Consulting

PFM’s consulting business has long set the standard for multi-year financial plans in government. We have helped clients large and small to chart a course for more sustainable fiscal health, and have supported some of the nation’s most successful municipal and school district turnarounds.

At the state, local, and federal levels, PFM consultants bring insights from national best practices, targeted benchmarks and data-driven analysis to deliver fresh and independent perspectives. We listen carefully to our clients, and their stakeholders, to tailor thoughtful and realistic recommendations engineered to endure.  

For policy challenges that matter, PFM combines evidence-based research, quantitative modeling and pragmatic, real-world experience to better frame and inform key decisions. From tax incentive effectiveness to criminal justice funding, wherever public dollars are involved, our goal is to help achieve the maximum impact and return.

PFM delivers actionable recommendations for the most vexing workforce concerns, from retiree benefit sustainability to reducing employee attrition. In support of collective bargaining, our professionals also deliver high-quality analytics and expert arbitration testimony for many of the nation’s largest public employers. Work with state and local government retirement plans grew in part from this practice. You can learn more about our retirement finance practice here.

PFM’s Center for Justice & Safety Finance (CJSF) stands at the intersection of policy, operations, and finance - building a 21st Century criminal justice and public safety system for cities, counties, and communities across the country. By tapping into our team’s unparalleled financial expertise, disciplined management, and ingenuity, we provide tangible and sustainable solutions for the most pressing budgetary concerns of our time.

PFM’s Economics and Tax Strategy (ETS) professionals bring extensive experience into PFM Group Consulting’s suite of capabilities. These consulting specialties include: special taxing district finance and management, real estate market analysis, econometric forecasting, and economic and fiscal impact analysis. The ETS team is supported by in house geographic information systems (GIS) capability. GIS provides detailed digital mapping and interdisciplinary integration with planning specialties, transportation, environmental, utilities, and demographic analysis.

PFM’s Health and Human Services Consulting Practice works with state and local governments across the country to improve the service delivery, operations and fiscal health of human services agencies and initiatives. We believe that municipalities are only as healthy as their residents and that everyone should be able to access prevention and treatment services in their own communities. We help our clients reduce administrative and fiscal burdens, adapt to new policies and best practices, and operate more efficiently, allowing more resources flow to those who need them. You can learn more about PFM’s Health & Human Services Consulting Practice here.

The ETS team has significant experience conducting real estate and market feasibility research studies. This includes highest and best use analysis for real estate development, development phasing strategies, pro-forma financial feasibility testing and market driven development alternatives. The firm uses the latest software technologies and GIS based mapping to aid in these analytical studies.

Short term and long term forecast outlooks are developed utilizing econometric forecasting techniques.  From government budget revenue forecasting, to land use planning, to consumer behavior patterns, to population, employment and housing forecasts, these tools provide technical, market based, guidance to support government and business decision making.  Forecasts help guide government comprehensive planning, private real estate investment decisions, and both business and government capital improvement planning.  

The ETS team prepares impact analyses which measures the effects of changes in economic activity as well as fiscal impact effects from changes in government revenue and spending.   Economic impact analyses include the effects of government incentive programs, real estate development projects, and the effects of capital investments in publicly funded facilities such as toll roads, utilities, convention centers and other facilities.  Fiscal impact analysis identifies how government revenue streams such as property tax or sales tax may offset and fund government service costs such as police, fire and recreation, within cities, counties and school boards. In this regard, fiscal and economic impact analyses can help guide and inform public policy.  These are key metrics which support the services PFM offers.

Choosing a banking provider for your cash management program requires significant time and effort. If you have not conducted a competitive RFP process in several years, you are likely leaving money on the table. To ensure competitive pricing, consider reviewing banking service relationships every five to seven years.

PFM has helped numerous clients get the most value for their money via a competitive RFP process, or through direct negotiation with incumbent banking partners. Our process combines both quantitative and qualitative analysis in a comprehensive review of your existing banking services, contracts, and goals. Our treasury professionals are here to save you and your staff valuable time and energy, and to share our expertise.