GFOA Scholarship Spotlight: Gilbert Teklevchiev

Gilbert Teklevchiev is a senior financial analyst with the City of Boston, where he supports financial planning and analysis across a multi-division operating budget. His work focuses on budget-to-actuals reporting, variance analysis, and improving financial reporting processes through data and automation. He works closely with department leadership to translate financial data into clear, actionable insight for decision making. 

Gilbert holds a master of science in economics and business administration with a concentration in strategic finance and analytics from Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, where his thesis examined the impact of flash crashes on the U.S. stock market. He also earned a bachelor of science in management with a focus on finance and international management from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Boston University, with an emphasis on analytics, finance transformation, and enterprise systems. 

Q & A with Gilbert

Where and what are you currently studying, and why did you choose this?

I am currently pursuing an MBA at Boston University, focusing on analytics, finance transformation, and enterprise systems. I chose this path because it builds directly on the work I do in public finance. 

In my role, a lot of the challenge is not just understanding the numbers, but improving how financial information is structured, analyzed, and shared across teams. I wanted a program that would help me go deeper on that side of the work, especially around data, reporting, and systems. The goal is to be able to connect financial analysis with better tools and processes, not just better models.

What government are you working in or hope to work at in the future?

I currently work in municipal government as a senior financial analyst for the City of Boston. My work supports financial planning, reporting, and budget oversight across multiple departments. 

Looking ahead, I plan to stay in the public sector. I am interested in roles that sit at the intersection of finance, systems, and analytics, where the focus is on improving how governments manage and use financial data. That could be within a city, state agency, or a broader public finance organization. The common thread for me is contributing to stronger financial transparency and more informed decision making.

What are your future career goals?

I am interested in work that involves improving financial systems, standardizing reporting, and integrating analytics into day-to-day decision making. A lot of public finance still relies on fragmented processes, and I want to be part of making that more consistent and reliable. Over time, I would like to take on leadership responsibilities where I can help guide those changes and support teams working through them. 

How will GFOA’s scholarship help you achieve those goals?

The GFOA scholarship helps in two ways. First, it provides support that allows me to stay focused on my studies and professional development. Second, and more important, it creates access. The conference is a chance to learn from people who are dealing with the same challenges in budgeting, reporting, and financial management. It is also an opportunity to see how different governments are approaching modernization in practice. That kind of exposure is hard to get day to day, and it directly supports the direction I want to go in my career.