Counsel / Senior Counsel - LEGFF

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to fill a fixed-term (three year) staff Counsel/Senior Counsel position in the Financial and Fiscal Law Division (FF division) of its Legal Department.

The primary objective of the FF division is to provide high-quality legal advice in the context of IMF surveillance, financial assistance programs, technical assistance and capacity development. In particular, the FF division provides advice to member countries on laws and regulations respecting central banks and monetary systems, financial institutions and markets (e.g., on the regulation and resolution of financial institutions and financial markets infrastructures), tax law, and legal frameworks underpinning public financial management. It contributes to the formulation of legal policies in its areas of expertise, within the Fund and with other international organizations (Financial Stability Board (FSB), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations (UN)), and advises on the design and implementation of legal reforms under Fund-supported programs. The FF division also provides legal advice regarding the digitalization of finance, the intersection of fiscal law with financial law (e.g. public debt instruments, temporary public funding to distressed financial institutions), and increasingly also on governance and anti-corruption.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of the General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department (LEG), and the supervision of the Assistant General Counsel responsible for the FF division, the successful candidate will work as Counsel/Senior Counsel and carry out duties and responsibilities in the field of the legal framework for public financial management (PFM).

This line of work comprises the broad legal frameworks governing the following: (i) budgetary processes (including the different phases of budget planning and formulation, approval, and execution, as well as reporting and control mechanisms), public debt, inter-governmental fiscal relations, fiscal councils and fiscal responsibility frameworks, public financial aspects and governance of state-owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds, public investment management, and public-private partnerships. The successful candidate may also advise on areas at the intersection between PFM and financial, central banking and tax law (e.g., local currency bond markets), as well as between PFM and other subject areas such as sovereign debt resolution, governance and anti-corruption.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the successful candidate will include:

• In the context of IMF surveillance, financial assistance programs, and TA, providing legal advice in the area of PFM legal frameworks to the Fund’s Executive Board, Fund management, other departments, and to other units within the Legal Department as required;
• Drafting of, and advising on, PFM legal frameworks in IMF member countries;
• Participating in Fund missions and engaging in pre- and post-mission research and reviews from a PFM law perspective;
• Engaging in research and reviews in the field of PFM law;
• Contributing to, and commenting on, Fund policy and analytical papers as well as other publications of the Fund in the area of PFM;
• Organizing and delivering presentations and seminars at the premises of the Fund and in member countries; and
• Carrying out other assignments as instructed by the General Counsel or the Assistant General Counsel in charge of the FF division.

Qualifications

Completion of LLM, JD, LLB, or equivalent, and licensed or qualified to practice law in any Fund’s member jurisdiction, is required, together with a minimum of two (2) years of professional legal experience in one of more areas of law that are relevant to the Fund's mandate and to LEG's work program (eight years of professional experience as a lawyer preferred).

The successful candidate will have significant experience in advising from a public policy perspective on legal issues related to PFM, including legislative drafting. Such experience can have been acquired in a ministry of finance or budget, parliamentary/congressional budget office, Supreme Audit Institution, Finance Inspectorate, state-owned enterprise, or similar entity.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of the IMF's role in the global financial system, its activities and operations, and its contribution in shaping international standards and legal frameworks underpinning fiscal soundness.

A high degree of demonstrated initiative and adaptability are essential attributes, as are excellent analytical, diplomatic, and written and oral communication skills in English. A strong track record of working effectively in inter-disciplinary teams and of good relationships with external counterparts at all levels and of different cultural backgrounds is also required.

A regular staff member who is selected to fill the vacancy will maintain their open-ended status. If the selected candidate is a contractual employee, they will be offered a Term staff appointment. Staff members already on a term appointment will continue their current term but may receive an extension provided that their current term appointment has not already been extended. 
 

This vacancy shall be filled by a 3-year Term appointment in accordance with the Fund’s employment rules.

All applicants are expected to include a Statement of Interest as an attachment to the application, which may be used in the screening process for this vacancy.

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The IMF is guided by the principle that the employment, classification, promotion, and assignment of staff shall be made without discrimination against any person. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process. Information on how to request accommodations will be provided during the application process.