FEM/26/038 – FAM2402 – Financial and Budgetary Expert

Under the ICAO Capacity Development and Implementation Directorate (CDI), the Operations Section (FOS) is responsible for the strategic planning, development, execution, and evaluation of projects. FOS supports the identification of priority development needs in the civil aviation sector and offers technical cooperation to recipient States. FOS executes projects in accordance with ICAO/CDI policies and contractual modalities. 

ICAO/CDI is supporting the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the institutional reform of the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), as established in Project Document ARM24802. This project is implemented under the Management Service Agreement (MSA) signed between ICAO and the Government of Armenia on 8 March 2024. 

Within this framework, the project provides structured technical assistance to transform the current CAC from a government department operating within civil service constraints into an autonomous, technically competent, and financially sustainable authority fully capable of fulfilling its safety oversight mandate in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). 

In addition, this project aims to support the necessary institutional reforms to increase effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID.

Armenia's civil aviation sector is currently regulated by the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), a government body operating within the State civil service framework. The CAC faces structural challenges that constrain its effectiveness as a safety oversight body: it operates under civil service HR frameworks that limit its ability to attract and retain qualified technical specialists; it is dependent on the state budget with limited cost-recovery mechanisms; and its primary legislation and regulatory framework require updating to align with applicable ICAO SARPs.

ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) findings have identified gaps in Armenia's safety oversight capabilities that can only be sustainably resolved through fundamental institutional reform. The Government of Armenia, in cooperation with ICAO, has committed to transforming the CAC into an autonomous CAC capable of fulfilling its safety oversight mandate on a sustainable basis and to increase effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID. 

Project ARM24802 supports this transformation through three integrated reform pillars: (i) Institutional and Legislative Reform — establishing the legal, regulatory, and governance framework for an autonomous CAC and independent AASIID; (ii) Organizational, Administrative and Functional Review — restructuring the institution's organization, processes, and manuals; and (iii) Sustainable Financing and Human Resources Framework — establishing cost-recovery mechanisms and a competitive HR framework to attract and retain qualified staff.

In general terms, the activities contemplated in Project ARM24802 in which all team members will contribute include the following: 

1. Diagnostic Phase: Assessment of the current CAC's and AASIID’s legal, institutional, organizational, financial, and HR frameworks; review of USOAP findings and national legislative context. 

2. Reform Design Phase: Development of reform recommendations, legislative drafts, organizational models, financial frameworks, and HR policies aligned with ICAO SARPs, related guidance and best practices. as applicable. 

   3.      Implementation Support Phase: Technical assistance to CAC and AASIID in implementing approved reforms, including staff capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the CAC's and AASIID’s current budget model, funding sources, cost structure, fee schedules (if any), and financial management systems.
• Design a sustainable funding mechanism for the future autonomous CAC, including cost-recovery mechanisms, fee schedules for aviation services (certification, licensing, airworthiness approvals, inspections), and revenue diversification options.
• Design effective and sustainable funding mechanism for the AASIID, including the availability of ad-hoc funding in case of major aircraft accident investigations. 
• Benchmark the proposed funding mechanism against best practices in comparable States, with reference to related ICAO guidance. 
• Assess transition financial requirements: budget transfer arrangements, temporary funding bridge, and start-up cost estimates for the autonomous CAC and independent AASIID. 
• Develop multi-year financial projections and a business case for the reformed CAC, covering operating costs, staffing, infrastructure, and fee income. 
• Propose governance mechanisms for the CAC's and AASIID’s financial management, including accounting systems, financial reporting standards, internal controls, and accountability frameworks. 
• Draft financial management framework documentation and the financial components of the CAC and AASIID Transition Plans.

• Perform duties under the coordination of the Project Coordinator to the best of their ability to achieve the project objectives. 
• When necessary, contribute to the review and harmonization of sections developed by other members of the expert team. 
• Compile the necessary documentation to carry out the work. 
• Prepare meetings and field visits appropriately, including preparing lists of stakeholders to be consulted, questionnaires, and corresponding visit and meeting reports. 
• Participate in coordination meetings organized by the ICAO CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator. 
• Ensure that ICAO's safety, security, and sustainability considerations applicable to the various work areas are incorporated into all deliverables. 
• Participate, under the direction of the Project Coordinator, in the development of a detailed work plan with delivery dates and responsibilities for each team member. 
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly project monitoring reports submitted to the ICAO CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator. 
• Contribute to the review and integration of all reports and documents into final deliverables. 
• Prepare presentations for project progress briefings to the Government of Armenia, ICAO, and other stakeholders. 

• Assess the CAC's and AASIID’s current budget structure, expenditure patterns, revenue sources, and financial management capacity; produce a financial assessment report. 
• Design a cost-recovery fee schedule for aviation services, with a methodology for fee-setting, review, and consultation.
• Develop multi-year financial projections and budget estimates for the autonomous CAC's and independent AASIID’s first 3-5 years of operation. 
• Propose governance mechanisms for financial management and accountability of the CAC and AASIID. 
• Draft financial management framework documents: financial policy, fee schedule, accounting framework, and reporting templates. 
• Contribute to the CAC and AASIID Transition Plans with a financial transition chapter covering budget handover and continuity arrangements. 

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

The general objective of the work to be carried out by each Expert is to contribute, as part of the team and under the direction of the CAC Management Expert/Project Coordinator (Expert 4), to the institutional transformation of the current CAC into a structurally autonomous, technically capable, and financially sustainable authority and strengthening the effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID, in accordance with the objectives of Project ARM24802.

The Expert reports to the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) Authorities in close coordination with the ICAO Program Manager. Also coordinates with ICAO experts on administrative matters, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

• University degree in Finance, Economics, Public Administration, or Business Administration. Specialized education in public finance, financial management, or regulatory economics (Master's degree or equivalent) is desirable.

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in financial management, public budgeting, or financial reform, preferably in regulatory or public-sector contexts. 
• Demonstrated experience designing cost-recovery or fee-for-service financing models for public, quasi-public, or regulatory bodies. 
• Experience with financial management and financing models of civil aviation authorities or comparable safety and economic regulators. 
• Knowledge of ICAO guidance on civil aviation authority financing and cost-recovery, including Doc 9562 (Airport Economics Manual) and related materials. 
• Experience working in transition, developing, or CIS-region economies is desirable.

Strong command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of Russian or Armenian is a significant asset.

Special Service Agreement: 500 USD per day worked plus DSA and airfare when on mission. No other allowances are provided.

NO FEE

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’BANK ACCOUNTANTS.