Regional Public Financial Management Resident Advisor, Accra, Ghana

The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund is looking for a Public Financial Management (PFM) regional advisor for West Africa based in Accra, Ghana, as part of a broader technical assistance program funded by the Japanese Government targeting 11 selected ECOWAS countries. The Economic Community of West African States comprises: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The overall objective and expected outcomes of the PFM component under this program are to improve the credibility and transparency of the budget within a medium term framework, to enhance the predictability of the budget, and to raise the level of fiscal reporting to international standards.

This advisor position, to cover Anglophone countries within the group (The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone), will be for a period of one year starting August 2012, renewable by mutual agreement subject to satisfactory performance.

Scope of work

The advisor's overall task will be to help countries further develop their ability to formulate and execute their budgets, building on existing efforts made over the last few years within the region with support from FAD and other technical assistance (TA) providers. The advisor may be asked to provide TA across a wide range of PFM areas related to the overall objective, with particular focus on improving the following areas:

• legal and institutional arrangements for fiscal reporting and transparency;
• budgeting and accounting classifications;
• financial management information systems (FMIS); and,
• multi-year fiscal planning and prioritization.

The advisor is expected to provide direct TA-diagnostic reviews, technical advice, organizing workshops, providing on-the-job training, preparing technical manuals, and supporting PFM and

related organizational reforms-as well as to supervise the work of short-term experts contracted to deliver specific aspects of the work program. The advisor will prepare a consolidated report on the regional status of fiscal reporting and transparency, present the findings at a regional workshop, and help formulate reform agendas for each country to meet their fiscal reporting and transparency obligations under ECOWAS.

The advisor will work under the general direction of, and report to, FAD staff based in Washington, DC. Work programs will be designed jointly with the individual country, in consultation with IMF's African Department and FAD.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a university degree (at least at master's level) or equivalent qualification, preferably in economics and/or accounting. Preference will be given to candidates who have had at least 10 years of practical experience in a senior line or advisory position within a ministry of finance, or a related budgetary institution, consultancy or international organization, in relevant PFM experience in fields identified above.

Specifically, the applicant must have sufficient relevant experience in fiscal transparency and reporting, in such areas as: (i) working with Government Financial Statistics 2001 (GFS) standards, including the design and development of budgeting and accounting classifications; (ii) establishing regular and timely fiscal reporting formats, procedures, and systems, including measures aimed at enhancing coverage and transparency; (iii) developing budget monitoring and reporting processes; and (iv) use of standard PFM diagnostic/assessment tools such as PEFA (Public expenditure and Financial Accountability).

Demonstrated experience in multi-year fiscal and budget planning, MTEFs, program/performance budgeting, budget execution and accounting, as well as managing and overseeing TA programs and coordinating with donors, would be desirable.

General Requirements

Proficiency in English: strong oral and written communication skills (including electronic media), and experience in preparing presentations using software such as PowerPoint.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities as well as with donors, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.

Ability to manage the work of short-term PFM experts.

Capacity to effectively transfer technical knowledge, and experience in organizing and conducting training courses and workshops would be added advantages.

Qualified candidates who are not selected for this position, may be considered for short-term technical assistance assignments.

Regional Public Financial Management Resident Advisor, Accra, Ghana