University Recruitment - Tax Legislation Officer – Tax Legislation Stream

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Important Messages

Only online applications will be accepted. The application process is now open.

Persons who have a disability preventing them from applying online should contact us by e-mail at:

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Work environment

Our City

Finance Canada is located in Ottawa, in the heart of our nation's capital. With a population of about 1 million, the National Capital Region is often described as a big city with a small town feel: it offers a full range of urban amenities along with plenty of green space; bike trails; running paths; and during the warmer months, free weekly yoga classes on Parliament Hill.

Gatineau Park, with its extensive network of hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country ski trails, can be seen from the Department of Finance and is only a short bike ride away. The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO world heritage site, is located just minutes from our building, and some employees even skate to work during the winter months.

All within a 10-minute walk from work you'll find the Byward Market, the Rideau Centre shopping mall, beautiful parks, national museums, English and French theatres, art galleries and restaurants galore.

The area is also home to nearly all other federal government departments, as well as embassies, consulates, national research institutes, and national associations, providing all the right ingredients for an intellectually stimulating environment.

Our Workplace

We've told you about our city, now we'll tell you about our workplace. In 2014, our department moved into the brand new James Michael Flaherty Building, located at 90 Elgin Street just blocks from Parliament Hill. Our new home is served by all major bus routes, with a light rail station on the way in late 2019, and features secure bicycle storage as well as locker rooms and showers for employees.

Our modern building has been certified LEED Gold, and features a green roof, a living wall in our lobby, and efficient systems for lighting, water management, and climate control. The interior features open, light-filled, and flexible spaces that encourage team building and interaction, while quiet rooms provide suitable spaces for private phone calls or discussions. Large branch boardrooms are fully equipped with audio-visual capabilities, including teleconferencing, large screens, projectors, boardroom table laptop connections and full access to our corporate networks. We also house a state-of-the-art conference centre for our exclusive use; a prime venue for client conferences, employee meetings, and ministerial and media events.

However, our workplace is more than just a building, it's a community. At Finance we have a running club that meets weekly, an ongoing speakers series with internationally recognized guest lecturers, frequent lunch-and-learn sessions, and a Young Professionals Network that hosts networking events and more.

Intent of the process

Vacancies:

Anticipatory. A pool of qualified candidates resulting from this process may be used to fill positions within the Department of Finance.

For further information on the Department of Finance, please consult our website at http://www.fin.gc.ca/fin-eng.asp. For further information on the Tax Policy Branch at the Department of Finance, please visit the Tax Policy Branch page http://www.fin.gc.ca/branches-directions/tpb-eng.asp.

This process is aimed at candidates who have training in law, taxation or accounting and who wish to pursue a career as a specialist in income or sales tax. In these positions in the Tax Legislation Division and Sales Tax Division (http://www.fin.gc.ca/branches-directions/tpb-eng.asp), you will directly participate in analyzing complex income tax or sales tax issues, propose policy changes to senior departmental officials and the Minister of Finance, and draft provisions of the Income Tax Act, Excise Tax Act and related legislation for presentation by the Minister of Finance to Parliament.

Our Department: What we do

At Finance Canada, we are the primary source of economic and financial advice for the Minister of Finance and the Government of Canada. We interact with virtually every federal department and agency and play a pivotal role in the analysis and design of public policy across the widest range of economic, financial, social and environmental issues.

We provide leadership in helping the Government of Canada develop the economic and social policies that will improve the standard of living and quality of life of Canadians, their families and their communities. Our six policy branches provide unparalleled opportunities to work on issues like economic and fiscal forecasting, the federal budget, G20 and G7 meetings, federal transfers to the provinces and territories, tax policy, social programs and financial sector regulation. We work on challenging policy issues, and you will have access to decision makers and be able to influence important public policy decisions.

We are a dynamic organization of about 700 people, including approximately 350 economists and policy analysts. As a recruit, you'll work closely within your team but you'll also interact with colleagues across the Department and beyond, whether by working on far-reaching policy issues or by attending one of the numerous workshops, retreats and informal gatherings that take place throughout the year.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 5,000 words (maximum) "Please provide a cover letter and demonstrate with concrete examples how you meet the education and experience factors"

Contact information for 2 references.

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Applicants must demonstrate in their application that they meet all the following essential merit criteria to be eligible for further consideration:

Education and Professional Designations

Candidates must:

A. have successfully completed, or be eligible to complete before 2020, a program leading to a degree in law (LL.B., B.C.L. or J.D.) from a recognized university; OR

B. have become, or be eligible to become before 2020, a member of the Bar of one or more of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec; OR

C. have successfully completed, or be eligible to complete before 2020, a program leading to a graduate degree in taxation from a recognized university; OR

D. have successfully completed a degree from a recognized university and have obtained a recognized professional accounting designation (CA/CPA, CMA, CGA).

Specialization in Taxation and/or Economics: In addition to (A), (B), (C) or (D) above, university course work must include successful completion of two or more courses in economics or the equivalent (which can include courses in Canadian taxation).

Degree equivalency

Experience

Recent experience in the field of tax policy or legislation, demonstrated through work assignments or any other means, such as academic studies.

Recent* and relevant** experience for the position in the area of taxation.

Note:
*For the purpose of this selection process, recent is defined as after January 2015.
**For the purposes of this selection process, the following is considered relevant experience:

- Work experience with active involvement dealing with tax issues; OR

- Work experience required to:

(a) become a member of the Bar of one or more of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec; OR

(b) obtain a recognized professional accounting designation (CA/CPA, CMA, CGA); OR

(c) obtain a graduate degree in taxation; OR

- Scholastic activities leading to a degree in law (LL.B., B.C.L. or J.D.) from a recognized university or a graduate degree in taxation; OR

- A combination of the elements above.

Note: Candidates are encouraged to indicate, on their résumé, activities, employment experience and/or scholastic activity or achievements that they feel may be pertinent to a position in the Tax Policy Branch at the Department of Finance.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English or French
Language Requirements: English or French essential

Information on language requirements

Abilities

Ability to work under pressure and manage shifting priorities/timelines
Ability to analyze and synthesize information and provide options/recommendations to senior management
Ability to work as a member of a team
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to communicate effectively orally

Personal Suitability

Initiative
Effective interpersonal skills
Judgment
Thoroughness

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

This advertised process is relevant for the staffing of positions in the area of income tax and the area of sales tax at the Tax Policy Branch of the Department of Finance. One or more of the following asset qualifications may be used to preselect candidates for an interview and/or may be assessed during the interview process:

Education

1. Academic excellence; candidates must provide a transcript of all university courses taken and grades obtained.

2. For candidates who have successfully completed, or will be eligible to complete before 2020, a program leading to a degree in law (LL.B., B.C.L. or J.D.) from a recognized university, preference may be given to candidates who have become or are eligible to become before 2020, a member of the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec.

3. For candidates who have successfully completed, or will be eligible to complete before 2020, a program leading to a graduate degree in taxation from a recognized university, preference may be given to candidates who

- have become, or are eligible to become before 2020, a member of the Bar of one or more of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec, or

- have obtained a recognized professional accounting designation (CA/CPA, CMA, CGA).

Degree equivalency

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance - This factor is not used at the pre-selection stage. The Department of Finance is responsible for the security clearance process. Candidates must maintain a valid security clearance throughout the duration of employment.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Additional Requirements/Comments
• We thank all those who apply. Only those who are selected for further consideration will be contacted.
• Candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet the above-noted criteria. The screening of applicants will be done solely on the information submitted through the online application.
• Candidates may be asked to participate in one or more Public Service Commission standardized tests as part of the application process.
• Should you be considered for an interview, you will be contacted directly. Communications with candidates will be by e-mail or by telephone. Please include a valid e-mail address and a valid telephone number and check your messages frequently.
• A written examination may be administered following the interview. Reference checks may also be made.
• Selection decisions may be based on results achieved for one or more qualifications. For example, preference may be given to the candidate that has scored highest on a specific qualification or combination of qualifications.
• The online application may be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Persons are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.
• Candidates may have to assume their own travel expenses to attend these interviews.

Information to be Provided

You must respond to all screening questions in the electronic application form and provide the following documents when submitting your application:
• A cover letter demonstrating how you meet the essential (education and experience) and asset qualifications.
• Your résumé.

The following information/documents must be submitted by e-mail at before the process closing date:
• Transcripts from all university institutions attended.
• A list of the university courses in Canadian taxation and/or economics that you will have completed by the time of your graduation along with the year taken, the institution and the name of the course, as shown on your university transcripts
• As the case may be:
- proof of your membership (or your eligibility before 2020) of the Bar of one or more of the provinces or territories of Canada or in the Order of Notaries in the Province of Quebec;
- proof of your recognized professional accounting designation.

It may take time to complete and gather all this information so please prepare and give yourself sufficient time to complete the online application.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.