Helping organizations navigate financial complexity, strengthen operations, and build trust from within.
Former Philadelphia City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart brings her twenty years of leadership experience and a track record of driving strategic financial and organizational change in the public, higher education and nonprofit sectors to issues facing organizations today.
ABOUT REBECCA
Rebecca Rhynhart is an accomplished executive with twenty years of leadership experience and a track record of driving strategic financial and organizational change. She spent close to a decade working for the City of Philadelphia – as the City Treasurer, Budget Director, and Chief Administrative Officer – before deciding to enter politics and run for office in 2017. Rebecca was elected City Controller in 2017 and won re-election unopposed for a second term in 2021, serving until announcing her run for Mayor in late 2022. In the Mayor’s race, she built strong citywide momentum, resulting in a second-place finish in a crowded, nine-person primary in 2023.
Rebecca served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Drexel University from October 2023 - March 2025, and is currently running her own financial and organizational consultancy firm.
Rebecca maintains active involvement in issues of importance to the community. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteer in Philadelphia, advocating for children in Philadelphia’s foster care system and serving as an Education Decision Maker (EDM) for children that need guidance with their education. She serves on the board of Mural Arts Advocates, chairing the Finance Committee, and was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro to serve on the Board of the Pennsylvania Commission of Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for a four-year term in 2023. Rebecca was also appointed to serve a two-year term in 2024 on the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention to evaluate judicial candidates running for office.
Rebecca has a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College. She resides in Center City Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.
Rebecca brings a rare blend of deep financial expertise and heartfelt mission focus to her consulting practice. With leadership roles spanning city government, healthcare, and higher education—as Treasurer, Budget Director, CFO, board chair, and advisor—she understands the financial and operational complexities organizations face. What sets her apart is her commitment to impact: from driving systemic change in public finance to volunteering as a court-appointed advocate and championing the arts, Rebecca channels that same clarity of purpose into helping clients navigate tough decisions, align strategy with values, and lead with integrity.
Grounded Leadership, Proven Results
CONSULTING
Years of Insight,
Broad Industry Experience
SPEAKING
Navigating Recession, Reform, and Results in City Government.
Improving city operations through financial leadership — from Wall Street to serving as Philadelphia’s Treasurer, Budget Director, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and elected Controller. She shares lessons from managing a $4B budget, navigating the Great Recession, and driving reforms across city government.
Lessons Learned from the Front Lines of Finance.
Drawing on her experience as Treasurer, Budget Director, CFO, board chair, and consultant, she highlights the most common financial missteps in mission-driven organizations—and how to spot and recognize them before they escalate.
Where Operations Meet Integrity.
Employees are the backbone of any organization. In her roles as Philadelphia’s CAO and Controller, and in sectors like healthcare and higher ed, She has seen how lasting financial and operational change depends on engaging those who do the work—because leadership isn’t just about tough calls, it’s about making them with purpose and respect.
Building a Legacy Beyond the Job Title.
Of all the roles She has held, the most meaningful have been those that impact lives—advocating to reduce gun violence, speaking out on prison conditions, serving as a CASA volunteer, and supporting the arts. She shares how she found her voice, chose where to give my time, and learned to balance purpose, career, and family.
