Director, GRS Tax

Sun Life Financial; Toronto; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sabbatical up to 6 weeks

Care Days

Sick Days

Job summary

Sun Life Financial in Toronto is seeking a Director, Group Retirement Services to lead tax compliance and risk management. You will collaborate with Corporate Tax, Legal and Compliance to interpret and apply tax legislation and drive process improvements.

The role requires CPA credentials with in-depth tax experience, strong leadership, and the ability to coach a team while guiding multiple priorities in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• CPA designation completed, enrolled or willing to enrol in CPA In-Depth Taxation.
• 5–10 years of tax experience in financial services or public accounting.
• Experience with FATCA, CRS and QI compliance and reporting.
• Strong leadership, coaching and team-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee annual GRS tax production and filings and ensure accuracy.
• Interpret FATCA/CRS/QI rules and ensure compliant reporting.
• Lead tax risk management and internal controls across GRS.
• Partner with Corporate Tax, Legal and Compliance on tax matters.

Skills

Leadership

Tax knowledge

Communication

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

CPA designation

CPA In-Depth Taxation enrollment

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful. When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

About the role

The Director, Group Retirement Services, will be responsible for all tax compliance and related risk management. This role will work closely with Corporate Tax, Legal and Compliance to ensure all tax legislation is appropriately interpreted and applied.

You have financial services tax experience, experience in managing a tax department and an interest in operations and compliance. You are no stranger to strong processes and possess strong leadership and communication skills along with the ability to proactively improve processes and manage risk.

What you'll be doing

• Accountable for the annual GRS tax production process of over 1.6 million tax slips, as well as annual tax return filings.
• Accountable for interpreting Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standard (CRS) legislation, and for ensuring all applicable filings are processed accurately and on time.
• Accountable for interpreting US Qualified Intermediary (QI) requirements and ensuring all applicable Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filings are processed accurately and on time.
• Participate in CRA audits, including FATCA and CRS, and the QI periodic review conducted by an external reviewer.
• Accountable for ensuring that policies, practices and administration systems are in compliance with all applicable tax laws.
• Responsible for ensuring appropriate controls and procedures are in place to maintain the integrity of product tax reporting.
• Actively participate in product development activities and provide sign-off and assurance that all tax-related implications are properly addressed.
• Monitor, interpret, make recommendations and communicate the impact of Federal and Provincial tax legislation on products, processes and marketing materials to the affected departments.
• Participate on the CLHIA policyholder tax committee to lobby for the development of appropriate tax legislation for retirement and savings products.
• Participate in FATCA/CRS CLHIA committees, and other External Advisory teams.
• Represent the GRS business within the Canadian Tax community at Sun Life, at CLHIA and at various divisions at the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Answer inquiries regarding current taxation and rule interpretations from all areas within GRS including analyzing corporate actions.
• Work closely with GRS IT and Canadian Finance on all tax related initiatives to ensure that changes made to the tax process are implemented correctly.
• Consult with other resources in the Company (Corporate Tax, Legal, and Compliance) to present recommendations on appropriate business practices and strategies.
• Evaluate the tax risk to GRS products where tax legislation is unclear or ambiguous.
• Provide training and education to administrative staff, Client Relationship Executives and sales representatives to enhance their knowledge and understanding of tax concepts and issues.
• Review contents of product sales materials to ensure that appropriate tax disclosure is included.
• Managing and providing guidance to members of the GRS tax team including 3 direct reports.
• Manage third party risk management for vendors GRS Tax oversees.

What you’ll need to succeed

• A designated CPA.
• Completed, are enrolled, or are willing to enrol in CPA’s In-Depth Taxation program.
• At least 5-10 years of tax related experience within financial services and/or public accounting environment with preference to having led a tax department.
• You have experience in FATCA,CRS and QI legislation and compliance.
• Strong people leader able to coach, mentor and build a strong team.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight timelines.
• Strong ability to communicate tax concepts in simple terms.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written) to collaborate with Staff.
• As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only as the position includes managing both French and English-speaking staff (Quebec and outside Quebec) and providing daily support to the team.

What's in it for you

Being a member of the Sun Life family, a group of people united by our Purpose: to help Clients and Employees achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. In 2024, Sun Life ranked among the top 100 most sustainable global corporations by Corporate Knights for the 15th consecutive year, leading Canadian insurers. We are proud to be on the 2024 Best Workplaces in Canada list by Great Place to Work. We’re also listed as one of the Best Workplaces for Women and Best Workplaces with Most Trusted Executive Teams.

• Our unique Sabbatical Program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every five years.
• Care Days available for self-care or care of others (i.e., family or others you may support)
• Sick Days to support your well-being.

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors.

In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues.

We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to [e-mail].

Work arrangement

We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you. We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

Compensation

Salary Range: 125,000/125 000 - 195,000/195 000