Job Specification

Purpose :

- To provide advice, options, research and expertise to the Deputy Minister, Minister of Finance and Cabinet in the strategic development and analysis of corporate taxation policy.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Corporate Tax Policy Expertise:
- Provides policy advice and alternative policy options to senior management, the Deputy Minister, Minister of Finance and Cabinet on issues relevant to decision-making, such as implications of the tax structures, historical perspectives, experience in other jurisdictions, the broader government policy environment, and the perspective of affected groups.
- Performs inter-jurisdictional corporate tax analyses: analyzes and interprets relevant aspects of the tax structure/system for federal and provincial corporate taxes, to identify broader implications for on tax policy, and the concerns of, and impacts on, affected/specific groups.
- Provides advice, information, and expertise to federal/provincial governments/academia, tax research organizations and accounting/legal firms, regarding corporate tax policy [e.g., income tax rates].
2. Policy Development:
- Leads and/or conducts research projects to develops recommendation for Ontario corporate tax policy that affect Ontario's revenues, taxation structure and the business environment.
- Coordinates the policy development process: establishes work plans/timetables, determines methodology/approach to achieve desired results; documents research, sources of data and analyses; and coordinates/prepares reports.
- Identifies and incorporates all relevant aspects of issues management into the policy development process including the need for follow-up action, legal considerations, communications strategy, input from other Finance divisions and line ministries.
- Leads/supervises activities of assigned economists by explaining tasks, monitoring progress, providing technical guidance/coaching/training to improve analytical and presentation techniques and ensure quality of analyses/advice and written materials comply with Ministry standards.
3. Issues Management:
- Prepares presentations, briefing notes, contentious issue notes and detailed background papers on specific corporate tax policy issues and contributes research, data and information into sections of budget papers and policy proposals for senior management, the Deputy Minister, Minister of Finance and Cabinet.
- Provides the Manager, Director and Assistant Deputy Minister with policy expertise and technical support at senior management meetings, and identifies the need for follow-up and consultation on specific issues.
4. Consultation and Partnerships:
- Represents the branch/division at meetings as part of work teams with other ministries, other governments and private-sector groups, to contribute/exchange information on current/proposed projects and discuss pre-Budget submissions and research.
- Develops and maintains networks with partners within own/other Ministries, central agencies, other governments, universities and business executives to resolve potential conflicts/issues, consult/collaborate on proposed policies/programs, provide interpretation analysis and expertise on Treasury/Government economic policies and to exchange information/collect data.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Economic theory and principles and knowledge of economics and/or accounting to understand their relevance and applicability to the corporate tax policy development process and to support the evaluation/development of policy options.
- Provincial and ministry strategic directions with respect to the provincial economy and corporate tax issues, policies, programs, taxation, governing legislation and regulatory structures related to Ontario's economy and the corporate tax process to: ensure that ministry business objectives and the provincial agenda are effectively considered when providing input into the development/evaluation of policy impacts; provide advice to senior management; and exchange information with stakeholders.
- Knowledge in a broad range of taxation policy areas, economic forecasts and the Government's fiscal position in order to provide senior management with expertise and advice on policy options.
- Governmental financial mandate, policy statements, tax legislation, regulatory guidelines, branch practices, precedents and protocols to ensure policy decisions are in accordance with the Taxpayer Protection Act and relevant tax statutes/Court rulings.
- Knowledge of the Ontario tax system to conduct analyses and research, develop policy options and briefing materials, assess the Province's tax competitiveness and identify issues that may impact on policy.
- Knowledge of government/ministry the policy/program development and government decision making processes, to participate in the development of policy/program options/proposals.
- Project management skills and techniques to research and coordinate data collection and policy analysis.
- Research and quantitative/qualitative techniques to gather, evaluate, interpret, analyze and extract relevant economic data to support the policy analysis/development process
- Written communications to prepare reports, correspondence, memoranda and analyses and contribute to the development of briefing notes, presentations, budget papers and Cabinet documents.
- Computer applications for word processing, spreadsheets, graphics and databases to prepare briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence and research and policy/program development materials.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Presentation skills to provide advice and present briefings to senior management, Minister's staff and stakeholders on a range of corporate tax issues, policies and programs.
- Consultation and facilitation skills to represent the branch/division at meetings as part of work teams with other ministries, and to interact/liaise effectively with counterparts in own/other Ministries, other governments, and private-sector groups, to discuss/resolve issues and influence acceptance of policy options/proposals.
- Consultation skills, to provide advice and information to federal/provincial governments/academia, tax research organizations and accounting/legal firms, regarding corporate tax policy.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
- Identify and conceptualize potential issues arising from taxation strategies and policy and determine those that may be contentious and recommend appropriate response.
- Identify tax issues, trends and developments, assess applicability/potential impact on sectors/groups and make recommendations to Branch/senior management on appropriate actions.
- Conduct research from multiple sources of information [e.g. including literature review, studies, reports and external policy submissions] to identify trends, standards and policies and provide advice, interpretation and relevance to the development of corporate tax policy options.
- Conduct qualitative/quantitative analyses to interpret economic data and assess the impacts on sectors/groups affected by potential taxation policies.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

- Provides advice to senior management, the Deputy Minister, Minister of Finance and Cabinet on issues relevant to corporate tax policy decision-making.[ other jurisdictional issues/ tax structures ]
- Develops recommendations for Ontario corporate tax policy that affect Ontario's revenues, taxation structure and the business environment.
- Leads/conducts research into emerging issues and policy/program changes and interprets economic data and a range of tax information (to assess the impact on Ontario's competitiveness and corporate on tax policies) and outlines viable policy alternatives.
- Ensures policy decisions comply with the Taxpayer Protection Act and all other relevant tax statutes and relevant Court rulings.
- Ensures accuracy of qualitative/quantitative data and makes recommendations for policy options/changes that impact the Ontario corporate tax system and Ministry policies and programs.
Has latitude to decide best approach to: undertake research projects; select/assess the relevance of data/information/models; determine data sources and methodology to support statistical analysis; and the format for presentation of briefing materials and data/information for senior management.
Work is performed under the direction of the Senior Budget Advisor/Manager. Decisions are guided by provincial and ministry strategic directions, existing legislative/regulatory and policy framework, best practices and government directives and procedures.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Counterparts in own/other ministries to consult/exchange/obtain data/information on: the development of policy options and economic projections, development of data models, discuss/resolve issues associated with tax policies and seek information on data interpretation and collection practices.
- Minister's Office and senior management to provide information and quantitative analysis on corporate tax issues and present/participate in presentations.
- Federal/provincial governments/academia, tax research organizations and accounting/legal firms to provide/exchange information on income tax rates and exchange information about changes in tax policy to enhance expert advice for policy consideration.
- Academia to enhance policy advice expertise and to explain/discuss public policy.
- The public to respond to questions and explain policy developments.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides project co-ordination, leadership and taxation expertise to multi-discipline, cross-ministry, project teams when leading/coordinating research and policy development projects.
- Provides technical guidance/coaching/training to assigned economists by briefing on specific issues and monitoring/updating corporate income tax rates, ensures work and information products are accurate, timely and meet Ministry standards and requirements.
- Provides advice and information on current and proposed policy and programs to other government policy counterparts.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Frequently required to respond to requests within short deadlines where time pressures result in the need to occasionally work beyond normal work hours for response to information requests. (During budget process/special projects)
Frequently required to manage conflicting deadlines which are subject to change without notice, priorities that are not anticipated or contentious.

Mental / Sensory :

Continuous requirements to concentrate when reading materials, analyzing fiscal/economic data, documents and research and when drafting reports, briefing notes and policy related materials.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.