Pensions Manager Jobs in Quebec (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary

The Incumbent is responsible for preparing and supporting pension accounting, legal and personal injury reserves, corporate accounting and accounting policy and research areas within the Financial Reporting function. The incumbent processes and reviews accounting entries, supporting schedules, reconciliations, analyses, and white papers accurately and efficiently. The role documents, analyzes, and improves processes to ensure that appropriate accounting procedures are followed in alignment with regulatory standards.  

Main Responsibilities

Accounting Policies and Projects

       Perform accounting research, analysis and communication of accounting impacts associated to significant and complex transactions, and new accounting pronouncements issued by Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) as well as regulators such as Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) or Surface Transportation Board (STB) bodies in Canada and the U.S.

       Collaborate on special projects that have an accounting implication such as acquisitions and divestitures, and purchase and supply contracts

       Coordinate with stakeholders and implement new accounting pronouncements affecting CN, including changes to existing processes, accounting treatments, and disclosures

       Develop and maintain business and accounting models as well as templates to determine Accounting's impact of complex accounting transactions

Benefit Plan Financial Reporting

       Review and oversee, as part of a team, the preparation of annual financial statements for the Company's various Canadian and U.S. pension benefit plans in accordance with their respective financial frameworks

       Ensure timely and accurate submission of regulatory filings of the above-noted Plans to the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) for Canadian plans and the Department of Labor (DOL) for U.S. plans by prescribed filing deadlines

       Audit plan-level activity to ensure that plans are being operated in compliance with regulations as well as to their respective plan documents

       Provide assistance to stakeholders to ensure operational and administrative defects observed within the Plans are corrected efficiently

       Oversee and mentor employees responsible for preparing annual financial statements

       Lead and coordinate the annual audit process for each plan with appropriate auditors

Accounting of CN Sponsored Defined Benefit (DB) Pension and Other Post Employment Plans

       Carry out CN Sponsored DB Pensions Accounting and other Post Employment Plans

       Process and supervise monthly journal entries pertaining to established beginning of year estimates provided by external actuaries and adjusted for updated assumptions

       Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end close process for the plans

       Run the pension accounting projection model

       Assist in the preparation and review of pensions and other postretirement sections of the Company's interim and annual financial statements, related footnote disclosures, and accompanying Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)

       Prepare reconciliations and documentation concerning Sarbanes-Oxley's (SOX) internal controls related to pension accounting and reporting

       Lead and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders the annual calendar and tasks pertaining to year-end annual re-measurement

       Analyze the resulting actuarial valuations of each plan's funded status for accounting purposes

       Research and document pension accounting implications associated with new and proposed significant transactions, including plan amendments and de-risking

       Support Human Resources (HR) Pension, Treasury, and CN Investment Division concerning pension funding and accounting related issues

       Identify and implement process improvements in pension accounting, reporting, controls, and forecasting areas

       Communicate complex pension accounting impacts and issues with various levels of Management

       Support the Senior Manager, Projects and Policies in responding to queries from internal and external stakeholders

Foreign Exchange and Hedging

       Participate in leading the team and the FX Hedging process, including the review of setting up the U.S. dollar (USD) net asset position, the designation of USD debt and the closing of the daily net investment hedge, variance explanations, as well as coordinating with Treasury

       Maintain the FX Hedging documentation linked to establish a daily hedge in alignment with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and documentation concerning SOX's internal controls

       Run the FX month-end and reporting process, including reviewing reconciliations and quarterly roll of unrealized and realized FX

       Oversee discussions with Treasury, as well as internal and external auditors

Accounting for Legal and Personal Injury Reserves

       Review the monthly, quarterly, and year-end reconciliations, including contingencies sections of the Company's interim and annual financial statements as well as related footnote disclosures and accompanying MD&A

       Prepare documentation in connection with SOX internal controls related to contingencies

       Oversee and coordinate with both internal and external stakeholders the annual actuarial valuation deliverables related to Canadian Worker Compensation Liabilities and U.S. Legal Liabilities

       Research contingencies accounting implications associated with new and existing events, including claim revaluations and out of court settlements, and recoveries

       Support Law concerning contingencies-related issues

Responsibilities Weights (%) for Job Eval

       Accounting Policies and Projects - 40%

       Benefit Plan Financial Reporting - 20%

       Accounting for CN Sponsored Defined Benefit (DB) Pension and Other Post Employment Plans - 15%

       Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments, Foreign Exchange and Hedging - 15%

       Accounting for Legal and Personal Injury Reserves - 10%

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure, and stress. The position requires discretion in handling confidential matters.

Requirements

Experience

Accounting

       Minimum 5 years of experience at a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) firm or relevant industry experience

Education/Certification/Designation

       Bachelor's Degree of Commerce in Accountancy

       Graduate Diploma in Accountancy

       Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

CN Values (Expected Proficiency Levels)

       We care about each other - Promotes safe collaboration

       We strive for excellence - Anticipates needs with hands-on insight application

       We succeed together - Builds strong partnerships to drive results

       We lead responsibly - Acts transparently and includes diverse voices

Leadership (Expected Proficiency Levels)

       Vision and strategic thinking - Monitors trends and proposes practical improvements

       Impactful and inclusive leadership - Inspires teams through empathetic and inclusive communication

       Performance and value delivery - Capitalizes on data insights to drive ROI and customer value

       Empowerment and talent development - Builds trust and empowers people to make independent decisions

       Strategic communication and influence - Explains functional strategy with clarity and impact

       Managerial courage and decisiveness - Makes bold decisions and capitalizes on customer and business

Job Specific (Expected Proficiency Levels)

       Business acumen - Mitigates and advises on cross-functional risks

       Financial acumen - Maximizes ROI and manages unit-level financial performance

       Process optimization - Leads functional, crossteam process improvements with clear ROI

       Stakeholder management - Aligns priorities to resolve crossfunctional disputes

       Reading the environment - Evaluates risks and recommends solutions

Technical Skills/Knowledge

       Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Business Objects, Workiva, and TM1

       Knowledge of COSO framework and internal controls over financial reporting

       Knowledge of U.S. GAAP accounting policies, including accounting for DB pension and other postretirement plans, contingencies, foreign exchange transactions such as hedging of FX exposure of a net investment in foreign operations with USD derivative instruments and USD debt, as well as Railroad specific accounting policies required by the CTA, the U.S. STB, and SOX regulations