Public Financial Management Adviser - Australia Fiji Health Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Long Term Role – commencing September to December 2027; with possible 2 year extension  
• Base in Suva, Fiji 
• The Terms of Reference (TOR) have been amended. Applicants who applied previously are welcome to reapply.

Fpsp Overview:

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.  

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs. 

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:  

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments. 
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies. 
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

Afhp Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (the Platform) implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.   

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised. 

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). 

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are: 

• Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and 
• Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs). 

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans. 

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation. 

Position Summary:

The Public Financial Management (PFM) Advisor (the ‘Advisor’) will provide high level policy advice and technical guidance to support MHMS to:

• Strengthen financial planning, budget execution, expenditure control, and internal PFM capacity.
• Build capacity within the Finance and Asset Management Division (FAM) in alignment with the Government of Fiji’s broader PFM reform agenda.
• Contribute to more efficient, transparent, and accountable utilization of health resources to improve service delivery and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

The Advisor will work closely with MHMS, the Ministry of Finance (MoF), DFAT, and other stakeholders to deliver the following:

Comprehensive PFM in Health Assessment

• Conduct a desk review of existing PFM assessments (e.g., PEFA Assessments, World Bank reviews) to map gaps/bottlenecks in budget formulation, execution, procurement, and payment processes.
• Based on the identified gaps/bottlenecks, develop a roadmap with clear, realistic, priority actions for improved financial management.

Annual Budget Planning and Execution

• Support the development of realistic and prioritized Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) aligned to MHMS Strategic Plan and budget ceilings.
• Assist in costed activity planning and procurement scheduling.

Capacity Development

• Deliver targeted training for MHMS finance, planning, and program staff including, but not limited to budget forecasting and execution, variance analysis, and procurement.
• Provide specialized training on Fiji Procurement Regulations 2024 and MoF’s Financial Management Information System (FMIS).
• Develop and deliver 'Finance for Non-Finance Managers' training for cost-center heads.
• Provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to FAM staff.

Budget Execution and Expenditure Control

• Strengthen budget execution across standard expenditure groups and capital works. 
• Work with MoF and MHMS to streamline fund release, procurement approvals, and payment processes.
• Support process reforms to minimize delays in budget execution.

Decentralization of PFM Functions

• Support revisions to Finance Instructions 2010 to enable divisional/sub-divisional budget execution
• Provide oversight and systems strengthening for decentralized pilots.

PFM Monitoring, Reporting, and Accountability

• Support the development of a PFM performance dashboard using FMIS data.
• Support timely reporting on budget execution to MHMS leadership and MoF.
• Strengthen MHMS’ use of reports for in-year adjustments, virements, and emergency reallocations.

Procurement and Supply Chain Systems Strengthening

• Support MHMS in preparing Annual Procurement Plans (APPs) and multi-year procurement strategies.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for procurement performance.
• Strengthen contract management, supplier performance, and priority procurements.

Cross-Sectoral Budget Coordination

• Support MHMS and MoF to establish a cross-sectoral PFM working group.
• Facilitate a root-cause analysis of MHMS’ underspend with clear agency-specific actions.

Advisory

• Serve as financial advisor to the Permanent Secretary (PS) MHMS, providing strategic guidance on fiscal matters, budgetary planning, and risk management.
• Represent MHMS in relevant forums, networks, and working groups.
• Any other duties as reasonably requested by the PS MHMS or Team Leader, AFHP

Deliverables

• PFM assessment and reform roadmap (Q4 2025).
• Costed and prioritized AOPs linked to MHMS Strategic Plan (Q2 2026).
• Training modules delivered (Finance for Non-Finance Managers; FMIS; Procurement Regulations 2024). (Ongoing)
• Functional PFM performance dashboard and regular reporting templates (Q1 2026).
• Piloted decentralized PFM systems in at least three divisions (Q4 2026).
• Quarterly and mid-year health budget execution reports published from FY25/26.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting To:

• Permanent Secretary MHMS
• Team Leader, AFHP

Other:

• Chief Medical Advisor
• MHMS Finance and Asset Management Division
• Ministry of Finance
• DFAT

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications

• Advanced Postgraduate Degree (Masters or higher) in Public Financial Management, Economics, Accounting, Public Administration, Finance, or a closely related discipline.
• Recognised professional accounting or financial management certification (e.g., CPA, CFA, CA, CIPFA) is desirable.

Experience

• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive senior-level experience in public financial management, including budget formulation, fiscal policy, expenditure management, public sector accounting, and financial reporting.
• Experience with Fiji’s PFM systems, regulations and institutional frameworks.
• Strong understanding of donor financing modalities, fiduciary risk management, and public expenditure accountability.
• Proven record of delivering capacity development, including training and mentoring.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desirable

• Experience working in Pacific Island Countries or comparable contexts.
• Experience working on donor-funded programs, particularly DFAT.

Knowledge And Skills

• Strong knowledge of international good practice in public financial management, budget formulation, execution and reporting.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, and high-level stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust and influence senior decision-makers.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear policy advice.
• Applied understanding of health sector financing and expenditure management in developing country contexts.
• Technical proficiency in the use of Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) and the ability to transfer knowledge to others. A working knowledge of MoF’s FMIS is desirable.
• Excellent capacity building skills, including training design and mentoring.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills with the ability to convey technical PFM concepts in layman’s terms.
• High – level report writing and presentation skills with the ability to prepare clear policy briefs and technical papers.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and deliver results in complex operating environments.

Personal Attributes

• Strong organizational skills, including multitasking and time-management. 
• Strong client-facing and teamwork skills. 
• Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Attention to detail.

How To Apply:

Applications close on 12 SOctober 2025.

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV.    

#Li-Ausbrit #Li-Jr1