Senior Manager, Taxation

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Tax Returns :

• Prepare and / or review working papers to support corporate tax and information returns and complete tax forms and supporting documentation for these returns on a timely basis
• Prepare and / or review working papers to support filing of the premium tax, monthly provincial sales tax and monthly and annual indirect commodity tax returns
• Review working papers for monthly HST returns and filing on a monthly basis
• Review Segregated Fund working papers for trust information and tax returns, non-resident tax returns and tax slips and summaries prepared inhouse and those prepared by third-party service providers
• Review Foresters Segregated Fund trust information and tax returns and review tax summaries and tax slips
• Prepare and / or review non-resident withholding tax working papers, tax slips and returns including those prepared by third-party providers
• Assist with US and UK compliance requirements, including FBAR filings, review of FATCA and CRS forms, VAT, etc.
• Assist with Policyholder tax filings
• Prepare and / or review CbCR reporting forms and assist with Pillar Two related compliance requirements.

Tax Compliance and Tax Control Processes

• Prepare and / or review quarterly and annual tax provisions as required
• Requisition all installments, and payments for taxes, on a timely basis
• Prepare and / or review working papers for current and deferred tax on a quarter and annual basis including return to tax provision / assessment
• Preparation of year end and interim financial statement tax notes and supporting documentation as required
• Maintain effective control procedures over all aspects of the tax process including preparation of various monthly, quarterly and annual tax reconciliations to government statements.
• Identify opportunities for process efficiencies through automation and work paper simplification
• Prepare and / or approve tax journal entries and supporting documentation
• Review and / or prepare annual contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation.
• Ensure that tax compliance and tax process documentation and tax models are kept up to date on a timely basis

Audits :

• Manage the process for the year-end external tax audits and other audits by tax authorities, including the preparation of working papers, analysis and supporting documentation to respond to auditors on a timely basis
• Manage the international tax audit regarding annual contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation
• Provide working papers and liase with external auditors

Research, Planning Analysis :

Research, analyze and provide recommendations on a variety of legislative and regulatory Canadian and U.S. federal and provincial / state income tax, policyholder tax, commodity and retail sales tax issues.

Some co-ordination with outside consultants may be required.

• Assist with tax structuring
• Prepare tax cash flow and budgeting analysis
• Keep abreast of changes in tax legislation and analyze the impact of those changes to capitalize on changes in tax legislation.

Conduct and present tax research.

• Understand changes to financial reporting standards and analyze the impact for tax filings purposes, including impact of IFRS 17
• Respond to internal tax related queries from other cross functional areas and / or senior management

Key Qualifications

• Education : University degree in Business
• In-depth tax course or equivalent
• CPA required; CA preferred
• Experience (minimum required) : 8-10 years progressive post graduate tax experience (life industry preferred)
• FLMI an asset
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills, particularly complex Excel spreadsheets and database models
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Must be comfortable with written and oral presentations to various levels of staff and management
• Excellent analytical, research and problem-solving skills
• Strong knowledge of the insurance industry and the unique rules associated with accounting and tax reporting
• A strong level of initiative with the ability to evaluate existing processes and procedures and identify more effective ways of operating
• Team player
• Adaptable to change
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment and work well with all levels of the organization
• Well organized with a high level of attention to detail, able to manage several complex processes / tasks with a high level of accuracy
• Ability to manage priorities in a demanding and deadline-oriented environment
• Advanced knowledge and experience of Microsoft applications, especially in Excel (incl. macros and pivot tables), PowerPoint and Word
• Advanced knowledge and experience using Canadian Tax Return software such as Tax prep and Insur Tax (or similar)

LI-Hybrid