AVP, Global Retirement & Savings

Sun Life Financial; Montreal; On-site; CAD 145,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an AVP for Global Retirement & Savings, responsible for financial management and governance of retirement programs. The role requires expertise in DB and DC strategies, strong relationship management, and innovative thinking. The successful candidate will collaborate with various teams and support financial wellness initiatives. This position offers a competitive salary range and emphasizes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Qualifications

• Expertise in DB and DC strategies and programs.
• Experience in M&A due diligence is an asset.
• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Leads financial management of retirement and savings programs globally.
• Oversees governance of retirement and savings programs.
• Acts as a key point of contact for global retirement & savings service providers.

Skills

Data and Measurement Focus

Relationship Management

Talent Development Orientation

Innovative Mindset

Education

Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA)

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

Job Description:

Collaborating with business, HR, and Total Rewards teams, the AVP, Global Retirement & Savings leads the financial management and governance of our retirement and savings programs globally. Provides expert technical support and guidance, in particular on complex DB pension plans in Canada.

Acts as a subject matter expert, contributing to key financial wellness initiatives and supporting the learning and development of retirement & savings team members. Contributes as a senior member of Sun Life’s global Total Rewards team, using data and analytics to inform key plan decisions and to bring our purpose to life through a modern, compelling, and integrated rewards experience for each Employee.

What will you do:

Leads the financial management of our retirement and savings programs globally including:

• Identifies and presents opportunities to enhance the financial management of programs (e.g., cost savings, efficiencies) while ensuring appropriate risk management.

• Prepares and\or reviews and validates financial reporting and management (e.g., quarterly accounting and risk stress testing, year-end global consolidation and pension note including SOX sign off, annual proxy disclosure for Named Executive Officers).

Responsible for effective governance of retirement and savings programs globally, including:

• Oversees Global and Canadian Employee savings and governance Policies
  (e.g., monitors significant regulatory developments and implications for retirement plan governance - “second set of eyes” for local monitoring, provides guidance to local management on best practice, supports response to audits as needed).

• Leads the annual review of global retirement and saving plans and reports to the Management Resource Committee (MRC) on the status of retirement and savings programs.

• Supports local Business Groups in their benefits and retirement & savings governance as an active member of local committees or arranging a delegate. Provides technical peer review and advice on development of agendas and governance documentation (e.g., committee charters, funding policy, and investment policy), attends meetings, and provides expertise and guidance as needed.

• Acts as the key point of contact for global retirement & savings service providers (e.g., relationship management, expense management) as needed.

Collaborating with Canadian Total Rewards partners, oversees and is responsible for strategic, technical decisions for Canadian retirement plans (e.g., funding strategy for registered and non-registered DB pensions, plan design and retirement readiness monitoring for DC and savings plans).

Acts as a technical subject matter expert, partnering with global and country-based business, HR and Total Rewards teams, including:

• Contributing to key financial wellness initiatives (e.g., developing a dashboard of key metrics that highlight the financial status of plans and financial wellbeing of participants, and progress in executing on Total Rewards vision).

• Providing advice and participating as a member of project teams to deliver on complex retirement and savings initiatives (e.g., conducting research and analysis, preparing and\or reviewing deliverables to support the design, implementation and communication of significant changes, transitions, RFPs, M&A due diligence and\or integrations, complex individual situations, etc.).

• Supporting the learning and development of country-based retirement & savings teams through mentoring, sharing expertise, acting as a sounding board, and contributing to finding and developing talent for the future.

Participates in other projects from time-to-time to support delivery of Total Rewards work and realization of the Total Rewards vision in alignment with our overall organizational “purpose” to help clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

What do you need to succeed

• Mindset: Possesses an innovative mindset with willingness to challenge the status quo, try new things, test & learn and empower others to do the same, designs and finds new solutions that solve business problems or create business opportunities.
• Data and Measurement Focus: Grounds decisions in facts, leverages data to generate new insights and opportunities, clearly defines and measures business outcomes to identify course corrections and measure success. Informs strategies and decisions through knowledge of current external research and trends.
• Relationship Management: Builds connections across functions and geographies, partners to validate priorities and desired business outcomes, collaborates and co-creates to develop solutions, and supports a safe environment where people can be themselves and deliver their best.
• Talent Development Orientation: Focuses on developing people through coaching, continuous feedback, and sharing technical expertise. Builds the team and pipeline for future success including identifying opportunities to expose Total Rewards team members to new experiences and skill building.

Qualifications:

• Expertise: A Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) with broad and deep expertise in DB and DC strategies and programs, including financial and risk management. Experience working globally and in M&A due diligence and\or integration is a significant asset. Broader experience in total rewards is beneficial, though not required.
• Delivery: Ability to independently define how to approach work, engage and influence stakeholders including navigating in a matrix organization, manage through ambiguity, address challenges and meet timelines. Experience working in agile is an asset.
• Executive-level Presentation Skills: Ability to independently shape, produce, and deliver ideas, presentations, and documents tailored to Executive and Board-level audiences. Key point of contact for retirement and savings program materials for the Management Resources Committee (MRC).

As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

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 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] .

At Sun Life we strive to create a flexible work environment where our employees are empowered to do their best work. Several flexible work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range:

145,000/145 000 - 235,000/235 000

Job Category:

Actuarial

Posting End Date:

18/05/2025