Matt Calderone

Matt Calderone Chief Financial Officer

Matt Calderone is Booz Allen’s chief financial officer. He is responsible for the firm’s financial statements, capital structure, and related financial operations, as well as M&A and related transactions.

Matt has held a variety of leadership roles in finance and strategy at Booz Allen over the last decade. Before becoming CFO, Matt was the firm’s chief strategy officer, during which time he led M&A activity, long-term financial strategy, and the development and rollout of VoLT, Booz Allen’s growth strategy. In 2014 Matt built Booz Allen’s corporate development team, which under his leadership executed more than $1.4 billion in M&A transactions and numerous equity investments, divestitures, and joint ventures. From 2016 to 2020, he also led the firm’s strategic finance and Forecasting, Planning, and Analysis (FP&A) functions where he was responsible for building the current finance team, developing and executing Booz Allen’s financial strategy, managing operating performance, and overseeing external target-setting and communication. He was also instrumental in designing and executing Booz Allen’s Vision 2020 growth strategy, including leading the firm’s restructuring in 2013.

Previously Matt led a large team in the security market that spanned clients across the Intelligence Community. He also worked for Booz Allen’s global commercial business, where he focused on large-scale transformation, and for the Boston Consulting Group.

Matt holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.

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What inspires and motivates Matt? Click here.

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How do you help your clients prepare for the future? On the corporate development side, we help the firm acquire capabilities and assets to advance our clients’ missions. On the financial side, we’re working hard to create financial strategies to harness the power of the firm, both creating value and meeting our strategic objectives. And those objectives don’t stop at growth—it’s also about creating opportunities for our people.

What excites you about working in corporate development? The ability to use our balance sheet to advance the firm’s strategy and financial objectives is fun. Working in mergers and acquisitions or creating financial strategies to meet the objectives of our shareholders, leaders, and people is rewarding.

Why do you have the career you have? I’ve always followed the next-hardest problem and done good work.

What makes you excited to come to work in the morning? I never know what each day is going to bring: What new challenge, hard problem, or interesting discussion may occur. It’s both daunting and exhilarating. It’s that moment when I get a call from an investment bank saying, “This company is up for sale—what do you think?”

What are your tips for managing and motivating your people? Be open and honest, understand what your employees want, and what motivates them. You have to create enough trust to have a conversation about whether they’re getting what they need, and you’re getting what you need. Second, you get more out of people if you give them a little more rope, a little room to be independent.

What’s the best business advice you’ve gotten in your career? Do the right thing and be honest to yourself and the people around you. You may take a hit in the short run, but in the long run, it’s worth it.

What mentorship advice would you give someone who took on a new leadership role? Bring your people with you. And remember, “What got you here won’t get you there.”

What advice would you give yourself as a young professional? Try to modulate the highs and lows. Passion can be a great strength or great weakness.

What are you nostalgic for? Time to read.

What’s the most influential book you’ve read? The Grapes of Wrath. That book really stuck with me.

Who fascinates you? James Fallows. He’s a journalist who writes for The Atlantic. He’s a modern-day version of Charles Kuralt. People with real talent fascinate me.

What can we do to be happier? Become more connected physically in the presence of other people. Community is happiness.

Why is Booz Allen an ideal firm for someone with expertise and skills in your line of work? We’re never satisfied and are constantly looking for new ways to do things better. We approach corporate development with same level of intensity as we do our client work.

Where do you see Booz Allen in the next 100 years? We’ll continue to be the most innovative service provider to the Federal Government, but increasingly we’re going to be able to use that position to create broader societal change and impact.