Director, Canadian Product Tax

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.

• 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

• 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…