporate financial steward. Nominations are accepted from the community and the honoree is chosen by Business Record leadership.

Collins joined EMC as senior vice president and CFO in 2021 and was promoted to executive vice president in 2022. According to her nomination, she has been instrumental in driving EMC’s profitability through her financial stewardship.

“Her commitment to operational excellence has improved profitability and reduced underwriting volatility,” wrote Scott Jean, EMC’s president and CEO, in his nomination of Collins. “Ann has championed innovative new underwriting approaches and investments in data and technology that have helped position the company for sustainable, profitable growth. And her resilience in navigating catastrophe losses and maintaining strong reserves underscores a steadfast dedication to EMC’s long-term stability and financial success.”

At EMC, Collins oversees commercial lines underwriting, finance, investments, corporate tax, actuary and analytics, regional offices, field support, bonds, premium audit, risk control, facilities and administration and EMC reinsurance (approximately 1,000 team members), according to her resume. 

She also led financial planning and analysis, strategic financial planning and forecasting, treasury operations and surplus management.

Before joining EMC, Collins was the CFO for Berkley Agribusiness and Berkley North Pacific, two WRBC affiliates; and served as strategic partner on three executive leadership teams.

In the letter supporting her nomination, Jean wrote that under Collins’ leadership, EMC has consistently achieved an “excellent” category rating from AM Best in the financial strength and long-term issuer credit ratings. In its most recent review in 2025, AM Best noted EMC’s “very strong” balance sheet strength and stable outlook, he wrote.

“Ann’s commitment to operational discipline has driven a significant turnaround in profitability,” Jean wrote. “One area of particular note: EMC has achieved industry-leading capital adequacy and robust surplus growth under Ann’s leadership the last several years. Our policyholders’ surplus grew from $1.57 billion at year-end 2023 to $1.88 billion by mid-2025 — a testament to Ann’s prudent capital management and focus on financial strength.”

Jean wrote that net income also saw a turnaround, rising to $241.8 million in 2024 from a net loss in 2023. Net operating income for the first half of 2025 was $56.7 million, continuing the positive trend that highlights effective risk mitigation and operational improvements, he wrote. 

Outside of work, Collins serves as member of the board of trustees of the Des Moines Symphony Association and as treasurer of the board and chair of the board’s audit/finance committee at Adel DeSoto Minburn Community Schools. At Adel First Christian Church, she serves on the Honor Ministry Committee and as church treasurer. She also serves on the EMC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council and regularly participates in Business Resource Group and EMC Foundation events and activities. Additionally, Collins and her husband run a family farm in Adel.

“Ann Collins leads our board’s oversight and governance responsibilities for the Symphony’s entire financial structure,” Des Moines Symphony Director of Finance Scott Wyckoff and Executive Director Richard L. Early wrote in a nomination letter. “She works closely with our finance department to ensure that our financial reporting is completely accurate and understandable to the entire board; including those with little finance training or acumen.”

Collins will be recognized at the Business Record’s annual Economic Forecast event on Jan. 20 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

View past CFO of the Year honorees on BusinessRecord.com