Public Financial Management (PFM) Lead at Adam Smith International

• The successful candidate will receive a contract for two years, running to the end of the programme in October 2025.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Responsibility for Driving and Implementing Technical Delivery in the Following Areas

• Core PFM systems:
• Ensure that the PREMIS2 team works closely with counterparts in the FMS Ministries of Finance to maintain the integrity of the BISAN financial management system, including the Financial Management Information System (FMIS), Budget Preparation Module (BPM), and Revenue management Systems (RMS).
• Work to ensure that counterpart super users are able to support others in the use of the above systems.
• Support Ministries of Finance to meet statutory obligations, particularly around the budget cycle and reporting requirements.
• Support the formulation of credible budgets and contribute to initiatives to make financial information more accessible to the public.
• Advise on other reforms as needed, e.g., a transition to using Accountant General structures, and the set-up of System Support Units.
• Provide ad hoc advice to senior counterparts, including Ministers, Directors General and Directors.

Strategy and Workplanning

• Leading the design of activities and comprehensive work planning, KPIs and deliverables under workstreams related to PFM. This includes developing and when, necessary, giving presentations on a clear rationale, methodology and approach for each activity.
• Driving and quality assuring the timely development of clear and achievable KPIs and deliverables for the relevant programme outputs, in line with the programme logframe and workplan.
• Supporting the Team Leader to monitor the political context within PREMIS2 operates in Somalia and ensuring the PREMIS2 team has a precise and up to date understanding of the plans and priorities of the relevant institutions across government jurisdictions (FGS and FMSs).
• Identifying opportunities, and developing effective responses by the programme, demonstrating that the programme is adaptive.

Team Management

• Managing and overseeing the inputs of in-country PFM advisers.
• Mentoring and guiding national and international Technical Advisers in the design and delivery of activities. For example, holding periodic check-ins (at least weekly) to problem solve with relevant technical advisers and the project leadership team.
• Providing technical leadership and input in activities where the PFM Lead has relevant experience and knowledge.
• Supporting the Team Leader and PMU to develop and update an appropriate resourcing profile for the delivery of activities under their workstreams.
• Quality assuring technical analysis, policies, standards and procedures, reports and other deliverables produced by team members where the adviser has relevant experience and knowledge.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Developing close working relationships with senior government officials within relevant departments.
• Ensuring feedback from counterparts is adequately reflected in technical deliverables and PREMIS2 is able to secure necessary approvals from counterparts.
• Representing the team in key management meetings with the PREMIS2 team, national government counterparts, and FCDO and other development partners.

Reporting & Knowledge Management

• Collecting, collating and drafting analysis, research and background documents relating to PFM.
• Assisting the PREMIS2 team in collecting information and developing and updating programme management and M&E documents such as progress reports and workplans.
• Supporting the PREMIS2 team in developing briefs, reports and presentations to deliver to counterparts in the Somali Government, as well as FCDO and other donors.
• Noting any emerging programmatic and human rights risks, ensuring these are reported to the Team Leader and Project Management Unit, and subsequently included in the relevant risk registers.
• Reporting to the Team Leader on engagement with counterparts, progress in implementing plans, results achieved, challenges faced, and decisions that have to be made by the programme.

Reporting

• The PFM Lead will report directly to the Team Leader and will work in close coordination with other component leads, technical advisers (as appropriate) and the Project Management Unit.

Duty Station

• The PFM Lead will be primarily stationed in Nairobi/Mogadishu (as agreed with the Team Leader and Senior Project Manager). Regular travel to the FMSs will be expected when the security and risk profile permits, in line with project delivery and stakeholder engagement requirements.

Key Skills and Qualifications

The Adviser should have the ability to lead the delivery of world class technical assistance to Somalia’s Federal Member States, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environments. The adviser should relish working in a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive and genuinely committed to achieving lasting change in their work. The position requires the following skills and experience:

• A degree in Accounting, Economics or other discipline relevant to Public Financial Management and 8+ years of relevant experience
• 5+ years of experience working in complex and fragile states, preferably in Somalia
• Proven ability to lead a team of national experts to develop and implement a workplan
• Proven ability to deliver technical advice and effectively work with government counterparts
• Proven ability using initiative and delivering client-oriented results
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), inter-personal and team-working skills
• Strong awareness of the political and security context in Somalia
• Experience of using Financial Information Management Systems e.g. BISAN
• Proven ability to develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders
• Fluency in Somali and English
• Proficiency in IT.