KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Research Analyst (Budget and Debt Management)

Program: Prospera Phase 2

Position Type: Long-Term Personnel (Local / National)

Duration/level of effort: 12 months

Position Location: Jakarta — Prospera Office

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

Prospera is Australia's flagship economic governance investment in Indonesia, supporting the Government of Indonesia (GoI) to advance inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient economic reform. Implemented by Cowater International in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Government of Indonesia, the program runs from 2026 to 2035. Prospera is a dual modality program comprising partnerships between Australian and Indonesian government agencies along with distinct but interrelated Managing Contractor-led (Cowater) advisory and support services.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

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

SELECTION CRITERIA

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.            

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 11 November 2026/as soon as possible.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centered recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.