Call for Portuguese-speaking Public Finance Experts

Location: Global.

This is a call for Portuguese-speaking public finance and revenue experts to meet anticipated future demand for technical assistance in Lusophone Africa. Assignments are likely to be hybrid, combining remote work with periodic in-country deployments. Target countries may include Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Background

Adam Smith International (ASI) is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. For nearly three decades, ASI has partnered with governments, the private sector, and civil society in almost 100 countries to deliver lasting results, particularly in complex and fragile environments.

ASI has a strong track record in delivering impactful public financial management (PFM) reforms across Africa and globally. Our work spans the entire PFM cycle, including budget formulation and execution, revenue mobilization, debt management, procurement, and fiscal decentralization. We have supported governments in strengthening institutions, improving transparency, and enhancing accountability in public finance. ASI is currently also the Managing Supplier for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded Public Finance Resource Centre (PFRC) which flexibly delivers technical advice on tax, PFM and broader macro-fiscal and debt management support.

ASI is seeking to expand its pool of high-calibre PFM experts to support current and future technical assistance assignments funded by the FCDO, the European Union (EU), and other international development partners.

About the role

We anticipate an ongoing need for Portuguese-speaking specialists with strong public financial management (PFM) and revenue reform expertise to support government institutions and donor agencies across Lusophone countries in Africa

We are building a roster of Portuguese-speaking PFM and revenue experts with experience working in Lusophone countries in Africa, to support future technical assistance assignments delivered by ASI. This may include assignments related to:

• Political economy analysis and scoping studies

• Medium-term fiscal and budget frameworks, including realistic revenue/expenditure forecasting and program-based budgeting

• Debt management and reporting

• Open budgeting and public expenditure transparency

• Gender-responsive and inclusive budgeting

• Social protection

• Tax data and administration

• PFM and revenue legislation

• Public procurement reform

• Public financial management performance assessments, including PEFA

• Public investment management

• Tax policy and administration reform

• Domestic revenue mobilization

• Fiscal decentralization and intergovernmental fiscal transfers

• Mainstreaming climate action and financing into macro-fiscal frameworks

Required Expertise

While specific needs will vary by assignment, we are particularly interested in consultants who offer:

• Strong written and spoken communication skills in Portuguese and English; proficiency in additional languages relevant to the region is an advantage

• Experience working on the ground in Lusophone countries in Africa

• A minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience

• Demonstrated technical expertise in PFM and/or revenue reform, such as fiscal decentralisation, debt management, audit, or social protection

• A strong academic background, ideally including a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., economics, public administration, governance, development studies)

• A strong track record of delivering technical assistance and capacity building in developing and/or fragile states

• Experience with donor-funded programs, particularly those funded by the FCDO, EU, or multilateral institutions

• Ability to conduct institutional assessments, develop training programs, and deliver high-quality technical reports

• Strong stakeholder engagement capabilities, including working with government partners, multilateral organisations, and other relevant institutions.

Candidates meeting the above criteria will be added to our talent pool and will be considered for opportunities as they arise.

ASI encourages applications from candidates of all social backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and orientations. Qualified female applicants and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. We offer flexible working arrangements, please write to us to discuss further.

Ways of Working

Experts are expected to adhere to the following values and obligations:

• At all times work collaboratively and openly with other members of the programme team, proactively providing guidance, advice and sharing experiences to solve problems, overcome challenges and manage risks together.

• Free and open sharing of information gained from the client, beneficiaries, or other international projects with other members of the team.

• Respect for the confidentiality of the team’s discussions, assessments, decisions and plans or agreements with the Client.

• Adhere to decisions taken by the programme’s leadership and taking collective responsibility for implementing those decisions and communicating them to counterparts or other external parties.

• Ensure they have an accurate understanding of policies and decisions made by the Contracting Authority that relate to the programme and respecting and adhering to those policies.

• Careful coordination with other team members of communications and meetings with the Contracting Authority to ensure coherence of technical advice and an efficient use of the client’s time.

• Constant monitoring of risks to programme delivery and achievement of deliverables/objectives, as well as the reputation of ASI and the Client, and swift referral of those risks to the Senior Programme Manager.

• Comply with ASI’s operational and logistical procedures.

• Comply with ASI’s Duty of Care and security procedures designed to ensure safety of personnel and notify the Senior Programme Manager of any incidence that threatens the security of personnel or assets of the project.

• Understand and strictly adhere to ASI’s Code of Conduct.

Ready to apply?

If you meet the above criteria and are passionate about improving public financial governance in Lusophone Africa, we are keen to hear from you.

Please submit your CV, detailing relevant experience and expertise. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to high volumes, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.