changemaker

Public Financial Management Advisor |BP-APSP

Abt Global (Abt) · INGO

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Closes in 14 days — 24 Jul 2026

  • Commencement: September 2026

  • Duration: From September 2026 to September 2028 

  • Location: Based in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PNG

  • Open to PNG national and international candidates

 

 

About the Program 

For Australia and New Zealand, the emergence of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Bougainville is a key national interest; supporting the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement is an explicit commitment in the Australia government 2017 White Paper. An overriding interest is to maintain the peace that the Agreement brought about and that is enabled by political dialogue, within and outside Bougainville, and economic development. It implies a readiness to engage for the long term, accepting that the development of institutions and diversified economic opportunities will be slow.

 

The Bougainville Partnership (BP) took on its current form in 2016, inheriting activities from a number of separately administered initiatives. The structure of the program remains similar to the BP’s previous program, but with updated outcomes as follows:

Pillar 1 - Capable Institutions 

1. GoPNG and ABG institutions are able to carry out high priority tasks that support Bougainville’s development and the post-referendum dialogue: Supporting defined tasks connected with the development of essential institutions, the draw-down of powers, and Post-Referendum Dialogue.

Pillar 2 - Economic Development

2. ABG and business associations jointly plan and implement initiatives to improve the private sector environment for inclusive economic development: Measures to improve the environment for private sector development and deepen the dialogue between the government and the private sector will be promoted through technical assistance.

3. Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. 

Women and men engaged in primary production have increased incomes and benefit from inclusive associations and cooperatives: The current agricultural value chain activities will be continued, focussing on improving cocoa quality and linking producers to markets. This objective must be complemented with an economic inclusive policy and strategy that helps the interest of women, youth and people living with disabilities to actively take part and benefit from the economic activities. 

Pillar 3 - Stronger Communities

4. Community, youth and women’s groups collaborate effectively to establish sustainable community assets, deliver services and advocate for their target groups: Formerly the peace-building component, activities will include continuation and expansion of the existing successful community grants program, initiatives to provide skills and foster networks for youth, and community infrastructure.

Pillar Crosscutting Outcome:

5. Women increasingly participate in decision making and take on leadership roles in civic, economic and political spaces: The program will use the entry points from its range of activities to promote women’s leadership.

The BP is part of the Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP), which is an enabling mechanism comprised of three separately designed programs including: BP, the Western Province Partnership (WPP), the Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP), and the Subnational Governance Implementation Plan (SGIP). Each program has its own outcomes, theory of change, operational approach and separate monitoring and evaluation systems.

 

Position Overview 

The Public Financial Management Advisor will contribute towards the BP’s Pillar 1 End of Program Outcomes including:

Public Financial Management Reform Roadmap

  • The Public Financial Management Advisor (the Advisor) will be required to support discreate components of the ABG Public Financial Management Reform Roadmap (PFMRR) 2024-2028 (Version 5). The PFMRR 2024-28 is a comprehensive reform document structured around seven PEFA (Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability) pillars and a set of cross-cutting structural and anti-corruption measures. 

  • Of the full Roadmap, 35 activities are rated as critical priority; these represent the foundational reforms on which all other High, Medium, and Low priority activities depend. They span budget formulation, fiscal transparency, asset management, medium-term fiscal strategy, budget execution controls, accounting and reporting, audit oversight, treasury systems, anti-corruption, gender-responsive PFM, and revenue administration.

 

  • Upon the Advisors arrival, discussions will be held with the ABG and other development partners to confirm which ‘critical priorities’ within the Roadmap the Advisor will prioritize. The advisor when then develop a workplan for approval by the Secretary DoTF. 

 

Tax Office Strengthening

  • Economic Development is a priority for the ABG and the Bougainville Partnership. The ABG’s approach to supporting economic development in the near term is articulated within the Anchor Bougainville Economy (ABE) Strategy.

  • The ABE Strategy 2025 priorities have been confirmed as the following five areas in a recently released Information Paper: 

    • Priority Project 1: Business Registration 

    • Priority Project 2: Revitalise Tax Office

    • Priority Project 3: Consolidated Treasury 

    • Priority Project 4: Implement Economic Laws

    • Priority Project 5: Economic Enablers (Public Utilities)

  • The Advisor will contribute to Priority Project 2: Revitalise Tax Office by providing support to ongoing functional analysis, capacity mapping and organisational redesign/restructure to enable the operationalization of the Tax Office. 

  • The majority of the Advisors inputs will be focused on the implementation of the PFM Reform Roadmap, however, the Advisor will be requested to provide surge support to the Tax Office Strengthening as and when there are opportunities to progress key reforms. 

  • Throughout the Advisor will demonstrate a visible and systematic commitment to achieving gender equality and for achieving against agreed gender equality performance objectives.

 

Key Responsibilities 

Public Financial Management Reform Roadmap

  • Alongside the DoTF, review the PFMRR 2024-2028 (Version 5), specifically the 35 activities are rated as critical priority, and confirm BP advisory and resource focus.

  • Support DoTF to implement PFM Reform Roadmap, including but not limited to:

    • Budget and Fiscal Strategy:

      • Support the develop of a comprehensive budget formulation process covering revenues, expenditures, responsibilities and timing.

      • Support the assignment of DoTF Policy Division formal responsibility for revenue and expenditure forecasting with modelling guidelines and capacity building.

      • Support the preparation and updating of the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) aligned to Bougainville Vision 2025, BISDP 2023–27 and Anchoring Bougainville Economy.

    • Execution and Control Systems

  • Support the consolidation of cash resources, establish live cash forecasting and link bank accounts to Free Balance IFMIS.

  • Supporting the linking payroll directly to the staff list and personnel database.

  • Support the reform procurement law, rules, training, conflict-of-interest guidance and fraud reporting arrangements.

 

Other PFM Activities (as requested)

  • If the ABG proceeds with its division/separation of Finance and Treasury functions, the advisor would support the division and establishment processes

  • Capacitate the ABG Treasury to improve microeconomic analysis and revenue forecasting

  • Support the implementation of costs of services studies at sector level as agreed with ABG

  • Support DoTF to improve revenue management system

 

Tax Office Strengthening

  • Work along the BTO and other BP advisors to support to ongoing BTO functional analysis, capacity mapping and organisational redesign/restructure to enable the operationalization tax laws.

  • Review key BTO corporate documents, including but limited to: BTO Corporate Plan, BTO Business Development Strategy and Implementation Plan, BTO Training Plan, Compliance Improvement Strategy and Enforcement Implementation Plan

  • Provide support, as directed, to BTO to update and strengthen corporate plans, workplans and operational and compliance procedures

 

Tax Framework Review

  • Support BTO to implement key recommendations from Tax Framework Review

  • Support BTO implement structured changes and systems strengthening in line with Tax Framework Review

  • Provide input and support for the operationalization of current tax laws 

 

Collaborate with other advisors on key workstreams, including:

  • The drawdown of priority powers and functions.

  • Commencement and implementation of ABG drawdown legislation.

  • Implementation of the Anchor Bougainville Economy 

 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

  • In collaboration with BP’s MERL Adviser support regular monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Pillar 1 activities.

  • The production of analytical and progress reports on Pillar 1 strategies, activities, risks and issues for various stakeholders, including, the Director, DFAT and Technical Working Groups.

 

Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion

  • Collaborate with the ABG Department of Community Development, APSP’s GEDSI Lead and the BP’s GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator to ensure the integration of BP’s GEDSI Strategy into workplan and activities

  • Demonstrate leadership support for the implementation of key diversity and inclusion policies

 

Key working relationships 

ABG & GoPNG

  • Senior Staff, Department of Treasury & Finance (DoTF) & Bougainville Tax Office (BTO)

  • Senior Staff, Department of Personnel Management & Administrative Services (DPMAS)

  • Senior Staff, Department of Justice & Legal Services (DJLS)

  • Senior Staff, Office of the Chief Secretary 

  • Senior Staff, National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA)

  • Finance staff across the ABG

 

Bougainville Partnership 

  • Director, BP

  • Team Leader, Governance & Institutions (Pillar 1)

  • Team Leader, Economic Development (Pillar 2)

  • Team Leader, Stronger Communities (Pillar 3)

  • Infrastructure & Facilities Lead 

  • MERLA Adviser and MERLA Officers

  • GEDSI Manager and GESDI Coordinator

  • Long- and short-term Advisers to: DoTF, BTO, DJLS, NCOBA

 

Primary External Relationships:

  • Australian High Commission 

  • New Zealand High Commission 

  • Other Australia and New Zealand development programs

  • Strengthening Transparent and Accountable Governance (STAG) project (EU-funded)

 

About You 

Qualifications

  • Tertiary qualifications in accounting, public financial management, business administration and/or relevant field in social science (masters preferred).

  • Certified Practicing Accountant or equivalent (desirable) 

 

Knowledge 

  • Demonstrated knowledge of decentralised financial management policy, laws and regulations within PNG or the Pacific region. 

  • Demonstrated knowledge in the application of fiscal management and monitoring tools and systems at the national and subnational levels.

  • Demonstrated understanding of broader machinery of government functionality including planning and budgeting framework.

  • Demonstrated knowledge of capacity building, strategic planning and change management.

  • Understanding of sub-national governance in Papua New Guinea or Pacific region.

  • Understanding of the monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements of Australian/Papua New Guinea Government or donor programs.

  • Some familiarity with the unique autonomy arrangements applicable to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

 

Skills/Experience

  • At least 10 years’ experience in public financial management preferably in the Pacific or regional Melanesia.

  • Hands on experience in capacity building and institutional strengthening.

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to lead and build effective coalitions, especially in a remote, cross-cultural context.

  • Strong written communication and analytical skills with demonstrated experience preparing high quality reports and professional documents for senior and executive audiences

  • Excellent political economy analytical skills that are regularly applied to ensure the Program’s sustained delivery against workplans.

  • Ability to understand local contexts and provide advice to donors on adaptive programming to ensure investments remain aligned with partner’s priorities.

  • Demonstrated skills and experience in advancing gender equality and inclusion approaches across workstreams.

 

Personal Attributes

  • Delivers Results

  • Builds Internal and External Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty.

  • Develops People

  • Communicates

  • Sets Vision and Direction

  • Demonstrates Sound Financial and Business-Related Practices

  • Builds Teams and Cooperation

  • Promotes Technical Excellence and Quality

  • Promotes Diversity Acts as a Role Model

     

How to Apply

  • Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document. 

  • Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted. 

  • The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.

 

We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date:  Friday, 24 July 2026, 12PM (Mid-day, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.