The Canadian Product Tax team provides strategic tax advisory and compliance support across Manulife’s Canadian lines of business. Reporting to the AVP, Canadian Product Tax, the Director is responsible for providing technical tax advice related to Manulife’s products and for overseeing tax compliance associated with customer taxation. This role provides a unique opportunity to develop broad expertise across a diverse range of financial products.

The successful candidate will be an experienced tax professional with strong tax research, technical analysis and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to translate complex tax legislation, technical concepts and risks into clear, practical advice tailored to a range of stakeholders.

You will be expected to exercise strong judgment, work collaboratively across the organization, build relationships with business partners, and effectively influence decisions on complex tax matters. Intellectual curiosity, initiative and a strong commitment to continuous learning are critical to success in this role.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and technical tax advice on a broad range of Canadian product and customer taxation matters, including:
  • Advising business units (Insurance, Bank, Group Benefits, Group Retirement Solutions and Wealth/Asset Management) on tax compliance requirements relating to customer tax including product administration, withholding tax and tax slip reporting
  • Researching and responding to complex tax questions from business units, customers and government tax authorities
  • Participating in business initiatives to ensure tax requirements are appropriately identified and addressed, and advising on product features, structures, contract language and associated tax risks
• Conduct independent tax research and prepare well supported technical tax analyses on complex product and customer tax matters, applying relevant legislation, case law and government administrative positions
• Monitor and interpret legislative and administrative developments affecting product and customer taxation; assess implications for Manulife products, customers and business operations and provide clear and practical guidance
• Build strong cross-functional relationships across business units to maintain awareness of emerging tax issues, business initiatives and product developments, and proactively identify and manage tax and reputational risks
• Oversee and support the timely and accurate completion of customer and product tax compliance activities, including applicable tax filings, reporting and related tax season deliverables
• Oversee customer tax withholding and remittance activities, including reconciliations and supporting working papers for remittances, filings, returns and amendments
• Act as a key liaison with government tax authorities, auditors and external advisors, representing and supporting the business in resolving technical, compliance and administrative tax matters
• Maintain effective tax governance and controls, including appropriate documentation of tax positions, compliance processes, procedures and supporting records
• Identify and lead opportunities to improve, simplify and automate tax compliance processes and other team activities, including the effective use of technology and data
• Support the development of the Canadian Product Tax team through coaching, knowledge sharing, collaboration and development of technical tax capabilities

Required Qualifications:

• CPA designation
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant Canadian tax experience
• Completion of the CPA In-Depth Tax Program
• Significant experience in the financial services industry is preferred, whether gained directly within the industry or through an accounting firm advising financial services clients
• Deep technical knowledge of Canadian taxation. Experience with financial products and areas such as registered accounts, trusts, tax slip reporting, tax withholding and FATCA/CRS is considered an asset
• Excellent tax research, technical analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently analyze complex tax issues and develop practical recommendations
• Sound judgment and the ability to identify, assess and manage tax and reputational risk while considering customer and operational implications
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to coach and develop others, promote collaboration and effectively influence stakeholders
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex priorities and deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines
• Aptitude for technology and an interest in using data, automation and emerging technologies to improve tax processes and team effectiveness. Proficiency with tools such as Excel, CCH Taxprep, SharePoint, Power BI and Alteryx are assets

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want 
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words 
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see

#LI-Hybrid

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact hr@manulife.com for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact hr@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.