Tax Specialist

Drake International; Campbell River; On-site; CAD 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Pension plan eligibility after one yr

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Drake International in Campbell River, British Columbia, is seeking a Tax & Audit Specialist with 3–4+ years of Canadian tax experience to transition from public practice into a corporate tax function. The role involves preparing personal, corporate and trust returns, conducting tax research and managing CRA correspondence within a large family‑owned group.

You will support tax planning, compliance and reporting across multiple entities, working closely with the Controller and external advisers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Approximately 3–4+ years of professional Canadian tax experience; candidates with a strong public practice background are preferred.
• Experience preparing T1, T2 and T3 tax returns.
• Strong understanding of Canadian taxation and the Income Tax Act.
• Experience with GST/HST, PST and other indirect tax filings.
• Experience dealing directly with the CRA and managing tax‑related correspondence.
• Exposure to tax planning, corporate reorganizations and tax research.
• Experience working with external tax advisors and auditors is an asset.
• Proficiency with tax preparation software; experience with TaxPrep is particularly relevant.
• CPA designation is preferred, but candidates pursuing their CPA or those with relevant experience who are not pursuing the designation will also be considered.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines and take ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with confidential financial information.

Responsibilities

• Preparing personal (T1), corporate (T2) and trust (T3) tax returns, including personal returns for members of the business-owning family.
• Preparing information returns, including T5013, T5 and T5018 filings.
• Preparing GST/HST and PST returns, new housing rebates and tax self‑assessments.
• Conducting Canadian tax research and interpreting applicable tax legislation.
• Supporting tax planning initiatives, corporate reorganizations and other tax‑related projects.
• Preparing tax working papers, reconciliations and supporting documentation for external audits.
• Liaising directly with the CRA regarding assessments, inquiries, correspondence and outstanding tax matters.
• Coordinating with external tax advisors and auditors to provide requested information and documentation.
• Assisting with tax provisions and tax‑related financial reporting.
• Monitoring tax filing deadlines and ensuring compliance across the corporate group.
• Identifying opportunities to improve tax processes, controls and reporting efficiency.
• Supporting additional tax, accounting and financial reporting projects as required.

Skills

T1 tax returns

T2 tax returns

T3 tax returns

CRA correspondence

Tax planning

Tax research

Tax software

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

TaxPrep

Job description

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia (On-Site – 5 Days per Week)

Work Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: Up to $120,000 (Based on Experience)

Vacancy: Existing Vacancy

This Tax & Audit Specialist opportunity is ideal for a tax professional with approximately 3–4+ years of Canadian tax experience who is looking to transition from public practice into an established corporate environment. The successful candidate will have hands‑on experience preparing personal, corporate and trust tax returns, conducting tax research, managing CRA correspondence and supporting tax planning initiatives.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a large, family‑owned group of companies, gaining exposure to a diverse range of tax matters while working closely with the Controller and supporting the organization’s corporate tax function.

Why This Role

This is an excellent opportunity for someone coming from public accounting who wants to move into industry and take ownership of tax responsibilities within a large, multi‑entity organization.

You will gain exposure to a broad range of Canadian tax matters, including personal tax returns for family members, corporate and trust filings, indirect taxes, tax planning, corporate reorganizations and audit support. Rather than focusing exclusively on one area of taxation, this position offers variety, autonomy and the opportunity to work directly with senior finance leadership.

The organization is open to candidates with or without a CPA designation, provided they bring strong relevant Canadian tax experience and the ability to work independently.

The Role: Tax & Audit Specialist

Reporting to the Controller, you will support tax planning, tax compliance, tax accounting, reporting and audit activities across a large group of companies. You will work closely with various business units, external tax advisors, auditors and the CRA to ensure tax filings are accurate, deadlines are met and tax matters are managed effectively.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing personal (T1), corporate (T2) and trust (T3) tax returns, including personal returns for members of the business-owning family
• Preparing information returns, including T5013, T5 and T5018 filings
• Preparing GST/HST and PST returns, new housing rebates and tax self‑assessments
• Conducting Canadian tax research and interpreting applicable tax legislation
• Supporting tax planning initiatives, corporate reorganizations and other tax‑related projects
• Preparing tax working papers, reconciliations and supporting documentation for external audits
• Liaising directly with the CRA regarding assessments, inquiries, correspondence and outstanding tax matters
• Coordinating with external tax advisors and auditors to provide requested information and documentation
• Assisting with tax provisions and tax‑related financial reporting
• Monitoring tax filing deadlines and ensuring compliance across the corporate group
• Identifying opportunities to improve tax processes, controls and reporting efficiency
• Supporting additional tax, accounting and financial reporting projects as required

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
• Approximately 3–4+ years of professional Canadian tax experience; candidates with a strong public practice background are preferred
• Experience preparing T1, T2 and T3 tax returns
• Strong understanding of Canadian taxation and the Income Tax Act
• Experience with GST/HST, PST and other indirect tax filings
• Experience dealing directly with the CRA and managing tax‑related correspondence
• Exposure to tax planning, corporate reorganizations and tax research
• Experience working with external tax advisors and auditors is an asset
• Proficiency with tax preparation software; experience with TaxPrep is particularly relevant
• CPA designation is preferred, but candidates pursuing their CPA or those with relevant experience who are not pursuing the designation will also be considered
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines and take ownership of responsibilities
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with confidential financial information

Benefits & Environment

The organization offers a competitive compensation package, with a salary of up to $120,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Benefits include:

• Employer-paid extended health, vision and dental coverage, including family coverage
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Employee referral program
• Annual health and wellness benefit
• Registered Pension Plan eligibility after one year
• Employee recognition program
• In-house professional development opportunities

This is a fully on‑site opportunity, five days per week, working closely with the Controller and supporting a growing, family‑owned organization with a diverse portfolio of business operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates will likely be coming from a public accounting firm with hands‑on Canadian tax preparation experience and looking to transition into an in‑house corporate role. Candidates should be comfortable handling a variety of tax filings, working directly with the CRA and managing competing deadlines across multiple entities.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. For accommodation requests, please reach out to your closest Drake office.