Overview
The Public Financial Management Specialist will support the provision of fiduciary assurance for World Bank-financed operations in Sierra Leone, develop technical assistance programs to strengthen the government’s public financial management, and support a stronger system for fiduciary improvements.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the team of Financial Management Specialists in ensuring compliance of World Bank-financed operations in Sierra Leone with World Bank FM policies and procedures.
- Provide inputs to the ADM FMS for operations throughout the project/program cycle – in the design and implementation of financial management (FM) systems and processes for Bank-financed projects and programs.
- Understand the public financial management system in Sierra Leone and support the development of the pipeline of Program for Results operations by preparing inputs to the Fiduciary Systems Assessments and the design of those operations to limit the additional fiduciary risks encountered by adopting government systems.
- Provide inputs to the public sector and economist teams in defining PFM reform priorities and providing implementation support to the client.
- Support the operationalization of the reform agenda through contributions to analytical work, technical assistance, and supervision activities under IPF and P for R and DPO projects.
- Work as a core member of individual project teams, liaising closely with the Task-Team Leader(s), other team members, and government counterparts and providing inputs for the ADM Financial Management Specialist.
- Provide advice consistent with compliance with the OPCS FM policies, directives, and guidance, monitors the resolution of exceptions in the portfolio with the ADM FMS, and implements a capacity-building plan to strengthen FM country system.
- Work as a core member of the Governance team providing PFM inputs to governance assessments and events and contributing to strategic discussions on financial management issues in the portfolio, public financial management issues in the country, and governance and anti-corruption risks more generally.
- Provide support and guidance for the Country Manager’s consideration and to the Operations Manager as requested by the PM.
- Generate and exchange knowledge relating to PFM issues and support the regional MPA for Public Resource Management.
- Conduct assessments of PFM country systems (budget preparation, execution, accounting and reporting, internal and external audit) and provide inputs to PforR operations.
- Identify issues for the TTL and ADM FM’s consideration for the Program Action Plan.
- Provide inputs for financial management capacity assessments of prospective implementing entities of new IPF operations.
- Provide contributions to financial management assessments for DPOs.
- Participate in the identification, preparation, appraisal, and negotiations missions.
- Prepare timely and comprehensive contributions to the Project/Program Concept Note (PCN) and Project/Program Appraisal Document (PAD).
- Review the implementation of project/program internal controls, and financial reporting systems, and provide guidance to the QA FMS and ADM FMS on the extent to which implementation is on or off-track.
- Regularly communicate and collaborate with project/program teams, government counterparts, and other stakeholders to ensure effective FM and accountability.
- Monitor and report on the financial performance of projects and programs to help the ADM FMS assess their compliance with WB FM policies and regularly assess project/program FM risks.
- Contribute plans to ensure that all risks are mitigated effectively, and residual risks are monitored.
- As part of the Governance team provide ongoing technical support to the client in the implementation of two governance-led operations in Sierra Leone.
- Participate in Governance-led Implementation Support missions and identify and advise the TTL(s) on areas of concern.
- Contribute to Aides Memoires and ISRs regularly.
- Provide day to day implementation support on PFM systems for projects relying on country systems, such as Program for Results.
- Support Governance-led public sector reform activities such as technical assistance for PFM and tax administration reforms, contribution to SOE reform, and other topics as required.
Required Experience
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in public financial management of recipient-executed operations in the World Bank, other international development organizations, or governments; or as an accountant or auditor in the private sector or public administration.
- Experience with public financial management systems and IFMIS software in Sierra Leone.
- Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or low-capacity environments, with demonstrated ability to adapt technical PFM approaches to constrained institutional settings.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in economics, PFM, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
- Professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) – membership in a recognized professional accountancy organization which has a status of full IFAC membership; and/ or commitment to attain the qualification.
