Research Analyst (Budget and Debt Management)

Position Title	Research Analyst (Budget and Debt Management)
Engagement Type	Long-Term Personnel (Local / National)
Group / Workstream	Budget and Debt Management
Grade / Level	B1
Approval Required	COO Sign-Off required
Reports To	Budget & Debt Management Lead
Location	Jakarta — Prospera Office
Duration	12 months

Program Background

Prospera Phase 2 is Australia’s flagship economic development partnership with Indonesia, supporting the Government of Indonesia (GoI) to advance sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth. Building on nearly three decades of cooperation, the program delivers high-quality, demand-driven policy advice, institutional strengthening and Australian Public Service (APS) partnerships aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities and Australia’s economic diplomacy objectives.

The program is structured around two mutually reinforcing End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPO):

• • EOPO 1: strengthened macroeconomic, financial and public financial management systems that support sustainable, climate-resilient and inclusive growth; and
  • EOPO 2: expanded markets, jobs, trade and investment through improved economic policy and reform implementation.

Across both outcomes, Prospera Phase 2 emphasises politically informed and evidence-based reform, sustained institutional capability, and locally led solutions rather than short-term technical fixes. Gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), sustainability, climate and energy transition considerations, and localisation are embedded across all areas of engagement.

Purpose of the Role

The Research Analyst (Budget) will provide full-time analytical support to Budget and Debt Management Team, with a particular focus on government expenditure and financing, as well as overall fiscal monitoring in Indonesia. The role will generate timely, rigorous and policy-relevant analysis to support engagement with Government of Indonesia counterparts and Prospera's broader macro-fiscal work.

The position requires an analyst who can work confidently with large and sometimes fragmented fiscal datasets, conduct analysis to respond emerging policy questions, and connect developments in government expenditure and financing with the economy. The analyst will support assessments of the efficiency, effectiveness and composition of government budget, budget execution and fiscal developments, debt management; and translate data into concise insights, presentations, and policy products.

Key Responsibilities

The Research Analyst (Budget) will support the Budget and Debt Management Team through fiscal monitoring, budget analysis, research, data management and preparation of analytical products. Key responsibilities include:

• Monitor State Budget developments, including revenue, expenditure, deficit, financing and debt, and track budget execution against targets and trends.
• Analyse government spending across aggregate, functional, economic, programme and sectoral levels, including central and subnational spending.
• Support analysis of spending efficiency, effectiveness, composition and allocation, including through spending reviews, expenditure benchmarking and trend analysis.
• Support analysis of budget formulation, execution and reporting, including relevant PFM reforms, regulations and institutional arrangements.
• Support analysis of medium-term and performance-based budgeting, central–subnational fiscal relations and transfers to regions.
• Monitor and analyse public debt, government financing and key fiscal risks, including debt sustainability and medium-term fiscal pressures.
• Contribute data and analysis to fiscal outlooks, macro-fiscal assessments and policy discussions.
• Build, clean, reconcile, document and maintain fiscal and macroeconomic datasets from multiple official and commercial sources.
• Regularly monitor and extract budget and fiscal data from Ministry of Finance publications and systems, BPS, Bank Indonesia, line ministries/agencies and other credible sources, and use databases such as CEIC for macroeconomic and fiscal monitoring.
• Prepare datasets, charts, presentations, policy briefs, technical notes and reports that communicate findings clearly to policy audiences.
• Work closely with Government of Indonesia counterparts and Prospera colleagues to obtain data, understand policy context and support evidence-based policy discussions.
• Support workshops, meetings and other engagements through background research, analytical materials, briefing notes and follow-up analysis.
• Ensure activities are designed and outputs delivered in accordance with Prospera's SOPs and standards, including technical quality standards, and donor requirements

Key Relationships — Internal

As a pivotal part of the Macro Fiscal Finance group (EOPO 1), the role works closely with:

• • EOPO 1 Portfolio Director (Macro-Fiscal, Finance, and Climate Resilience) - portfolio direction, performance management, prioritisation, resource decisions and escalation.
  • Budget & Debt Management Lead — reporting and supervision line; direction, support and professional development
  • EOPO 1 technical teams — collaboration across budget, revenue, expenditure, state assets, financing, fiscal risk, macroeconomic, financial sector, and related areas.
  • Other technical teams — collaboration on cross-cutting fiscal, economic, and PFM issues.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Team — program accountability.
  • Communications Team — support in developing and disseminating clear messages about the

team’s work.

• • Operations and enabling services - people, finance, operations, systems, risk and compliance matters.

Key Relationships — External

The Research Analyst (Budget) engages with:

• • Indonesian Government counterparts — collaboration on fiscal data exchange and policy insights.
  • Australian Government counterparts — alignment of fiscal analysis with broader program objectives and reporting, sharing of best practices and technical expertise in fiscal analysis.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

• • Bachelor's degree (S1) in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, or other relevant disciplines.
  • At least two years of relevant professional experience in economics, fiscal policy, public financial management, budget analysis, public policy or a closely related field. This may include internship experience.
  • Strong quantitative and data-management skills, including proficiency in statistical software such as STATA/others and advanced use of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Demonstrated ability to source, reconcile and analyse data from multiple sources. Familiarity with CEIC and Indonesian fiscal data sources is highly desirable.
  • Proven ability to work independently, collaboratively and deliver high-quality analysis under short timelines.

Desirable

• • Postgraduate Degree (S2) in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics or a related field with relevant training/courses on fiscal analysis or public finance.
  • Understanding of Indonesia's fiscal and budget policy, PFM institutions, and government planning and budgeting processes at the central level; familiarity with subnational finance or strong interest in Indonesia’s debt management issue.
  • Understanding of macroeconomic and public finance concepts and demonstrated ability to connect macroeconomic developments with expenditure, deficit, financing and debt developments.
  • Previous professional experience engaging with Indonesian government agency or working in development partner, international organisation, research institution or policy advisory environment.

Skills & Competencies

The role requires the following skills and competencies:

• • Agility with fiscal and government spending/financing data, including the ability to quickly understand unfamiliar datasets and identify material trends or anomalies.
  • Analytical judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to move from data to policy insight.
  • Proficiency in data cleaning, processing, visualisation and statistical analysis using STATA, Excel and related tools; familiarity with CEIC and other economic databases.
  • Ability to communicate complex quantitative findings clearly through charts, presentations, briefs and concise written analysis.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in collaboration with government counterparts and multidisciplinary teams.

Language Proficiency

Excellent written and oral communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia and English, with the ability to prepare concise analytical products and presentations.

Working Conditions

The Research Analyst (Budget) is based in the Prospera Office in Jakarta, Indonesia. This role involves regular collaboration with government counterparts necessitating occasional travel within Indonesia.

The work pattern is standard office hours, with flexibility to accommodate meetings and deadlines as required.

Performance & Accountability

Performance will be assessed against:

• • Quality of Analysis: The accuracy, depth, and relevance of analysis and insights provided.
  • Timeliness of Deliverables: The ability to meet deadlines for reports, presentations, and policy briefs, ensuring timely support.
  • Clarity of Communication: The clarity, conciseness, and effectiveness of written and verbal communications, including policy briefs, reports, and presentations.
  • Adherence to Frameworks and Procedures: Compliance with established Prospera operational rules.

Core Competencies

This position is expected to demonstrate the following core competencies:

• • Communicates clearly and effectively
  • Works collaboratively with others
  • Plans and organises work effectively
  • Identifies and solves problems
  • Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility

Ways of Working

Prospera Phase 2 operates in a transparent, accountable, and collaborative manner. All team members are expected to share information early, manage risk proactively, and maintain clarity about decisions, roles and responsibilities. The program values respect, professionalism, integrity, and a shared commitment to high-quality, timely delivery.

Ethics and Compliance

The postholder must uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and comply with all DFAT policies, contractual obligations and Prospera operational requirements, including:

• • DFAT Child Protection and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) policies;
  • Fraud, bribery and anti-corruption prevention requirements;
  • The Program Code of Conduct;
  • Conflict-of-interest obligations; and
  • Privacy, data-protection and confidentiality requirements.

Intellectual Property

All materials produced under this assignment will be the property of Prospera/DFAT.