Matthew C. Sylvain
Summary
Strategic and results-driven federal systems operations leader with 15+ years of experience leading large-scale IT modernization, cybersecurity, audit readiness, and operational transformation initiatives within the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Proven success leading cross-functional teams, driving automation and AI-enabled efficiencies, managing enterprise migrations, and improving financial and access management systems supporting DoD operations. Recognized for innovation, executive leadership support, and delivering cost savings exceeding $1M through process optimization and automation.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Division Director, Cleveland Systems Operations
DFAS
10.2024 - Current
- DoD CIO ICAM Migrations: Directed automated account provisioning migrations ahead of schedule for DCAS, DWOWS, CEPR, TFRS, IPAC and GoDocs systems. Migrated 5000+ users, provided 50+ hours of direct customer support, and assumed dual IOR/ISSO roles to individually process 200+ access requests due to staffing reductions.
- Process Automation & Cost Savings: Spearheaded automation initiatives yielding $380K in savings. Developed an automated ADVANA annual review tool to replace an 8-month manual process ($200K annual savings) and deployed an Application Control Language (ACL) tool eliminating 19,000 manual emails ($180K one-time savings).
- Artificial Intelligence Integration: Pioneered the GenAI Prompt Project utilizing DoW Gemini 2.0 to standardize FISCAM testing narratives, improving audit readiness and reducing employee documentation time by 5% (600 hours annually).
- Business Process Reengineering: Negotiated the removal of the External Site Approver (ESA) step in ICAM for all DFAS applications, reducing average DWOWS access request times by ~50% (from 6.92 to 3.53 days).
- Audit & Compliance Strategy: Re-engineered FISCAM testing scope amid DRP reductions by securing additional IT testing resources and removing retiring/Non-ICOFR systems, saving ~1,000 annual testing hours.
- Inter-Agency Leadership: Formed cross-functional working groups with the Navy, USMC, and DFAS ITAS. Established Cross SOD testing frameworks for Navy NIS ICAM.
Executive Officer to Cleveland Site Director
DFAS
12.2022 - 10.2024
- Change Management (Return to Site): Orchestrated the complex return-to-site strategy for 2,400 employees. Executed stress tests resolving 300+ facility issues, developed a hoteling tool for 2,100 spaces, and ensured zero work stoppages upon return.
- Logistics & Asset Management: Managed the comprehensive audit and redistribution of IT equipment across multiple floors to ensure all 2,400 returning employees had baseline workstations (monitors, keyboards, mice) following a multi-year off-site period, resolving shortfalls at the cube level.
- Strategic Dashboards: Directed the creation of interactive PowerBI dashboards for Agency Operational Health (AOH) and Budget Execution, enabling leadership to exceed the 94% performance threshold and achieve 94% budget execution across 11 Mission Areas.
- Executive Communications: Led Agency-wide Strategic Councils for 15-20 Senior Executives and coordinated complex All-Hands broadcasts spanning 12 auxiliary rooms for 2,400 personnel.
- Organizational Advocacy & Community: Spearheaded the FEDs Feed Families Campaign alongside primary duties, utilizing mass communication strategies to mobilize the workforce and collect over 7,000 pounds of food donations for the local community.
Deputy Director, System Operations
DFAS
09.2020 - 12.2022
- Organizational Leadership & Risk Management: Directed a 90+ member organization across 5 branches, overseeing the mission area spend plan and workforce strategy. Successfully led an agency-initiated Unauthorized IT (U-IT) project, archiving and resolving over 4,000 ACL files in just 45 days (100% completion rate).
- Performance Metric Reengineering: Identified systemic flaws in QASP metrics for Navy access approvals that were causing continual "RED" statuses due to uncounted rejections and business process changes. Redesigned the formula, successfully negotiated acceptance with Navy stakeholders, and restored the metric to a sustained "GREEN" status.
- Innovation & Automation Strategy: Founded the Cleveland Robotics (RPA) Program, establishing monthly briefings for the Cleveland Executive Council and an "RPA Roadshow" that successfully transitioned multiple automated solutions into the production environment.
- Audit Compliance & Control Reengineering: Tightened FISCAM audit readiness by overhauling the CAP/DR extension process, requiring executive-level approval for all deadline changes; also provided expert-level advice to the Director of Finance and Director of Accounting on financial system performance.
- Workforce Development & Succession Planning: Engineered a comprehensive cross-training and succession planning initiative for GS-12 and below personnel, rotating employees based on skillsets and interests to build a highly agile, diverse workforce while actively coaching 5 direct-report Branch Chiefs.
Branch Chief, Navy & Marine Corps Accounting Systems
DFAS
10.2016 - 09.2020
- Audit Readiness & RMF Accreditations: Directed simultaneous Risk Management Framework (RMF) testing for 8 distinct financial systems encompassing over 3,000 controls. Successfully exceeded all milestones to secure full Authority to Operate (ATO) for all systems, and corrected deficient SABRS FISCAM controls to improve sustainment metrics from yellow to green.
- Fiscal Management & Resource Optimization: Identified operational redundancies and terminated unnecessary contractor support by maximizing civilian staff capabilities, generating $200,000 in annual agency savings.
- Strategic System Migrations: Briefed the Executive Business Counsel (EBC) to secure $2.6M in capital funds for the critical STARS to SABRS system migration. Additionally, guided the One Pay PMO through 4 aggressive deployment phases for the Treasury Direct Disbursing (TDD) initiative.
- Inter-Agency Collaboration & Process Reengineering: Partnered with Navy, USMC, and OSD stakeholders to implement the Universe of Transactions (UoT) initiative. Overhauled the SABRS configuration management process, which reduced system PTRs (defects) by over 50%.
System Manager / ISSM
DFAS
07.2010 - 10.2016
- Portfolio & Budget Leadership: Managed a multi-million-dollar operational IT budget and led an 8-person technical team overseeing complete system lifecycles for four major financial systems (CEPR, DRO, OLRV, and 1099TRP).
- Architecture Optimization & Cost Reductions: Engineered IT infrastructure efficiencies that yielded over $110,000 in annual savings by consolidating OLRV servers ($100K/yr) and innovatively using existing FOCUS software for the CEPR modernization graphical user interface ($10K/yr).
- Compliance & Audit Certifications: Served as FISCAM/FFMIA Team Lead, managing 70 hyper-critical controls. Successfully led comprehensive security audits to secure DIACAP accreditations for CEPR, DRO, and OLRV, and FISMA compliance for 1099TRP.
Education
M.B.A. - Organizational Leadership
Ashford University
B.A. - Finance
University of Toledo
Skills
- Systems Operations Leadership
- Project & Program Management
- Enterprise IT Modernization
- Cybersecurity & ICAM
- FISCAM & RMF Compliance
- Process Automation
- AI & Data Analytics
- PowerBI Reporting
- Financial Systems Operations
- Strategic Planning
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Workforce Leadership
Certification
CompTIA Security+
Timeline
Division Director, Cleveland Systems Operations
DFAS
10.2024 - Current
Executive Officer to Cleveland Site Director
DFAS
12.2022 - 10.2024
Deputy Director, System Operations
DFAS
09.2020 - 12.2022
Branch Chief, Navy & Marine Corps Accounting Systems
DFAS
10.2016 - 09.2020
System Manager / ISSM
DFAS
07.2010 - 10.2016
M.B.A. - Organizational Leadership
Ashford University
B.A. - Finance
University of Toledo