CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Financial Data Analysts/Financial Experts to Produce Analytical Reports for Accountability Journalism

1. Introduction

The media play a vital role in building a just, inclusive, and accountable society. These include promoting transparency, demanding accountability in public finance management, and advocating equitable resource distribution. By educating citizens on their rights to quality public services and scrutinising government revenue and expenditure, journalists serve as essential watchdogs for fiscal justice.

However, reporting on taxation, public budgets, procurement processes, and financial statements requires specialised technical knowledge and advanced analytical skills. The complexity of fiscal and financial systems often limits journalists’ ability to effectively interrogate data, identify red flags, trace inconsistencies, and uncover revenue leakages.

To bridge this gap, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with support from DANIDA through Oxfam in Ghana, is seeking to engage the services of three (3) qualified fiscal data analysts/financial experts to identify and interpret complex fiscal information, and clearly identify investigative entry points.

This initiative aims to close the gap between technical financial analysis and public interest journalism, strengthen the watchdog role of the media, and contribute to greater transparency, accountability, and equitable development in Ghana.

The MFWA invites qualified financial data analysts/fiscal experts to submit applications to produce clear, and accessible analytical reports that will support journalists to engage in accountability reporting and independent journalism in Ghana.

The selected analysts will develop practical and evidence-based reports that:

• Simplify and explain complex fiscal and financial data systems
• Guide the interrogation and interpretation of government budgets, tax/revenue data, procurement processes, and public expenditure reports
• Highlight methodologies for identifying red flags, inconsistencies, revenue leakages, and systemic financial risks
• Provide analytical frameworks and tools to strengthen investigative reporting on tax and fiscal justice

This activity forms part of the project titled: “Strategic Partnership Initiative for Ghana and West Africa”. The project aims to promote a just society where the governance system is democratic, accountable, inclusive, gender transformative, and where there is equitable distribution of resources and delivery of quality pro-poor public services.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The three (3) fiscal data analysts/financial experts will analyse government financial data, with a focus on identifying fiscal risks, irregularities, anomalies, inefficiencies, and provide potential entry points for investigative reporting, analysis and publications. They will interpret complex financial information, and translate the findings into clear, and accessible insights that can inform in-depth investigations and public interest reporting.

3. Scope of Work

The fiscal data analysts/financial experts will:

1. Conduct in-depth desktop research and analysis of government financial data, including:
   • National and sub-national budgets
   • Revenue and expenditure statements
   • Procurement and contract award data
   • Debt and fiscal deficit data
   • Audit reports and public accounts
2. Review selected financial data/information such as large public procurement contracts
3. The analysis must identify red flags, major infractions, inconsistencies, abnormal trends, unexplained variances, and potential indicators of financial malfeasance and/or illicit financial flows (IFFs)-related risks.
4. Develop analytical briefs highlighting:
   • Key findings and fiscal trends
   • Potential investigative angles
   • Data gaps and transparency concerns
   • Entry points for in-depth accountability reporting
5. Support journalists to:
   • Simplify complex fiscal concepts
   • Provide background notes and explanatory summaries

4. Methodology

The specific government/public financial reports the experts are to focus on will be discussed and agreed upon with the project implementation team at the start of the consultancy. The experts are expected to adopt a rigorous and transparent analytical approach that will include the following: collection and cleaning of publicly available fiscal and financial data; triangulation of data from multiple sources, including official publications, regulatory filings, audit reports; use of quantitative analytical tools to detect anomalies, trends, and outliers; application of red flag indicators related to corruption, procurement irregularities, revenue leakages and IFFs risks;  and clear documentation of data sources, assumptions, and analytical steps.

The methodology must uphold principles of accuracy, independence, objectivity, and confidentiality.

5. Expected Deliverables

Each financial analyst will be expected to produce:

1. A maximum of three (3) structured fiscal analysis reports detailing key findings, red flags, and investigative entry points.
2. Data summaries or simplified explanatory notes tailored for journalists and non-technical audiences.
3. A final summary report outlining key insights, systemic risks identified, and recommendations for sustained fiscal oversight and investigative focus.
4. Present the findings to a team of journalists for discussions.

All deliverables must be clear, evidence-based, and suitable for use in public interest reporting and advocacy.

6. Financial analyst’s Profile

The financial analysts/experts should fulfill the following criteria:

• An advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Public Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field.
• At least 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in fiscal analysis, financial auditing, public finance, forensic accounting, or financial investigations.
• Demonstrated experience analysing government budgets, revenue data, public expenditure, procurement records, and corporate financial statements.
• Strong understanding of public financial management systems and fiscal governance frameworks in Ghana.
• Familiarity with concepts related to IFFs, tax justice, and anti-corruption frameworks.
• Proficiency in relevant data analysis tools/software.
• Excellent analytical writing skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear and accessible language.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, journalistic-friendly narratives
• High ethical standards, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Strong research and writing skills

Experience working with media, civil society organisations, investigative journalists, and/or accountability institutions will be an added advantage.

7. Duration

The period of engagement will be for one (1) month.

The experts are expected to be available for periodic coordination/check-in meetings, whether virtual or in person.

8. Terms and Conditions

• This is a consultancy engagement, not a full-time employment position.
• The financial analyst/expert will work under the supervision of the MFWA project team.
• Payment will be made based on agreed milestones and submission of approved deliverables.
• The MFWA will retain all proprietary rights over all data, analysis, and outputs produced under this assignment.
• The financial analyst/expert must strictly adhere to confidentiality and data protection requirements.

9. Application Process

Interested applicants are invited to submit:

1. An expression of interest (EOI) outlining relevant expertise for the assignment
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting qualifications and experience
3. A technical proposal (maximum 5-7 pages) outlining:
   • Understanding of the assignment
   • Proposed analytical approach and methodology
   • Relevant past work
4. A financial proposal indicating consultancy fees
5. Samples of previous analytical reports or financial analysis work (where available).

Applications should be submitted via email to applications[@]mfwa.org with the subject line: “Application – Financial Data Analyst Consultancy” on or before 30^th March, 2026. Kindly copy rosemond[@]mfwa.org and kojo[@]mfwa.org in your email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the process may close once a suitable financial analyst/expert is selected.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.