PFM Consultant

Role Overview

This is a senior consultancy position focused on strengthening public financial management systems in developing economies, with a particular emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa. You will work at the intersection of technical analysis and high-level policy advice, supporting ministries of finance, donor organizations, and international partners in designing and implementing budget reforms. Day-to-day work blends rigorous economic research, stakeholder facilitation, and hands-on guidance to turn complex fiscal challenges into clear, actionable reform pathways.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce in-depth macroeconomic and fiscal analyses, translating data on revenue, expenditure, and debt into concise policy briefs and executive presentations tailored for senior decision-makers.
• Lead diagnostic and reform design efforts across the full budget cycle, including medium-term expenditure frameworks, budget execution processes, and treasury operations.
• Advise on domestic resource mobilization strategies, fiscal space assessments, and innovative financing mechanisms that help governments expand their policy options without compromising sustainability.
• Act as a trusted liaison between government counterparts and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Union, ensuring alignment on reform priorities and technical assistance programs.
• Drive business development by identifying new opportunities, co-designing technical assistance projects with international partners, and preparing competitive technical and financial proposals.
• Design and deliver advanced training modules and mentoring programs for government officials and donor staff on budgeting, fiscal transparency, and public expenditure management.
• Contribute to the strategic growth of the PFM service line by helping shape team structure, recruitment, and the long-term project pipeline.
• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder workstreams and lead small teams, ensuring deliverables remain technically rigorous, politically aware, and on schedule.

Requirements & Qualifications

• At least five years of hands-on professional experience in public financial management, development economics, or public-sector consulting, specifically with ministries of finance or major technical assistance programs.
• A master’s degree or higher in economics, development economics, public finance, or a closely related discipline.
• Deep familiarity with macro-fiscal analysis, the political economy of reforms, and international diagnostic frameworks such as PEFA, PIMA, or TADAT.
• Demonstrated success working with African governments, regional consulting firms, or major donor institutions operating in Africa.
• Strong quantitative skills, including proficiency in statistical and econometric software such as Stata, EViews, or R, and experience applying economic models to real-world policy questions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to explain fiscal concepts to non-specialists without oversimplifying the underlying issues; working knowledge of French is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience designing and delivering training or mentorship for government officials, technical staff, or donor personnel.
• Comfort operating in fast-moving, politically sensitive environments and adapting approaches as institutional contexts evolve.
• Willingness to be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, or Asia, with travel to client locations as needed.