Public Finance Specialist (PF4SDGs)

About the role

The Public Finance Specialist acts as the lead technical advisor on public financial management (PFM) within the Public Finance portfolio of the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub. The post guides the design, implementation and monitoring of PFM work at country level, including SDG budgeting and inclusive budgeting, and leads research and analysis on PFM. It is open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership on country-level PFM reforms, including public expenditure reviews, SDG budgeting, budget tagging/coding and inclusive budget oversight, in close collaboration with Country Offices, Regional Bureaus and other thematic advisors.
• Advise Ministries of Finance, Ministries of Planning, sector ministries and oversight institutions so that public expenditure is equitable, inclusive and aligned with development goals.
• Support the Head of Public Finance for SDGs in linking PFM work with the private finance and Global Financing Policy portfolios.
• Help implement PFM reforms at country level, prepare proposals, draft and review Terms of Reference and concept notes, write technical reports and monitor and report.
• Lead research and analysis on PFM reforms, draw on PF4SDGs analytical tools and build coalitions with government, donors, civil society and the private sector.
• Produce policy papers, case studies and knowledge products, support flagship publications and contribute to UN inter-agency groups and the Financing for Development process.
• Document lessons learned, support communities of practice, design training materials and deliver trainings, and facilitate South-South and triangular cooperation.
• Represent UNDP at international conferences and policy dialogues, cultivate partnerships with IFIs, donors and CSOs, and give technical input to resource-mobilization efforts.
• Contribute to results-based management, donor reports and internal reviews, and support recruitment and procurement for public finance expertise.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in Social Policy, Public Policy, Politics, Economics, Development Studies or a related field; a bachelor's degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be considered instead.
• At least seven years of relevant experience (nine with a bachelor's degree) providing policy advice on PFM, with at least three years at international level.
• Demonstrated experience advising Ministries of Finance and other government institutions in developing countries on PFM, and on sustainable finance for development.
• Experience leading consultations with senior government officials and building reform coalitions is desired; experience designing development programmes, writing research reports and working with the UN, multilateral organisations or IFIs is an advantage.
• Fluent written and spoken English; knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.