Job Opportunity: IMF Looking for Public Sector Cost Accounting Expert to be Based in Sao Paolo, Brazil

The IMF Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) is looking for candidates to work in a project on public sector cost accounting in the State of Sao Paolo, Brazil. The project aims to improve the budget preparation, budget execution, and cost control at the state level. We are looking for highly-qualified public sector cost accounting experts for two assignments: (i) a long-term assignment (one year, renewable for one more year); and (ii) a short-term peripatetic assignment (a two-week visit every quarter during two years). The assignments are in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is expected that the short-term expert will be a leader in his field and have a strategic guidance role in the project, while the long-term expert will work more intensively on the implementation of the project with Brazilian counterparts.

The objectives of the project are to (i) implement the public cost system in phases, starting with four pilot entities (health, education, prisons, and social assistance); (ii) develop a cost methodology adequate to the public services at the state level; (iii) organize seminars, courses, and other training events to educate the state officials on how to prepare and use cost information; (iv) document the cost methodology used in the existing projects; (v) prepare guidelines for external dissemination of cost data; and (vi) prepare progress reports.

The State of Sao Paolo will create a unit in the Secretary of Finance dedicated to implementing the project. The authorities are also enrolling the University of Sao Paolo to provide support on capacity building and research methodology. The consultants will work directly with this unit and in collaboration with the University.

The State of Sao Paolo has some similarities with US states because Brazil is also a federation. Sao Paolo relies strongly on its own tax resources to implement local policies, and is responsible for the provision of the main public services (education, health, police, etc.). The State has well-functioning integrated financial management information system (IFMIS). The State of Sao Paulo has a population of more than 40 million people and an economy of the size of Argentina. It is indeed a nice place to work and live.

The positions are funded by the State of Sao Paolo itself through a Trust Fund administered by the IMF. The IMF will provide guidance and support (“backstopping”) to the consultants during the entire project, and introduce and support the consultants during the kick-off phase.

Qualification requirements include at least ten years of relevant professional experience, including in cost accounting in the public sector. The ideal candidates would have a degree in accounting, business management, or economics. Portuguese language skill is a plus but it is not a requirement. Fluency in Spanish or English is also acceptable.

The deadline for applications is September 30, 2010. Please send your CV to Mr. Mario Pessoa (mpessoa@imf.org) indicating if you are applying for the short-term or long-term position.

Job Offer: The World Bank has an Opening for a Financial Management Specialist (FMS) Based in La Paz, Bolivia

Job descriptions and qualifications needed are detailed in the job announcements, posted on the World Bank's website: Financial Management Specialist based in La Paz, Bolivia -- Job # 101546

The Closing Date is August 9, 2010. For convenience, we provide the ICGFM readers with excerpts from the Job Announcement.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Financial Management Specialist (FMS) will work from the La Paz Country Office and work on all financial management (FM) aspects related to the World Bank’s operations in Bolivia. This will include, but is not limited to: assessing the adequacy of project financial management arrangements, providing implementation support and supervising projects financed by grants and credits; ensuring compliance with the Bank’s audit and other fiduciary requirements, ensuring that the project operations are carried out in accordance with sound financial management practices, performing analytical work on financial management and accountability issues, and carrying out capacity building activities. The FMS will work with the country team, including Task Team Leaders, FMS, Procurement and other technical specialists, and Administrative and Client Service (ACS) staff.

The FMS is expected to assume the following duties and responsibilities:
• Assess the adequacy of the borrower’s project financial management systems and their ability to manage and monitor World Bank financed projects. This includes budgeting, policies and procedures, internal controls, accounting, financial reporting and auditing.
• Provide implementation support and carry out supervision work to ensure that projects financial management systems are functioning appropriately, including the review of periodic interim financial reports.
• Assess the selection and engagement of auditors, ensuring their suitability including their independence, and competence to perform audits; and ensure that the borrower provides auditors with all the relevant information (including Terms of Reference and Bank requirements) necessary to carry out their engagement.
• Review audited financial statements and other periodic financial reports received, monitor the Borrower's compliance with financial covenants including audit compliance, ensure adequate communication with the Borrower and the project implementing agencies with respect to audits and other financial reports, and advise as appropriate.
• Provide advice and support to Borrower and the World Bank Task Teams on project financial management matters.
• Provide guidance and advice to borrowers and Bank staff on capacity building in projects and with public sector accountability institutions.
• Assess the financial and operational viability of implementing entities (e.g. with respect to revenue earning entities), and advise on the design and use of financial performance covenants.
• Monitor implementation of the agreed action plans for public financial management (PFM) and/or corporate financial reporting reform initiatives, and provide technical advice to the Government in the implementation of reform actions.
• As requested by the RFMM, undertake other FM activities, as appropriate.

Selection Criteria:

Education/experience/language:
• The candidate should be a professional accountant (CPA, CA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accounting institute) with a Bachelors degree in accounting, business, finance, economics or related subject.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in financial management.
• Language: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

Technical and other skills:
• Knowledge of International Accounting Standards and International Standards on Auditing.
Experience in designing and assessing internal control systems and procedures, using internationally accepted control frameworks such as COSO.
• Knowledge in the application of accounting, auditing and financial reporting systems and software packages.
• Experience in evaluating audits, assessing auditor competence, and following up on issues raised by the audits.
• Experience in interpreting financial and project management reports and determining appropriate remedial actions.
• Knowledge of current issues in financial management, including relating to the public sector and relating to developing country issues.
• Ability to assess the quality of portfolio performance on financial management.
• Ability to understand cross-cutting issues beyond financial management (e.g. procurement, governance, public sector management) at sector/country level.
• Ability to conceptualize, design and implement country or sector level financial management capacity building initiatives. Ability to promote client/beneficiary participation and commitment to financial management and accountability.
• Ability to distill and disseminate financial management knowledge. Experience in advising clients on the design and implementation of financial management systems, including financial and management reports.
• Experience in financial statement analysis, their use in comparison with industry benchmarks and their application to particular circumstances.
• Strong planning, organization and time management skills to function in a team and contribute towards a common goal. Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.
• Capacity to function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, to search for common ground, to resolve problems, and where appropriate, to recommend decisive action.
• Strong analytical capabilities and proven skills to deal with FM issues innovatively and independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, including situations requiring negotiation.
• Understanding of information systems and the application of new technology.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently.

International Budget Partnership Job Opportunity

The International Budget Partnership (IBP) collaborates with civil society organizations around the world to analyze and influence public budgets and to advocate for more transparent and participatory public finance systems in order to reduce poverty and improve the quality of governance. The IBP is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Senior Analyst for its Open Budget Initiative, a global research and advocacy program that works with civil society partners in nearly 100 countries to improve public access to government budget information and to expand accountable and inclusive budgeting practices. The Senior Analyst will be responsible for leading the OBI’s efforts to measure, analyze, and understand the factors that affect budget transparency and participation performance in countries around the world. The successful applicant will play a leadership role in designing and managing OBI research on budget transparency and will be responsible for analyzing and presenting the research findings in global forums where these issues are debated. The position requires an individual who has substantial comparative knowledge of applied public finance in developing countries and practical experience working on these issues previously within civil society, government, or with an international donor. To learn more about the IBP and OBI, visit www.internationalbudget.org.

Responsibilities

• Design, supervise, and implement new and existing cross-country research projects on budget transparency and oversight at the national and subnational levels
• Design, develop, and author research briefs and popular guides on budget transparency
• Coordinate and provide technical support to partner organizations on research methods and analysis
• Represent IBP in international meetings and policy debates on budget transparency and oversight institutions

Requirements

• At least a Master’s degree in a relevant social science, or in public finance or accounting
• Minimum of five years of senior experience managing qualitative and quantitative research projects
• Demonstrated ability to write for a variety of audiences (prefer candidates with a significant body of published materials)
• Practical experience working on public finance and access to information issues in developing countries
• Ability to travel and maintain flexible schedule as required
• Foreign language skills desirable, especially French or Spanish
• Commitment to the role of active citizenship and civil society in governance and poverty reduction
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to prioritize work in a dynamic environment
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team of colleagues distributed around the world

The Senior Analyst will be based in Washington, D.C. Compensation: salary commensurate with experience, excellent benefits (including two health insurance options and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP), and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

To apply for this position, please submit a CV/resume and cover letter via email to info@internationalbudget.org. Please attach all materials as either Microsoft Word or PDF documents.

The International Budget Partnership is part of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, takes affirmative action to insure that discrimination does not occur against an employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, disability, or any other classification protected from discrimination under applicable law.

FreeBalance Job Openings

ICGFM sustaining member, FreeBalance, has numerous job opening. FreeBalance is a leading global provider of public sector financial management solutions helping government leaders improve accountability, transparency and good governance to promote development and growth. FreeBalance solutions are being used to achieve good governance in over 100 government organizations spanning five continents.

Ottawa, Canada

• Public Relations Specialist
• Financial Systems Implementation Specialist
• Project Manager
• Regional Sales Account Manager
• Product Trainer
• Senior IT Business Analyst

Lisbon, Portugal

• Project Cost Accountant

Antigua and Barbuda

• Support Specialist - Technical
  Support Specialist - Functional

India

• Project Manager - Financial Systems Implementation

West Bank

• International Professional Service Consultant

Sierra Leone

• Support Specialist - Technical
• Support Specialist - Functional

Timor-Leste

• Project Manager - Financial Systems Implementation
• Support Specialist - Technical
• Support Specialist - Functional

Kyrgyztan

• Systems Implementation Specialist
• Functional Support Specialist
• Technical Support Specialist

World Bank seeking Public Sector Management Specialists

The World Bank is seeking a Lead Public Sector Management Specialist, and a Senior Public Sector Management Specialist to work on the Latin America and Caribbean Region. These positions, located in Washington, DC, are high-profile appointments requiring proven experience and an established track record in the region and the relevant technical community of practice. Fluency in Spanish is required and Portuguese is desirable.

The successful applicant will make a world-class technical contribution to the Bank’s work in public financial management, performance-informed budgeting, and human resource management, and contribute to dialogue concerning public sector reform in the region. Experience on the ground in OECD, developing and/or transition countries is essential.

The Lead position requires a Ph.D and a minimum of 12 years of experience, or a Master’s degree and 15 years of experience. The Senior position requires an advanced degree in Public Administration, Public Policy or Political Science and at least 8 years of experience.

Candidates may view the full job descriptions and apply through the World Bank website at www.worldbank.org/jobs referring to the job #s noted above. The closing date is December 31, 2009.

IMF Job Opportunity

The Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF seeks an who will provide technical assistance (TA) to IMF member countries on public financial management issues, such as:

• Budget preparation methodologies and procedures
• Management of budget execution, reporting and oversight
• Regulatory environment for public financial management

Beyond excellent written and spoken English skills they MUST be fluent in either Spanish or French.
10+ years practical experience within line management or advisory in a ministry of finance, treasury, or a related budgetary institution, including multilateral institutions; who have actively managed, or participated in, the delivery of TA programs in public financial management noted above; who can additionally show experience in managing and overseeing TA work and coordinating with donors; and who are fully aware of the PFM challenges facing member countries.

Contact: tvacher@imf.org

Job Opening: Senior Proposal Pricing Analyst, Arlington Virginia

Emerging Markets Group (EMG) is currently seeking a Senior Proposal Pricing Analyst in our Arlington, VA offices (located at Courthouse Metro on the Orange Line) to prepare cost proposals and contract budgets for donor-funded initiatives worldwide. 

Responsibilities for this position include the following:

Reviewing RFPs; developing budgets through clarifications, discussions and award;  developing proposal pricing strategies and modeling; preparing and negotiating cost proposals and narratives; and performing some contract administration.

Flexible working hours are available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
  
• 5+ years of experience in contracts administration and proposal preparation in a government contractor environment
  
• Knowledge of the FAR and federal reporting requirements is a must
  
• Proficiency in Word and Excel required
  
• Experience with USAID, MCC, The World Bank, and other international donors preferred
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
  
• US work authorization required
  

Instructions

If interested and qualified for this position, please send your cover letter and CV to recruitment@emergingmarketsgroup.com – indicate “Pricing” in the subject line of your email for prompt consideration.  EEO/M/F/V

EMG offers an excellent compensation and benefits package.

Emerging Markets Group (EMG) is a global consulting firm with specialized expertise in international development assistance.  For over 25 years, we have successfully managed and implemented projects for agencies such as USAID, DFID, EuropeAid, the Global Fund, the World Bank, and sovereign governments, and socially responsible corporations.  We apply business expertise for sustainable development, with a view that the private sector is an integral component of the development process.  EMG’s primary technical areas include: healthcare, private and financial sector development, public sector enhancement, infrastructure, funds management, human capacity building and reconstruction and stabilization.  

Emerging Markets Group (EMG) applies business expertise to improve physical, economic and social infrastructure that underpins communities around the world.  We bring over 25 years of experience in development consulting to our clients. As part of Cardno, EMG has access to over 3500 international staff who have lived or worked in over 100 countries and speak more than 40 languages.

To learn more about Emerging Markets Group, please visit our website at www.emergingmarketsgroup.com.