ChiaYu Ma

(she/her)

ChiaYu (who goes by Chia) joined the Controller's Office as Deputy Controller in July 2024. Chia brings over 17 years of experience in financial management and strategic planning in leadership roles in large municipal organizations. Her leadership duties at the Controller’s Office include Information Technology, Administration, Budget Planning, Financial Reporting, Audits, Human Resources, Payroll, Records Management, Disaster Preparedness, and Refuse Rates Administration. Chia has a strong track record in fostering high-performing teams and promotion a culture of continuous improvement.  Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has enhanced cultural competence within her teams, creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Prior to joining the Controller Office, Chia was the Chief Financial Officer at Department of Technology. She led and directed a $170 million budget, served a department of 260 staff, and closely coordinated financial activities with all City departments. During her time with the Department of Technology, she has successfully restructured the department’s budget, focused on building a culture of trust and transparency in financial reporting, led multi-department initiatives to improve financial operations and transactions, and led key technology procurements to support the City’s emergency preparedness during the pandemic. 

Previously, Chia was also the Deputy Financial Officer at Department of Public Health and Chief Financial Officer at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for nine years, where among other accomplishments she reshaped the hospital’s budget and financial structure, established a staffing and financial model for the new Laguna Honda Hospital building, validated rates for managed care contracts, and played a leadership role in the implementation of the Department of Public Health’s Epic Electronic Health Records (EHR) project.

An active member of the professional community, Chia has been nominated for the Municipal Fiscal Advisory Committee Good Government Award and served as a board member and treasurer of the SF Municipal Executive Association. Chia earned a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration and an MBA in Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas after she came to United States from Taiwan as a foreign student. Chia worked in the private sector for several years before she joined the City and County of San Francisco in 2006.