Director, Commodity Taxes Planning, Policies and Procedures

Description

Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America. Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.

The Director, Commodity Taxes Planning, Policies & Procedures will lead and manage a team of 2 Senior Managers, 7 Managers and 2 Analysts.

The Director, Commodity Taxes Planning, Policies & Procedures will lead the identification of the USA and Canadian commodity tax risk items, prepare a plan to mitigate those risks, as well as ensure proper implementation for all air and non-air initiatives by the business. The Director will analyze tax compliance practices, identify potential opportunities, and recommend changes to improve financial management and overall efficiency. The Director will provide technical support for commodity tax audits as well as the negotiation of settlements, either at the audit, objection, or appeal level. The Director is also responsible for implementing appropriate corrective measures following the outcome of tax audits.

The Director will be involved as a business partner in all new projects throughout the Air Canada group. The Director will be responsible to ensure that it provides input in all special projects such as new systems implementation, major system modifications, new products, launch of new routes, new business partnerships or restructuring of existing partnerships, and others. Will be responsible to provide guidance so that the projects are structured in an optimal manner, participate in the planning, configuration, testing and implementation phases of the various projects. The Director will also oversee the contracting process from a commodity tax perspective. The Director will need to develop great working relations with all departments throughout the Air Canada group of entities.

The Director will also be responsible for providing technical guidance through the elaboration of procedures, tools and training sessions.

The Director will be involved in making representations to various taxation authorities either to seek interpretations or to influence the policy makers in Canada and USA.

The Director will ensure that members of the commodity tax team have work plans that meet objectives and are appropriately coordinated.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and oversight the Canada and USA commodity taxes planning (GST, HST, QST, PST, Excise tax, US Sales and Use Taxes, Fuel Tax and other similar taxes) to maximize the tax saving opportunities for Air Canada and its subsidiaries while complying with the laws.
• Manage and oversight the global passenger taxes planning to optimize collection, remittance as well as to avoid leakage for Air Canada and its subsidiaries while complying with the laws.
• Responsible for the development of commodity tax policies, procedures and guidance to business units.
• Responsible for the implementation of all new commodity tax legislation (Canada & USA).

Specific Responsibilities - Tax Planning, Policies & Procedures:

• Provide the commodity taxes planning for Canadian and USA operations with the objective of developing and implementing strategies that minimize commodity tax exposure while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws.
• Responsible for interpreting and keeping abreast of commodity tax laws (Canada and USA), emerging issues, trends, and evolving regulatory requirements and assess potential impacts to the Air Canada group operations and communicate it to branch financial officers of business units to implement the appropriate changes throughout the Air Canada group to ensure compliance with new legislation.
• Proactively communicate and work with Managing Director, Commodity Taxes regarding financial effects of key transactions, operations, new projects and legislative changes.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of commodity taxes by identifying and implementing commodity tax planning opportunities and resolving commodity tax issues by liaising with business units, external professionals and/or other corporate office groups (e.g. legal, finance leaders, etc.).
• Develop and provide advice, guidance, support and ongoing assistance to line management on the implementation of tax policies and procedures and general tax application.
• Identify and continuously improve indirect tax processes and internal controls.
• Provide technical assistance to the Director Commodity Taxes Audits, Compliance and Accounting in the audit defense and the implementation of audit corrective measures.
• Review sales and purchase agreements to ensure proper application of indirect tax terms and conditions. Work closely with Strategic Purchasing and Legal departments as well with all other departments initiating a contracting process.

Other Responsibilities:

• Assist Managing Director, Commodity Taxes in developing commodity taxes awareness throughout the company, including the development and the delivery of associated seminars and training.
• Assist Managing Director, Commodity Taxes with related duties including the implementation of appropriate guidelines / procedures to ensure Air Canada and its subsidiaries are in compliance with tax laws.
• Partner and Collaborate with Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Accounting, Internal Audit, Maintenance, Aircraft Programs, Legal, Marketing, IT, Network Planning, eCommerce, and other departments, as well as with Aeroplan, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Vacations, as required on tax issues.
• Supervise all planning aspects of the Company's Pension Plans, including the review of returns and rebate applications.
• Represent the tax group on management committees and key projects, as well as with external associations such as TEI.
• Provide leadership and oversee the work of a team of taxation professionals.
• Provide effective coaching and guidance for the career development of team members and maintaining a high-performance team.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in tax is required and / or completion of GST/HST in-dept tax course.
• Chartered Professional Accountant or Law degree.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in the commodity tax field.
• Experience in the transportation industry is an asset.
• Significant and detailed knowledge of all Canadian and provincial commodity tax legislation (e.g., GST/HST, QST, PST, Excise Tax, Fuel Tax, Property Tax) including significant experience interpreting and analyzing tax legislation.
• Knowledge of US sales and use tax legislation is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience and comfort dealing with governmental authorities.
• Strong leadership, people management, and coaching/mentoring skills, as well as provides guidance, support and training for direct reports and broader team.
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
• Ability to work in a highly dynamic environment and under pressure.
• Strong analytical skills combined with a demonstrated ability to handle multiple files.
• Exceptional judgment, organizational and decision-making skills.
• Strong business acumen.
• A results driven, dedicated team player who possesses a strong work ethic.
• To succeed in this role, the incumbent must be curious, flexible, perseverant and capable of dealing rapidly with changes as they arise.
• Bilingual (English and French) is an asset.

Conditions of Employment:

• Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest, at the time any offer of employment is made and seeking any required work permits/visas or other authorizations which may be required is the sole responsibility of the candidates applying for this position.

Linguistic Requirements

Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees' unique contributions to our company's success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.