Jamie Essenmacher

I lead Plante Moran’s public sector practice in Colorado, bringing over 20 years of experience in audit, bond and federal compliance, grant management, and consulting. I’m passionate about building and sustaining trusted relationships with public sector clients and associations across the state. My role centers on helping clients navigate complex challenges and drive operational excellence. Under my leadership, we’ve prioritized strategic growth — expanding our presence across Colorado by aligning our services with the evolving needs of public sector organizations and deepening our engagement with key stakeholders.

In addition to my public sector work, I also serve as a leader in our insurance industry practice. I specialize in providing audit, tax, and consulting services to health insurance companies, property and casualty insurers, and public entity risk pools. I take pride in offering a practical, solution-oriented approach that delivers value beyond compliance and helps clients address accounting, operational, and strategic challenges while meeting regulatory and governance requirements.

I frequently speak at conferences such as the Colorado Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) and the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association (IASA), where I present on a variety of industry topics, including financial responsibility, internal controls, auditing and accounting standards, statutory reporting, and leadership development.

I hold both a B.B.A. and an M.S. in accounting from Western Michigan University, and I’m a licensed CPA in Colorado and Michigan. I’m also an active member of several professional organizations, including the AICPA, Colorado Society of CPAs (COCPA), Michigan Association of CPAs (MICPA), Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), Colorado Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), and Women in Public Finance.

Outside of work, you’ll likely find me outdoors or planning my next getaway with my husband and our two kids.