Manager Financial & Strategic Planning-CA

Canadian National Inc.; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

ESIP

Pension

Benefits

Job summary

The Canadian National Inc. seeks a Manager Financial & Strategic Planning-CA to lead forecasting, planning and cross-functional collaboration in Montreal. You will develop and update multi-year plans, support ROI analysis and prepare executive-level financial guidance.

The role requires strong modelling, CN experience, CPA/CFA (MBA preferred) and a track record in advanced Excel, SAP, Essbase, BW, Power BI and Tableau.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Commerce required.
• CPA or CFA designation is required; MBA is an asset.
• 7-10 years in finance or accounting roles with modelling experience.
• Experience with financial data models, board materials and ad hoc analyses.
• Strong analytical skills and CN experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop consolidated statements and multi-year plans with targets.
• Craft annual bonus and LTIP targets; incorporate acquisitions into plans.
• Produce external guidance summaries and MD&A documentation.
• Update Year End Outlook monthly and monitor variances.
• Create insightful reports and dashboards; drive process improvements.
• Collaborate with Treasury to align forecasts and cash flows.
• Ensure accuracy of reports and related data visualizations.

Skills

Financial modelling

GAAP knowledge

Advanced Excel

SAP

Essbase

BW

Power BI

Tableau

Financial planning

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Commerce

CPA

CFA

MBA

Tools

SAP

Essbase

BW

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Manager Financial & Strategic Planning-CA

Please note that the language you select on this site will be the primary language used for all future communications regarding your application.

Manager Financial & Strategic Planning-CA Req Id: 1176 Job Location: Montreal - QC Business Unit: Finance Highest Level Division: Financial Planning Posting Start Date: 10/19/26 Posting End Date: 11/02/26 French/English Bilingual Requirement: No

Hiring Salary Range: $110000 - 144000 This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience.

You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.

At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers. Join us today and get your career moving!

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for developing, updating and communicating forecasted financial statements, producing entity-level splits of forecast for Taxation, and determining actual and expected Return on Investments (ROIs). The position maintains and enhances multi-year business plan models and collaborates cross-functionally. The incumbent facilitates discussions with senior leaders including the Vice-President (VP) Financial Planning (FP), Vice-President Treasury, Assistant Vice-President (AVP), Investor Relations, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Main Responsibilities

• Develop consolidated income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements including incorporate operating, investing, financing, and shareholder return plans and targets
• Craft key deliverables of the business plan, including annual management bonus targets and long-term incentive plan (LTIP) targets
• Ensure the Financial Model has capability to incorporate purchase of companies (e.g., asset or equity) into the Plan

Forecasting and Strategic Analysis

• Ensure the consolidated United States (U.S.) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) income and selected cash flow items are split among the different tax jurisdictions on a legal entity basis
• Carry out projections for various U.S. subsidiaries and consolidation levels in support of internal financing and tax planning
• Act as expert on CN's Profit and Loss (PandL), including revenues, operating expenses, net income, operating ratio, and Earnings per Share (EPS) and execute ad hoc analyses
• Produce the external financial guidance summary including key assumptions to be disclosed in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MDandA), as well as supporting documentation

Free Cash Flow Budget, Forecasting and Monitoring

• Update Year End Outlook (YEO) monthly
• Review explanations of variances to expectations and prior year and propose corrective action if needed
• Liaise with Treasury to ensure consistency of forecasts

Process Improvement

• Create insightful ad hoc reports and dashboards supporting CN's goals
• Leverage technology and competitive insight for continuous improvement with the creation of enhanced forecasting tools, process designs, and data visualizations
• Review, streamline and automate deliverables and processes to make them relevant and meaningful to the audience
• Validate information and improve quality to remain relevant and add value
• Ensure reports are timely and information is accurate and intact

Determine Expected and Actual ROIs

• Determine expected and actual targets in relation to annual bonus and Performance Share Units (PSU) incentive plans
• Update outlook quarterly to permit proper accruals
• Adjust ROIs for Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI), one-time charges for tax enactments, and accounting changes
• Ensure adjustments reflect Pension adjustments and other items beyond the control of management

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role may be required to be on call outside of regular working hours. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 - 10 years in a finance or accounting role
• Experience in modelling
• Experience with systems, Board material preparation, ad hoc financial analysis
• Experience building financial data models to extract, condense and analyze various financial items
• Demonstrated excellence in analytical experience relating to CN
• Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Commerce
• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Master Degree in Business Administration (MBA)*
• Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered.

*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).

Competencies

• We Care About Each Other
• We Strive for Excellence
• We Succeed Together
• We Lead Responsibly
• Business acumen
• Financial acumen
• Depth of analysis
• Prioritization
• Planning

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Knowledge of financial statements and the linkages between them
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and regulations
• Knowledge of modelling and advanced Excel skills
• Knowledge of relevant systems such as Systems Applications and Products (SAP), Essbase and Business Warehouse (BW), Power Business Intelligence (BI), Tableau*

*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).

Additional Information (If Any)

About CN CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,800-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at [e-mail]. As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Please monitor your email on a regular basis as communication to applicants is done via email