Senior Manager, Tax & Partner Administration

Gowling WLG; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 156,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid health, dental, and

mental health coverage

Hybrid work flexibility

15+ vacation days

Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks

Group Retirement Savings Plan with [em

ployer match]

Disability and life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Diversity and inclusive culture

Job summary

Gowling WLG in Canada seeks a senior Finance leader to head tax, partner administration and law society compliance across offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo or Ottawa.

You will oversee tax filings, partner payments and law society requirements, lead a team, coordinate with external advisors, and ensure financial controls align with CRA and regulatory rules.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required. Additional tax specialization is an asset.
• 7–10 years of progressive roles with relevant experience in Canadian tax, including partnership and corporate tax and sales tax matters.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian taxation compliance at federal and provincial levels.
• Experience with tax authorities, audits and information requests.
• Experience in a professional services partnership or similar complex organization is an asset.
• Ability to research, interpret legislation and present practical recommendations.
• Excellent organization and communication, ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Bilingual in English & French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of tax and partner administration, including policies for tax compliance, partner compensation, capital contributions and law society rules.
• Identify, research and resolve tax issues; develop practical approaches for new tax and regulatory requirements.
• Manage interactions with tax authorities, including information requests, reviews, audits and supporting documentation.
• Oversee partnership tax, sales tax, T3 reporting for trusts and corporate tax filings; support partner tax reporting.
• Apply technical knowledge to identify tax exposures and mitigate risks.
• Review tax returns, calculations, schedules and analyses; standardize processes and improve controls.
• Respond to tax and regulatory queries from professionals, including cross-border matters and law society reports.
• Review annual updates to partner draws, distributions and capital contributions.
• Review annual law society membership payments and ongoing reporting.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly partner payments and holdbacks related to sanctions and withdrawals.
• Ensure processes align with financial controls, CRA and law society rules.
• Lead a team with clear direction, coaching and feedback; collaborate with internal stakeholders and external advisers.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Bilingual English French

Education

CPA designation

Canadian tax specialization

Job description

About Gowling Wlg

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we’re proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. Our culture is grounded in our shared values: Raise the Bar, Embrace Differences, and Thrive Together. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.

Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

PROFILE

A senior Finance position responsible for leading the Firm’s tax, partner administration & law society compliance functions, including partnership, sales and corporate tax returns, partner capital & compensation and annual law society membership requirements. The role will have hands‑on involvement in more complex areas of the compliance process and will be accountable for the quality, accuracy and timely completion of tax filings, partner payments and related obligations.

This role can be based in our Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo or Ottawa office.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the tax and partner administration process including updating processes and policies related to tax compliance, partner compensation, capital contributions and law society regulations.
• The role will need to personally identify, research and resolve tax issues as they arise, including developing practical approaches to implementing new tax and regulatory requirements.
• Manage interactions with tax authorities, including information requests, reviews, audits and assessments, preparing the responses and supporting documentation for tax authority inquiries.
• Oversee partnership tax, sales tax, T3 reporting for trust investments, and corporate tax filings processes as well as information required to support partner tax reporting.
• Apply technical knowledge and judgment to identify tax exposures and recommend and implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Review tax returns, calculations, schedules and technical analyses prepared by the team, ensuring the work is technically sound, complete and appropriately supported and identifying opportunities to standardize tax compliance processes and improve controls.
• Respond to tax & regulatory queries from professionals, including matters relating to working outside Canada, sales tax to apply to invoices, required tax reporting for trust investments and law society reports.
• Review annual updates to partner draws, distributions and capital contributions.
• Review annual payments to law society membership and ongoing reporting requirements.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly partner payments as well as calculating holdback of draws and distributions related to sanctions and partner withdrawals.
• Ensure processes within the team are aligned with the Firm’s financial controls and follow CRA and law societies rules and regulations.
• Lead the day-to-day operations of a team through management of priorities and oversight of their work while providing clear direction, coaching and feedback.
• Work closely with Finance leadership and other internal stakeholders and coordinate with external tax advisors, auditors and other professional service providers, including determining when external specialist advice is required.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required. Additional tax specialization is an asset.
• 7-10 years of progressive roles with relevant experience in Canadian tax, including substantial hands‑on experience with partnership and corporate income tax and sales tax matters.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian taxation compliance requirements at federal and provincial levels.
• Experience dealing with tax authorities including audits and information requests.
• Experience within a professional services partnership, large partnership, accounting firm, law firm or similarly complex organization would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to independently research and analyze complex tax issues, interpret tax legislation and administrative guidance, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong organizational capabilities and ability to manage multiple and competing tasks/priorities to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills.
• A high degree of accuracy & attention to detail.
• Bilingual in English & French, an asset

Benefits/Perks

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well-being go hand‑hand. We support your career and life with:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance
• Benefits coverage for Firm members and their dependents from day one!
• 15+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility
• Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full-time employment)
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Financial protection through short & long-term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance
• Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders
• Recognition awards, appreciation events, and a supportive, collaborative work culture
• Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

The starting range for this role is $156,000 to $180,000. Starting salary will be determined based on an applicant’s individual skills, competencies and unique qualifications. Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This position is currently vacant and is open to both internal and external candidates. Gowling WLG is recruiting for this role to support ongoing firm needs and team operations.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all screening, assessments, and selections are reviewed and completed by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are in need of accommodation or support at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.