Vice President Global Taxation

Role and Responsibilities

Vice President Global Taxation

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer ( CFO ), the Vice President Global Taxation, in this critical role, will be responsible for the complete oversight and direction of the tax function at CAE, including tax planning, tax compliance and tax reporting, and all tax aspects of business strategy and business development, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity.

The Vice President, Global Taxation will be the overall tax expert and tax thought advisor for the Company holding the responsibility to provide tax advice to the executive team and provide direction, as needed, in not only establishing and maintaining best practices, but also in looking for strategic optimality across the function and providing sound guidance on the tax implications across all of CAE’s commercial contexts.

The incumbent will have an internal team of twenty-six, Directors, Managers and Specialists, as well as leveraging off a wide external team of independent consultants and advisors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Tax Planning

• Provide overall strategic leadership both domestically and globally, for the Company’s tax function.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement tax efficient strategies including those for corporate structure and funding, the repatriation of profits, the effective use of tax credits, offsets, deductions, and loss carry forwards.

International Tax

Given the global nature of CAE’s business, as a Canadian multinational company with foreign operations, this individual will manage the interaction between Canadian and foreign operations and taxes and will be responsible for the Company’s global tax position, including the application of tax treaties, withholding taxes, transfer pricing legislation, and VAT.

Tax Advisory

Provide timely advice to the executive team and others within the Company, on material tax matters, both domestic and global, including the tax aspects of corporate initiatives and of business development opportunities being considered.

Tax Compliance

• Direct the tax compliance activities, both domestically and globally, for the Company.
• Manage audits by tax authorities globally.
• Maintain awareness of and direct the response to changes in tax legislation.
• Provide oversight for tax compliance from both a domestic and global vantage - ensuring processes are in place for effective compliance with tax legislation and for the effective use of available tax attributes.
• Operate with a high degree of diligence in this compliance with the ability to withstand scrutiny and potential litigation from tax authorities and within the court system.

Tax Reporting

• Working closely with members of the team to establish and maintain tax accounting practices to accurately reflect the impact of taxes on the financial statements and on published results.
• Manage the periodic review of tax processes and tax accounts by the external auditor(s).

Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions

• Evaluate tax aspects and tax impacts of potential business acquisitions, disposals, and re-organizations.
• Develop and implement plans for tax effective transactions.

Best Practices

• Establish SOX compliance Best Practice standards for the tax function.
• Monitor all tax practices across the Company, providing direction as required.

Internal / External Relationships

• Interface with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Internally, this position will work closely with and support the executive team in formulating and supporting corporate tax strategies and overseeing all tax compliance activities, as well as providing regular updates to the Board relating to the Company’s tax landscape.
• This individual will lead an internal team, consisting of Directors, Managers and Specialists.
• Externally, this position will interface with external consultants, tax advisors and tax authorities.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum of 15 years of tax experience, highly reputed as an expert in the industry, and with a demonstrated track record of success managing the tax function in a company and / or related experience within a national public accounting firm or law firm.

Experience with navigating tax disputes and litigation would be advantageous.

• Significant experience in Canadian, and International corporate tax is required.
• Experience with Canadian tax compliance in a highly global public company, either as a consultant or as an in-house executive, with tax planning for funding and structuring of international contracts and agreements, and the management of internal tax resources is essential.
• In-depth experience with tax planning activities in support of business transactions (M&A, restructuring, spin-offs, joint ventures).
• Diverse range of technical tax experience to support review, planning, compliance, litigation issues and research for international, federal, state / provincial, and local tax matters - including knowledge and expertise in the areas of tax treaties, foreign taxation and withholdings, transfer pricing, VAT and GST.
• Ability to identify innovative value creation tax opportunities and be adept at assessing different strategies and selecting the optimal course of action.
• Highly conversant in all areas of tax with the ability to manage creative ideas, transactions, and proposals, from both inside and outside the company.
• A strategic, conceptual thinker who sees the big picture from not only a tax perspective but also a business perspective - developing the vision, identifying appropriate strategies, and translating them into action.
• A long-term player committed to leading the organization into the future. A driver, who will move the organization along.
• An individual who has strong leadership and influencing skills, and the cultural sensitivity to operate effectively with executives in multiple countries, building relationships across several functions and levels.
• A team player, able to relate well to a broad spectrum of styles - able to build trust and consensus.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, and the ability to explain complex tax principles to non-tax people.
• Has a reputation for high intelligence, creativity and the ability to exercise sound judgment.
• A skilled and fair negotiator.
• Personable and confident individual with significant personal presence and credibility. Comfortable and engages well at all levels, including addressing the Board of Directors.
• Possesses unquestioned personal and professional integrity.
• Possesses a positive, can do attitude with pragmatic hands-on orientation and good common sense combined with strong critical thinking skills.
• Is willing to travel internationally on an occasional basis.

EDUCATION

An undergraduate degree combined with a professional designation (a professional accounting designation (CPA) and / or a legal designation (LLB / JD)) and the completion of tax specialist courses.

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Position Type

Regular

CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.