Overview
The Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist will be seconded full-time to the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) to provide technical leadership on financial management, fiduciary governance, and public finance matters for the Education for All South Sudan (EFASS) programme.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide embedded technical advisory support to MoGEI on public financial management systems, processes, and controls.
- Strengthen MoGEI’s capacity in budget planning, formulation, and execution.
- Support MoGEI directorates and state education offices to improve financial management, accountability systems, and internal audit functions.
- Coach and mentor MoGEI finance and planning staff on financial reporting, expenditure tracking, and compliance.
- Build capacity of State Ministries of General Education and Instruction (SMoGEIs) in financial planning, reporting, and oversight.
- Develop, adapt, and support the use of financial management tools and templates.
- Support the design, operationalisation, and oversight of Education Transfer Management Committees (ETMCs).
- Provide technical support to MoGEI on the management and oversight of education-linked cash transfers and capitation grants.
- Advise on and support the development of robust financial controls, anti-fraud mechanisms, and risk mitigation measures.
- Coordinate with the EFASS Finance Lead and Cash Transfers Lead to ensure alignment between programme financial management systems and MoGEI’s accounting and reporting requirements.
- Monitor financial accountability mechanisms across all programme expenditure.
- Support compliance with FCDO financial management standards, rules, and regulations.
- Lead EFASS engagement on public finance reform.
- Engage strategically with MoFEP and other government counterparts to support increased domestic budget allocation to education.
- Support MoGEI in mobilising and leveraging domestic resources.
- Facilitate dialogue between MoGEI, MoFEP, and multilateral partners on education sector fiscal sustainability.
- Contribute to EFASS’s Outcome 5 system strengthening workstream.
- Serve as the primary liaison between MoGEI and the EFASS Programme Management Unit on financial management, fiduciary, and public finance matters.
- Participate in MoGEI coordination structures, representing EFASS on PFM and financial accountability issues.
- Contribute to EFASS’s adaptive management framework.
- Prepare technical inputs for FCDO reports on PFM activities.
- Coordinate with EFASS’s independent evaluation team and Value for Money framework.
- Engage with major donors and sector partners on PFM-related synergies.
- Ensure all financial management activities and government-embedded advisory work are conducted in line with EFASS safeguarding protocols and IRC’s Standards for Professional Conduct.
- Promote Value for Money principles in MoGEI’s financial management practices.
- Contribute to fiduciary risk assessments and financial spot checks.
- Ensure financial management approaches are inclusive and responsive to the needs of marginalised learners.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience in public financial management, government financial systems, or related roles in international development contexts.
- At least 3 years of experience working in fragile and conflict-affected states.
- Proven track record of providing embedded technical advisory and capacity building support within government ministries or public institutions.
- Direct experience supporting education sector financial management, capitation grants, or education transfers in sub-Saharan Africa or comparable fragile contexts is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience of working at the interface between donor-funded programmes and government financial systems.
- Experience working in South Sudan or the East Africa region is a significant advantage.
- Prior engagement with MoGEI, MoFEP, or South Sudan’s Budget Strengthening Initiative is particularly valued.
- Experience with large-scale FCDO-funded programmes and familiarity with FCDO financial management standards and reporting requirements.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Public Financial Management, Economics, Public Administration, Finance, International Development, or a closely related field.
- Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA) is a strong advantage.
