Matthew Separa Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Served as Auditor-in-Charge and contributing analyst on GAGAS audits and evaluations of District government agencies and program effectiveness through investigations, surveys, analysis, documentation of evidence, and writing and editing of reports.• Exercised professional judgement to plan and execute audits and evaluations, assess internal controls and the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse, conduct interviews of staff at target agencies, and report findings and recommendations.• Documented evidence supporting report findings in TeamMate audit management software to allow for independent review of work and ensure report accuracy.• Led research, analysis, and writing for reports that cumulatively found more than $4,000,000 in potential savings and/or service delivery improvements that could be implemented by District government agencies.• Conducted independent reviews of audits and program evaluations of other agency staff as needed.

Washington Dc

• Conducted comparative effectiveness research and evaluations across the 30 largest cities in the US on the topics of economic and fiscal/budgetary challenges, public finance, demographic changes, and ability to deliver core services.• Co-authored (and received) an 18 month, $300,000 grant to conduct a 50 state evaluation of how states measure and assess affordability of public debt, resulting in a whole new line of work for Pew.• Led initial research design for that 50 state assessment as well as simultaneous ongoing assessments of large US city fiscal conditions and municipal bond issuances, often managing or overseeing the work of other team members.• Served as a contributing writer and editor for ongoing research in above areas.

Washington, Dc

• Led data gathering, analysis, and quality control for team's inaugural assessment of the fiscal conditions following the Great Recession in the 30 largest cities in the United States as well as subsequent annual updates to that work.• Designed, implemented, and maintained team-wide master database and quality control process for local government financial, demographic, and economic information in Excel and Stata.• Managed research projects on large city use of Build America Bonds following the Great Recession and city use of performance management in service delivery, including lead writing, staffing, timelines, and workflow.

Washington, Dc

• Performed statistical analyses in Stata and Excel using government microdata, including CPS, SIPP, ACS, and ATUS datasets.• Authored research columns for American Progress’ website and ThinkProgress blog. • Coordinated economic policy summit with over 40 prominent economists, including two Nobel laureates.• Supported CAP’s senior economist through research and analysis including literature reviews, data analysis, and data visualization, as well as logistical support such as scheduling assistance, event management, and press preparation.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Conducted an impact analysis as part of a team examining potential federal budget cuts on social assistance programs’ efficacy and state fiscal health from U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data using Excel and Stata.• Developed list of key questions for client to pursue when confronting proposals to turn Medicaid into block grant program.

Washington, Dc

• Composed over 15 policy reports and briefings including statistical analyses for both publication and internal distribution in the fields of human rights, church-state separation, and economic equality.• Presented at and coordinated workshops and policy briefings on social services, STEM education, and women’s rights.• Worked with CFI’s leadership to determine policy priorities and represented CFI in legislative coalitions and advocacy efforts on both Capitol Hill and with administration officials.

Master'S, Public Policy

Activities and Societies: Public Policy Student Association• Concentration: Urban/Social/Welfare Policy • Studied abroad at Oxford.

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science, Honors

Activities and Societies: • Phi Beta Kappa• Graduated Summa Cum Laude • Honors Co-major, both departmental and university honors • Awarded.