Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma
Name	Fiona Ma
Birth date	1966
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Office	34th Treasurer of California
Term start	January 7, 2019
Predecessor	John Chiang
Party	Democratic Party

Fiona Ma is an American politician, accountant, and certified public accountant who has served as the 34th Treasurer of California. She represents the state's financial interests, oversees public finance programs, state investments, and debt issuance, and engages with federal and state entities on fiscal matters. Ma's career spans service in local and state legislative bodies, regulatory commissions, and involvement with professional organizations and community institutions.

Early life and education

Ma was born in New York City and raised in New York and California, with formative years linked to Manhattan communities and later to San Francisco Bay Area neighborhoods such as San Francisco and San Mateo County. She attended public schools before matriculating at the University of California, Berkeley for undergraduate studies, where she engaged with campus organizations and regional civic groups. Ma earned a degree in accounting and subsequently obtained certification as a certified public accountant from the California Board of Accountancy, complementing professional qualifications recognized by institutions like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Early career and private sector work

Ma began her professional career in accounting and finance, working with local firms and community banking institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area, including roles interfacing with clients in San Mateo County and San Francisco. She served in positions that connected to municipal finance and small business advisory services, participating in programs associated with the Small Business Administration and regional economic development entities. Ma's private-sector work included engagement with fiscal compliance matters related to state taxation and regulatory reporting overseen by bodies such as the Franchise Tax Board and the Internal Revenue Service for federal tax matters.

California State Assembly and Board of Equalization

Ma was elected to the California State Assembly representing parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and San Mateo County, serving on legislative committees that intersected with public finance, taxation, and health policy under the auspices of the California Legislature. During her Assembly tenure she sponsored and co-sponsored bills that involved the Franchise Tax Board, Employment Development Department, and other state agencies, working alongside legislators from caucuses including the California Legislative Asian Pacific American Caucus. Ma later won election to the California State Board of Equalization, a statewide elected tax board, where she oversaw issues connected to property tax administration, sales and use tax allocation, and taxpayer services, interacting with county assessors and state fiscal offices.

California State Treasurer

As California State Treasurer, Ma administers the state's investment portfolio, bond issuances, and banking services through the State Treasurer's Office (California), coordinating with the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission and municipal issuers across counties such as Los Angeles County and Alameda County. She has led initiatives to expand green bond financing, engaged with the Green Bond Principles, and collaborated with multilateral and federal entities including the U.S. Department of the Treasury on disaster recovery financing. Ma's tenure has included stewardship of programs tied to the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), and partnerships with community development financial institutions and municipal finance professionals.

Political positions and policy initiatives

Ma's policy priorities in office have encompassed sustainable investing, affordable housing finance, small business support, and disaster preparedness financing, aligning with policy frameworks debated in the California State Legislature and implemented through agencies like the California Housing Finance Agency and California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. She has advanced green and climate-resilient finance measures, issuing bonds and supporting programs compatible with standards from organizations such as the Climate Bonds Initiative and engaging stakeholders from environmental NGOs, state regulatory commissions, and pension fund trustees. On tax administration and revenue policy she has interacted with the Franchise Tax Board, county treasurers, and local issuers to develop revenue strategies addressing wildfire recovery, public pension liabilities, and infrastructure investment.

Personal life and affiliations

Ma is active in community and professional organizations, including membership and leadership roles with groups such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, regional chambers of commerce, and the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus affiliated networks. She has been recognized by civic organizations, worked with charitable entities in the San Francisco Bay Area, and engaged with educational institutions including alumni groups at the University of California, Berkeley. Ma resides in California and maintains involvement with cultural and professional associations that connect to her background in finance, public service, and community outreach.

Category:California State Treasurers Category:Members of the California State Assembly Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni