Scott Catlett

Scott Catlett is a Director in the Government Advisory Consulting Services Department of Eide Bailly, LLP, the 18th largest public accounting firm in the United States with offices in 15 states.  As an advisor to state and local governments, Scott provides expert insights on the biggest problems facing governments today, including financial sustainability, internal controls effectiveness, and establishing robust financial management practices.

Prior to joining Eide Bailly in 2022, Scott worked directly for cities beginning in 2006, after earlier serving as a consultant to state and local governments for the prior six years.  Scott served California’s 12th largest city, Riverside, for 10 years, ending his time there as Assistant Director of the Finance Department overseeing a staff of 54 employees in four divisions. He subsequently served as the Finance Director for the suburban Orange County city of Yorba Linda for five years.  He ended his local government career as the Finance Director for the City of Newport Beach, Orange County's coastal business and commercial center, where he served for two years overseeing a staff of 40 employees in four divisions. Through these various roles, Scott has managed budgets ranging from $100 million to $1.2 billion and investment portfolios of $75 million to $500 million.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Tulane University and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino, where he has been a member of the part-time faculty since 2014 teaching graduate courses in public financial management and public budgeting.

Scott is an active member of the Government Finance Officers Association, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO), and the Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association (TGFOA). He served as a volunteer leader for CSMFO for over 12 years, serving successively as a Chapter Chair, Committee Chair, and elected statewide Board Member. In 2020, he was elected by CSMFO’s 2,600 members to be the Association’s 2022 President.

Scott lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife Kelli and his three children. On the weekends you will find him hiking the forested trails near his home, cheering for his boys at their baseball and basketball games, and battling rabbits and squirrels in his garden.