E T Consultant

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank’s Governance Global Practice is seeking an Extended-Term Consultant specializing in Digital Public Financial Management (PFM), IFMIS, information technology, data, and the application of AI to public financial management. The consultant will support the Digital PFM workstream of the Global PFM Program and contribute to global knowledge, tools, and scalable solutions for IFMIS modernization, digital transformation, data, and emerging technologies. The role combines technical expertise with an understanding of government PFM processes and works with World Bank regional and country teams and government counterparts to translate approaches into practical support for Ministries of Finance and other central finance institutions. The consultant will support the design and implementation of analytical, advisory, and operational activities related to Digital PFM, IFMIS modernization, data, and emerging technologies. This includes bridging PFM functional requirements and digital/IT solutions, assessing existing systems and transformation priorities, and identifying feasible, responsible AI and advanced-analytics applications while considering data needs, institutional readiness, risks, governance, security, and potential value. The ETC will work across multiple countries and global engagements under the leadership of the Head of the PEFA Secretariat and report to the WKPGF Practice Manager. The assignment may produce IFMIS assessments and modernization roadmaps, Digital PFM diagnostics, functional and technical reviews, inputs to World Bank operations, business-process and systems-architecture analyses, country implementation support, technical specifications and procurement reviews, and guidance, tools, and knowledge products. It may also include practical AI and advanced-analytics use cases, prototypes, readiness assessments, methodological guidance, and implementation roadmaps for testing and possible scaling across country engagements.

Requirements

Master’s or Ph.D. degree, or equivalent, in information systems, computer science, information technology, public financial management, public administration, economics, engineering, data science, or another relevant discipline.
At least 5–8 years of relevant professional experience in digital government, PFM information systems, IFMIS/FMIS, or related fields.
Hands-on experience designing, implementing, modernizing, or assessing IFMIS/FMIS.
Strong understanding of core PFM institutions and processes, including budget preparation and execution, treasury and cash management, accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and preferably procurement.
Ability to understand both the functional/PFM and technical/IT dimensions of government financial management systems.
Experience with system architecture, interoperability, databases, APIs, data management, enterprise architecture, or related digital-government concepts.
Experience working with governments and communicating technical issues to senior officials and non-technical audiences.
Knowledge of AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, or intelligent automation, and ability to assess practical applications to government and PFM processes.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and drafting skills.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, economics, or a relevant discipline, with at least 8 years of relevant experience designing and implementing digital solutions, including interoperability frameworks and shared data-exchange platforms such as service buses or APIs.
Experience using third-party and open-source information.
Strong understanding of how Ministries of Finance operate and comprehensive understanding of public finance policies, strategies, institutions, governance, and regulations.
Ability to connect technology choices to PFM reform objectives and distinguish institutional or business-process problems from technology problems.
Ability to communicate complex IT concepts to PFM specialists and policymakers, and PFM requirements to technical teams.
Knowledge of machine-learning methods and AI-driven analytics.
Proficiency in Python, R, or SQL for data manipulation and analysis.
Experience with CUDA for GPU-accelerated data processing and machine-learning applications.
Pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to digital transformation; ability to explain AI opportunities, potential, and limitations to non-technical government counterparts.
Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, build trusted government relationships, and deal effectively and diplomatically with member-country authorities.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, and excellent written and oral English communication.
An Extended-Term appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

Nice To Haves

Previous professional experience in a Ministry of Finance, Treasury, Budget Directorate, or equivalent central finance institution.
Direct government-side responsibility for managing or implementing an IFMIS/FMIS reform or modernization program.
Experience translating PFM requirements into functional specifications and working with IT teams and system vendors.
Experience in developing or emerging economies and familiarity with institutional and capacity constraints affecting Digital PFM reforms.
Experience with World Bank or other international financial institution operations and government digital transformation programs.
Knowledge of public-sector IT procurement and contract management.
Hands-on experience developing, piloting, deploying, or evaluating AI or machine-learning applications in government, finance, PFM, procurement, audit, or related public-sector functions.
Spanish or French language skills.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and functional advice on the design, modernization, implementation, and evaluation of IFMIS/FMIS and related PFM information systems.
Assess digital PFM architectures, including system functionality, coverage, interoperability, data flows, institutional arrangements, and implementation constraints.
Support IFMIS modernization strategies and roadmaps, including legacy-system migration and modular, interoperable, and potentially cloud-based architecture options.
Advise on functional requirements for budget preparation and execution, commitment controls, treasury and cash management, accounting, financial reporting, payments, procurement, public investment, asset management, and fiscal reporting.
Support integration and interoperability between IFMIS and related systems, including e-procurement, tax and customs, debt management, payroll/HRMIS, public investment management, central bank/payment systems, and data platforms.
Assess whether government financial systems can provide the data architecture and interoperability for AI-enabled applications while maintaining data quality, security, auditability, and appropriate controls.
Analyze PFM institutional arrangements and business processes to identify opportunities for simplification, standardization, automation, and digitalization.
Ensure digital solutions are grounded in PFM legislation, institutional responsibilities, controls, accounting frameworks, and government business processes.
Support business-process mapping and reengineering before or alongside digital investments, and translate PFM policy and operational requirements into functional and technical system requirements.
Identify PFM processes where AI-assisted tools and intelligent automation may improve efficiency, controls, analytical capacity, or decision-making without digitizing inefficient processes.
Advise on digital architecture, interoperability, data standards, master data management, data governance, and system integration relevant to PFM.
Support improvements in the accessibility, quality, integration, and use of fiscal and financial data.
Explore appropriate applications of analytics, AI, machine learning, automation, and other emerging technologies, considering institutional capacity, sustainability, information security, and implementation risks.
Contribute to dashboards, fiscal analytics, anomaly detection, forecasting, expenditure monitoring, and decision-support tools where appropriate.
Advise on cybersecurity, business continuity, disaster recovery, access controls, audit trails, and other IT governance considerations for financial management systems.
Support the development and testing of practical AI use cases, potentially including revenue and cash forecasting, expenditure analysis, spending reviews, unusual-transaction detection, procurement analytics, fiscal risk analysis, document analysis, and automated reporting.
Provide technical inputs to World Bank lending operations, analytical work, technical assistance, diagnostics, and implementation support involving Digital PFM and IFMIS.
Participate in missions and engage with Ministries of Finance, Treasuries, Budget Offices, Accountant General Offices, digital government agencies, and other relevant institutions.
Review technical specifications, functional requirements, procurement documentation, system design documents, implementation plans, and vendor deliverables.
Help assess feasibility, sequencing, costs, institutional requirements, and implementation risks associated with digital PFM investments.
Contribute to quality assurance and peer review of World Bank activities involving IFMIS and Digital PFM.
Develop practical guidance, tools, case studies, and knowledge products, and contribute to cross-regional learning and knowledge sharing.
Advise World Bank teams and government counterparts on responsible AI adoption in PFM, including data readiness, governance, human oversight, explainability, cybersecurity, sustainability, and implementation capacity.
Contribute to agreed annual work-program outputs, which may include assessments, roadmaps, diagnostics, technical reviews, operational inputs, implementation support, procurement reviews, and knowledge products.
Develop or contribute to practical AI/advanced-analytics use cases, prototypes, methodological guidance, readiness assessments, and implementation roadmaps for potential testing and scaling.