Matthew Stitt is a Managing Director in PFM’s Management and Budget Consulting team, leading the firm’s Economic and Tax Strategies practice and co-leading PFM’s Center for Budget Equity and Innovation. He advises public sector leaders across the nation on structural changes, budget reforms, tax policy and financial planning. Recent and active clients include Rally Austin (Austin, TX), City of Chicago, IL, City of Atlanta, GA, Port of Portland, OR, and City of Newport News, VA.
Matt led PFM’s multi-city engagement with the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Budgeting for Equity & Recovery initiative, which included technical assistance for 11 cities across the United States, including New Orleans, LA, Syracuse and Rochester, NY. He also recently led the firm’s work with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded Public Finance Initiative (2022-2024) developing programs that center the values of equity, sustainability, and inclusive growth in fiscal decision-making, and has co-authored multiple publications regarding emerging practices in budgeting for equity and effective change management – including an article (with colleague Michael Nadol) in the April 2021 Government Finance Review on “Equitable Recovery in Practice.”
Prior to joining PFM in 2020, Matt served as the chief financial officer for the City Council of Philadelphia, leading the annual review of the County/City’s multi-billion dollar operating and capital budgets and strategic plans. As the finance lead on City Council’s senior staff, Matt was responsible for advising on the annual adoption of Philadelphia’s operating and capital budgets, evaluating legislation and key initiatives, and acting as a liaison for certain high-profile state and federal budget matters. Matt also supported City Council of Philadelphia on economic development and housing initiatives in addition to serving on numerous boards as a Council appointee – including Philadelphia’s Board of Pensions and Retirement, COVID-19 Recovery Steering Committee, the Housing Trust Fund.
Matt instructs at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania as an adjunct lecturer and was appointed a Distinguished Fellow. He was recently appointed co-chair of the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission and serves as a board member for the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Energy Authority, Philadelphia Green Capital Corp., Philadelphia Accelerator Fund, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Matt holds a B.A. from Haverford College, Executive MBA from Temple University and Executive MPA from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
