Matthai began his career as sub-collector of
Thalassery. He was appointed Collector of
Kottayam in 1978. He held various positions such as managing director of
State Cooperative Marketing Federation, director of public instruction, and secretary for industries, power and forests and wildlife departments before becoming the principal secretary of industries in 1996. Subsequently, he was posted as commissioner of commercial taxes and commissioner of excise. He was promoted as
additional chief secretary in 2005. Later in 2006, he was appointed as the chief secretary to
V. S. Achuthanandan. == Personal life ==