Tax Legislation Officer – Tax Legislation Streams

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

Accommodation can take many forms. The following are some examples of types of accommodation request:
1. providing written materials in accessible formats, such as large print, braille.
2. providing readers or sign language interpreters or closed caption interviews.
3. extra time to complete a written test and/or interviews

For any accommodation needs, please contact .

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 tax. In the Tax Legislation Division, you will directly participate in analyzing complex income tax issues, propose policy changes to senior departmental officials and the Minister of Finance, and draft provisions of the Income Tax Act and related legislation for presentation by the Minister of Finance to Parliament.

IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION/DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL TO BY FEBRUARY 6, 2024:

• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• As the case may be:
- proof of your membership 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 Canadian professional accounting designation.

IF THE ABOVE INFORMATION/DOCUMENTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 6, 2024, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR MISSING INFORMATION.

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

Work environment

Our employees are our single biggest asset and our employees’ health and safety is of the upmost importance.

The Department of Finance Canada has transitioned to a hybrid workplace requiring employees to work some of the time in the office (the aim is for on-site work 50% of the time). This hybrid work arrangement maintains the flexibility and productivity gained through remote work, while maintaining our culture and making the most of the benefits of working together in the office.

Our Department: What we do

At the Department of 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 taxation, 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. 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 more than 800 people. 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 and informal gatherings that take place throughout the year.

The department's facility at 90 Elgin Street is in the heart of downtown Ottawa. The building is equipped with state-of-the art technologies to support collaboration and innovation. The area is served by all major bus routes and a light rail station, and employees have access in the building to amenities such as a library and showers, change rooms and secure bicycle storage, allowing them to commute using the National Capital Region’s bike path system.

The Department of Finance Canada has been named as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers of 2022. This recognition highlights a positive change within our structures and culture in ways that enable the recruitment of diverse employees, and support an inclusive environment where they can build successful careers within the department.

The Department of Finance Canada has also been named one of Canada’s Top Employers for three years in a row and is one of Canada’s 2019 Top Employers for Young People. The Department also consistently ranks among the best federal public organizations for results to the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES).

For further information on the Department of Finance, please consult our website at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance.html. For further information on the Tax Policy Branch at the Department of Finance, please visit the Tax Policy Branch page https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/programs/tax-policy.html.

Intent of the process

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

The Tax Legislation Division (TLD) within the Tax Policy Branch is responsible for the development and implementation of income tax policy and legislation at the federal level, including in relation to personal income tax, corporate income tax, resources and clean energy, international transactions, registered savings plans, trusts and estates, and financial products. The Division oversees the development of Canada’s proposed digital services tax, it negotiates tax treaties and other bilateral/multilateral agreements, and it engages international organizations on tax matters, including the global minimum tax on multinational enterprises.

TLD identifies potential tax measures and issues, assesses and advises the Minister of Finance on existing and emerging issues, and supports the implementation of tax measures by preparing budget announcements and news releases, and by drafting the legislation (Budget implementation bills and technical tax bills) and regulations. TLD engages tax policy experts, the Canada Revenue Agency, other government departments and the broad tax practitioner community in developing and implementing tax policy and legislation.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

EDUCATION

1. Education and Professional Designation
Candidates must:
a) have successfully completed a program leading to a degree in law (LL.B., B.C.L. or J.D.) from a recognized university; OR
b) have 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
c) have successfully completed a program leading to a graduate degree (Master or doctorat) 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 (CPA).

2. In addition to (A), (B), (C) or (D) above, specialization* in Taxation and Economics must be demonstrated by:

a) Successful completion of two or more courses in Canadian taxation and two or more courses in Economics;

OR

b) An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

*Specialization may be obtained at the undergraduate or graduate level.

NOTE: Candidates will be asked to provide proof of education including (if applicable) a transcript of all university courses taken and grades obtained to validate the information provided.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

EC-06 and EC-07 STREAMS

• Experience* advising and briefing senior management** on federal or international tax positions and strategies.

AND

• Experience* in analyzing, interpreting and applying the provisions of the Income Tax Act, Regulations or related statutes/law, including trade and investment agreements, in providing advice or guidance.

EC-07 STREAM ONLY

Candidates applying to the EC-07 stream must meet all of the experience criteria listed above plus the additional EC-07 criteria listed below.

• Experience* in leading projects/files, including establishing objectives, identifying and planning the work, monitoring progress, assembling inputs, and ensuring quality of the final product.

AND

• Experience* in resolving complex issues*** through interpreting and applying the provisions of the Income Tax Act, Regulations or related statutes/law related to complex transactions**** undertaken by taxpayers in respect of international transactions, including the application of tax treaties and transfer pricing rules corporate reorganizations, corporate financing, trusts, partnerships, the resource sector, deferred income plans, or business and employment income.

NOTES:
*Experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various complex (e.g., multidimensional, sensitive, confidential, affecting many partners or stakeholders, precedent setting, having major impact on the public service, or having a potential for significant media coverage) related activities.

**Senior management is defined as director level or higher in the federal public service or comparable positions in the private sector, such as directors or vice presidents of taxation, chief financial officers, owner/managers and senior partners.

***Complex issues are generally defined as issues that are novel and require thorough research and a rigorous application of interpretation principles set out by the Courts in support of an interpretation of one or more relevant provisions. These issues are high risk, and/or require detailed analysis of the relevant foreign and domestic tax laws, jurisprudence and policies.

****Complex transactions are generally defined as transactions that require an examination of provisions of the Income Tax Act and Regulations, or related jurisprudence, that are challenging to apply for reasons including their inherent difficulty, the volume of transactions and relevant provisions or the intricacy of the issues that they generate.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

ASSET
• Experience in drafting and negotiating agreements, especially in an international context;
• Experience working on projects with interdisciplinary teams.

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of federal and/or provincial laws and statutes related to Canada’s income tax systems.

ABILITIES

• Ability to synthesize and analyze information in order to provide sound recommendations to senior management related to income taxation and income tax policy.
• Ability to communicate orally in a clear and effective manner in an income tax context.
• Ability to communicate technical information related to income tax clearly and effectively in writing.
• Ability to collaborate to achieve results on a timely basis.

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 at the Tax Policy Branch of the Department of Finance. The following asset qualifications may be used to preselect candidates for an interview and/or may be assessed during the interview process:

EDUCATION
1. For candidates who have successfully completed 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 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.

2. For candidates who have successfully completed a program leading to a graduate degree in taxation from a recognized university, preference may be given to candidates who have 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 have obtained a recognized professional accounting designation (CPA).

Degree equivalency

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

The Department of Finance is committed to maintaining a representative workforce reflective of Canadian society. In support of achieving a diversified workforce and our employment equity goals, qualified candidates who self-declare in a staffing process as members of Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs including reducing representation gaps.

Operational Requirement
• Able and willing to work overtime.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

For those hired at the EC-06 group and level will also participate in the Department of Finance Canada Economics and Social Science Services Development Program is a competency-based career development and progression program designed for the Economics and Social Science Services (EC) community in Department of Finance Canada's six policy branches. The program aims to develop high-calibre individuals to the target level of EC-07 Senior Advisor/Economist (salary range: $122,714 to $140,878) within four to five years. Progression through successive EC levels up to the target level is based on a combination of performance evaluation and merit assessment established for the Economist and Policy Analyst program stream.

Additional Requirements/Comments:

• We thank all those who apply. Only those who are selected for further consideration will be contacted.
• Candidates will be asked to specify which stream(s) they are applying to.
• Depending on the volume and quality of applicants received, preference for further consideration could be given to candidates based on the depth, breadth and relevance of their experience. Other strategies such as a top-down approach could also be used. Therefore, not all candidates who meet the essential qualifications will be progressed to the next assessment phase.
• Candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet the criteria in this poster. The screening of applicants will be done solely on the information submitted through the online application.
• Communications with candidates will be by e-mail or by telephone. Please include a valid e-mail address and a valid telephone number. Failure to respond in a timely manner could lead to your candidacy not being further considered.
• Should you be considered for an interview, you will be contacted directly. Rescheduling will be on an exceptional basis only.
• A written examination may be administered and reference checks may also be completed.
• 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.
• Please note that any and all communication relating to this process, including the online application, your résumé, and/or any other written correspondence, 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.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.