E T Consutant

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank’s Governance Global Practice seeks an Extended-Term Consultant (ETC) specializing in Digital Public Financial Management (PFM), IFMIS/FMIS, information technology, data, and applications 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 ETC will support the design and implementation of World Bank analytical, advisory, and operational activities related to Digital PFM, IFMIS modernization, data, and emerging technologies. The work includes helping align technology investments with institutional and business-process needs; assessing existing systems and digital transformation priorities; supporting modernization and implementation approaches; and assessing feasible, responsible uses of AI and advanced analytics in PFM, including data requirements, institutional readiness, risks, and potential value. The consultant will work across multiple countries and global engagements. Specific outputs will be agreed through the annual work program and may include IFMIS assessments and modernization roadmaps, Digital PFM diagnostics, functional and technical reviews, operational inputs, business-process and systems architecture analyses, country implementation support, technical specifications and procurement reviews, guidance, tools, and knowledge products. Outputs may also include practical AI and advanced analytics use cases, prototypes, methodological guidance, readiness assessments, and implementation roadmaps. The ETC will work under the leadership of the Head of the PEFA Secretariat and report to the WKPGF Practice Manager. The position is a one-year term, locally recruited, and based in Washington, DC.

Requirements

Master’s/PhD 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.
Demonstrated 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.
Demonstrated 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 work experience in designing and implementing digital solutions, including interoperability frameworks and shared data exchange platforms such as service buses and APIs.
Experience using third-party and open-source information.
Strong understanding of how Ministries of Finance operate.
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 and ability to explain realistic AI use cases, potential, and limitations to non-technical government counterparts.
Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and build trusted relationships with government counterparts.
Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with member-country authorities.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, with excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Nice To Haves

Spanish or French language skills.
Previous professional experience in a Ministry of Finance, Treasury, Budget Directorate, or equivalent central finance institution.
Direct responsibility for managing or implementing an IFMIS/FMIS reform or modernization program from the government side.
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.

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 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 government systems, including e-procurement, tax and customs, debt management, payroll/HRMIS, public investment management, central bank/payment systems, and data platforms.
Assess data architecture and interoperability for AI-enabled applications, including data quality, security, auditability, and controls.
Analyze PFM institutional arrangements and business processes and identify opportunities for simplification, standardization, automation, and digitalization.
Ensure digital solutions reflect PFM legislation, institutional responsibilities, controls, accounting frameworks, and government business processes.
Support business-process mapping and reengineering before or alongside digital investments.
Translate PFM policy and operational requirements into functional and technical requirements for digital systems.
Identify PFM processes where AI-assisted tools and intelligent automation could improve efficiency, controls, analytical capacity, or decision-making, while avoiding digitalization of inefficient processes.
Advise on digital architecture, interoperability, data standards, master data management, data governance, and system integration for PFM.
Support initiatives to improve the accessibility, quality, integration, and use of fiscal and financial data.
Explore applications of data analytics, AI, machine learning, automation, and other emerging technologies in PFM while considering institutional capacity, sustainability, 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 for PFM, potentially including 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 the feasibility, sequencing, costs, institutional requirements, and implementation risks of 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 learning and knowledge-sharing across regions.
Advise World Bank teams and government counterparts on responsible AI introduction in PFM, including data readiness, governance, human oversight, explainability, cybersecurity, sustainability, and implementation capacity.