Government Finance Statistics Advisor -- Pacific Financial and Technical Assistance Center (PFTAC) (STAGO) (Job Number: 1800726)

Advertising Department: Statistics Department

Organization: Government Finance

Description

This is a long-term expert position (contractual) open to Fund staff and external candidates. If the selected candidate is an IMF staff member, he/she would need to take leave without pay in the interest of the Fund for capacity development for the duration of the assignment. The staff member would be required to switch to a contractual appointment for the duration of the assignment.

The Statistics Department (STA) of the IMF and the IMF’s Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Center (the Center) are looking for a qualified candidate to fill a Government Finance Statistics (GFS) Resident Advisor position based in Suva, Fiji. The Resident Advisor will manage the statistical capacity building program in GFS, and provide technical assistance (TA) and training, in the sixteen Pacific Island countries covered by the Center.

The Resident Advisor’s work program will be closely aligned with target countries’ national statistics plans, as well as their GFS implementation plans developed under the three-year GFS capacity building program that ended in late 2015. The Resident Advisor will also coordinate closely with the Center’s capacity building program in public financial management, government revenue, macroeconomic analysis and forecasting, and real sector statistics, as well as with development partners in the region.

The Resident Advisor's initial appointment will be one year, with the possibility for an extension.

Duties

The Resident Advisor will oversee and provide TA and training in GFS to the target countries covered by the Center. These areas of work include: (1) managing and delivering TA and training to compile and disseminate GFS and public sector debt statistics; (2) facilitating activities carried out by, and promoting interaction of, government agencies in the development of such statistics; and (3) coordinating TA activities with the relevant IMF Departments (STA, the Asia and Pacific Department (APD), the Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) and the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD)), and, where appropriate, with other international, regional, and national institutions and agencies involved in capacity development in macroeconomic statistics in PFTAC countries. In doing so, the Resident Advisor will build upon the technical assistance and training provided in recent years, which has focused on assisting the target countries to develop and implement their statistical capacity-building programs in the GFS area.

The Resident Advisor should expect to travel extensively within the region and will also be responsible for ensuring that the appropriate mission documentation is produced in line with STA’s guidelines.

The Resident Advisor will also be expected to participate in managing the program of missions staffed by short-term experts that is used to supplement the capacity of the Resident Advisors. This will include planning of missions, liaising with authorities and development partners, and ensuring compliance with mission documentation guidelines.

The Resident Advisor will also participate in meeting PFTAC’s accountability requirements through contributions to the Centre’s publications, briefings for development partners and donors, and participation in relevant conferences and workshops.   

The Resident Advisor will work under the general direction of the Center’s Coordinator and the technical direction of STA at IMF headquarters; STA’s Government Finance Division will be responsible for backstopping the Resident Advisor.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have an advanced university degree in a relevant discipline, should demonstrate strong expertise in GFS methodology, and have familiarity with the compilation and dissemination of GFS. The candidate should have a minimum of ten years of practical experience in GFS. Knowledge of other areas of macroeconomic statistics, including national accounts, price statistics, and balance of payments statistics will be beneficial. The candidate should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, and be fluent in English. The ability to coordinate TA and training with the relevant IMF Departments, as well as with other international institutions and bilateral agencies, is essential. Experience in and knowledge of GFS compilation practices and systems in the target countries is highly desirable.

The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including gender, nationality, culture and educational background.