Technical Assistance Officer (Statistics (Expertise))

Overview

Provide expert guidance on government finance and public sector debt statistics

You have:

• Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, or related field.
• Extensive knowledge of the GFSM 2014 and PSDS Guide concepts and principles.
• Proven experience in the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and debt data.
• Strong relationship management and influencing skills.
• Full proficiency in French and strong English oral and written communication skills.
• Experience in managing and backstopping capacity-building projects is highly desirable.
• Experience with countries that have GFS/PSDS compilation challenges is highly desirable.
• Background in macro-fiscal policy and/or public sector accounting is highly desirable.
• Practical experience in countries with limited capacities is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with GFS/PSDS and Public Financial Management reforms in recipient countries is highly desirable.

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

This is a long-term expert position (contractual) open to Fund staff and external candidates. The Statistics Department (STA) of the IMF, and the IMF’s Regional Technical Assistance Center for West Africa (AFRITAC West) have an opening for a Regional Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) Advisor (hereinafter referred as “Regional Advisor”) based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. AFRITAC West is a multi-donor financed Center of the IMF.

The Regional Advisor’s initial appointment is for two years (expected to start in December 2023), with the possibility of an extension, contingent on performance and management approval. The Resident Advisor will oversee and undertake capacity development (CD) support in GFS and PSDS areas in primarily seven member countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinee-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal) as part of AFRITAC West’s statistical work program.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Regional Advisor will primarily support Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinee-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal to improve the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and public sector debt statistics, which is intended to inform the authorities’ policy analysis and formulation, as well as support the IMF’s operational work with those countries.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Develop and implement the annual work program and manage statistical CD (technical assistance and training) in GFS and PSDS, including public sector balance sheet. In this process, he/she will be guided by the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (PSDSG), which are the latest internationally accepted methodology for comprehensive, timely, accurate, reliable and cross-country-comparable fiscal and debt statistics of adequate frequency.
• Offer tailored country advice, hands-on training, as well as regional training in GFS and PSDS to assist the seven targeted countries achieve the specific outcomes of the project.
• Manage and backstop missions by short-term experts.
• Coordinate CD activities with the relevant IMF Departments and with other AFRITAC West advisors working on related CD fields, including the other GFS advisor as well as the real sector statistics, public financial management, and debt management advisors.
• Apply IMF standards and policies (and STA’s guidelines) in documenting CD activities.
• Monitor the implementation and evaluation of activities in the IMF’s CDMAP IT portal; and
• Contribute to reports prepared for the AFRITAC West Steering Committee, as well as to other outreach activities that promote AFRITAC West and STA’s CD program, including AFW quarterly newsletter.

The successful candidate will work under the general direction of the AFRITAC West Director and the technical direction of STA staff at IMF headquarters.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have an advanced university degree in economics, statistics, or related field. He/she should have extensive knowledge of the GFSM 2014 and PSDS Guide concepts and principles, as well as proven experience in the compilation and dissemination of fiscal and debt data. Strong relationship management and negotiating and influencing skills are critical for the position. Excellent interpersonal skills, full proficiency in French and strong English oral and written communication skills, drive for results, and ability to work on various projects under tight deadlines are essential.

The following qualifications are highly desirable: (i) experience in managing and backstopping capacity-building projects; (ii) experience in and knowledge of GFS and PSDS compilation practices and systems in countries with similar GFS/PSDS challenges; (iii) background in the areas of macro-fiscal policy and/or public sector accounting; (iv) practical experience with countries that have limited capacities; and (v) familiarity with the synergies between GFS/PSDS and Public Financial Management reforms in recipient countries.

Department:

STAGO Statistics Department Government FinanceHiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: imf.org