Debt Management Adviser – Treasury – APEP – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

• Commencement: September 2024 
• Long term role, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
• Open to All Applicants 

About the Program

The Australia – PNG Economic Partnership (APEP) is a multi-sectoral investment to assist the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) to create a stable and more prosperous country. The investment is a key coordination point from which Australia delivers its economic development support to PNG in alignment with the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP). The Australian Government is committed to delivering the Partnership in accordance with the principles of integration and alignment with PNG’s economic sector policies, systems, and processes.

The Partnership’s policy objective is to assist PNG in its efforts to achieve sustained growth, capable of lifting the standard of living of all citizens, while also ensuring Australia maintains its reputation as PNG’s economic partner of choice.

The Partnership has gender equality, disability social inclusion (GEDSI), women’s economic empowerment (WEE), climate change, economic dialogue and open government positioned as cross-cutting objectives across all engagement areas.

It has the following End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs):

1. EOPO 1 Safeguarding Macroeconomic Stability
2. EOPO 2 Strengthening Public Financial Management (PFM)
3. EOPO 3 Supporting More Efficient and Inclusive Markets
4. EOPO 4 Fostering Inclusive Growth and Expanded Livelihoods
5. EOPO 5 Catalysing Economic Research and Dialogue

About the Opportunity

The Debt Management Adviser will work in a dynamic environment to provide practical sovereign debt-related advisory management support and capacity development across the Financial Management Division of PNG’s Department of Treasury. Key areas of support will be in sovereign debt analysis, reporting, forecasting and management, and reviews of sovereign debt-related legislation and policies where required.

Key responsibilities

Provide practical advice and capacity building support to GoPNG officials to:

• Support work on sovereign debt issuance, acquisition of official bilateral and multilateral debt and commercial loans and reforms to policy and legislative processes
• Support analysis on sovereign debt, and develop a sustained program of capacity building for the FMD on analytical techniques and tools
• Support reforms, alongside the World Bank, and Commonwealth Secretariat, to strengthen the Treasury’s sovereign debt management tools (including Meridian), and support ensuring timely entry and capture of information
• Assist reconciliation of sovereign debt payment data with cash flow information and IFMIS reporting, and strengthening the automation of these processes
• Support expanding reporting on debt, including producing internal monthly debt reports and dashboards
• Assist in forecasting and managing government cash flows, t-bill requirements, and related debt payment obligations
• Support developing risk analysis, and particularly external financing risks associated with potential financial market scenarios
• Support debt refinancing work, including any debt swaps, as needed.
• Support the prudent structuring on PNG’s debt portfolio in terms of maturity, currency and interest rate composition, including as needed contributing to analysis for the MTDS and helping FMD staff in developing the same
• Supporting the team in analysis of the domestic debt market, and in developing policies and interventions to strengthen and deepen the domestic market and participation
• Assisting in developing forward borrowing plans to assist ensuring financing for the budget, promoting smooth continuous functioning of PNG’s securities market, and lowering borrowing costs
• Support the FMD team in engagement with bilateral and multinational donors, and as appropriate private investors
• Support the FMD and other relevant teams within Treasury in strengthening interactions and reporting to the rating agencies such that there are improvements in PNG’s sovereign credit ratings
• Other work related to debt as directed by the FAS of FMD

Work with APEP executive and meet MERLA requirements set out by APEP.

Other responsibilities as agreed with the Secretary to the Treasury and the APEP Team Leader, Economic Policy Division (APEP).

Key deliverables

• Enhanced capacity of GoPNG officials and FMD staff, including strengthened practical policy analysis and implementation of sovereign debt management processes and reforms
• Applied sSovereign debt analysis and analysis of loans including for national projects involving major sources of financing
• Sound functional sovereign debt management advice to Department of Treasury executive and GoPNG
• Increase staff skills and capabilities in debt reporting, analysis and debt management
• Production of a regular (ideally monthly), reconciled debt stock report internally
• Other deliverables as agreed with the Secretary to the Treasury, AHC and APEP

Key working relationships

• Secretary to the Treasury and senior Treasury leadership team
• APEP Director and Team Leader, Economic Policy Division (APEP)
• Australian High Commission
• Donor agencies and donor funded technical advisers.
• Ratings agencies

About You

For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided.

• Tertiary qualifications in accounting, finance, economics, or business administration
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical understanding of the PNG Government (or similar) public finances and applied experience with sovereign debt portfolio management systems and processes
• Substantial functional (at least 10-15 years) experience in sovereign debt issuance, management and debt sustainability analysis
• Proven ability to provide high quality verbal and written strategic advice to senior government officials and the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Demonstrated skills in coordinating and facilitating discussions with a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments and international donor agencies
• Demonstrated skills in preparing quality applied reports and other knowledge products

Confidentiality

No confidential operational matters are to be disclosed to the APEP staff without prior approval by the Secretary to the Treasury. All matters and information which are not in the public domain are considered to be confidential.

Fraud Corruption Control Policy

APEP staff, subcontractors and consultants are required to comply with the Abt Associates’ Fraud and Corruption Control Policy. The Whistleblower Protection Policy protects employees’ rights when they report suspected fraud and corruption and extends to their work environment at the Department of Treasury.

Abt Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to upholding high standards of Child Protection, Anti-bribery, and Fraud Protection.