Manager, SR&ED and Clean Economy Tax Credits (Finance/Tax)
RSM US · Calgary, Canada +1 · 1mo ago
We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
Our Credits and Incentives practice (CIM) focuses on expansion and growth, with a history of nurturing the development and progression of our valued team members. We are a national team of engineers, scientists, technologists, and financial professionals who specialize in identifying and securing government funding, with teams focusing on SR&ED, Grants, Digital Media tax credits, and other incentive programs.
Step into a role where your talent and motivation are not only recognized but are also essential. We invite skilled Accounting and Tax professionals to join our exceptional Credits and Incentives team. As a Manager, Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) and Clean Economy Tax Credits, you will help clients identify, quantify, document, and defend SR&ED claims while also supporting advisory and claim-preparation work related to Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits and other government incentives. You will play an integral role in advancing our clients’ innovative research, energy transition, decarbonization, and eligible capital project initiatives. You will assist a variety of clients with their tax credit claims and become a trusted advisor through providing insightful best practices and immersing yourself in the diverse industries of our client base.
At RSM, we combine the resources of a large professional services firm with the personalized, tailored approach and team centric structure of a boutique SR&ED practice to deliver premium quality work while ensuring an outstanding client experience. We have cultivated an inclusive environment of teamwork, accountability, ongoing education, and flexibility where team members can work in-office, hybrid, or fully remote.
Responsibilities:
We are looking for a Manager with expertise in accounting and tax to join our SR&ED team and contribute to a growing Clean Economy tax credits offering:
SR&ED Claim Delivery: Prepare higher complexity SR&ED tax incentive claims and assist with review of claims as required. Maintain regular contact with assigned clients, communicating directly with client personnel in operations, finance, accounting, payroll, and engineering, and their accountants to gather relevant information to prepare project costing and complete tax return input.
Clean Economy Tax Credits: Support client engagements involving Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits, including Clean Technology, Clean Technology Manufacturing, Clean Hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), Clean Electricity, and proposed EV Supply Chain incentives, as applicable.
Eligibility and Benefit Quantification: Collaborate with RSM technical, engineering, accounting, and tax professionals and client stakeholders to assess eligibility, classify eligible expenditures and capital assets, quantify potential benefits, and support documentation and claim preparation for SR&ED, Clean Economy, and other incentives.
Client Partnership: Cultivate strong relationships with clients to uncover SR&ED opportunities, offering bespoke consultation and support throughout the SR&ED claim lifecycle. Meet with clients in person and virtually to establish engagement plans, assist with evaluation of eligible activities, and gather supporting documentation. Provide timely, high quality client service that meets or exceeds expectations. Extend this consultative approach to broader tax credit, incentive, and funding opportunities where clients are undertaking eligible innovation, energy transition, decarbonization, clean technology, critical mineral, or other capital projects.
Technical Collaboration: Partner with our adept technical team to identify eligible costs, formulate strategic plans, and guarantee a seamless claims process. Enhance the SR&ED claim journey for clients, implementing streamlined approaches that ensure efficiency as client satisfaction is paramount. Work closely with technical practitioners and finance teams to bridge project facts, cost support, tax legislation, and client-ready deliverables.
Claim Defense and CRA Reviews: Be the advocate for your assigned clients in interactions with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provincial bodies to work in our client’s best interest, leading them through the FTCAS or Review/Audit process, gathering and submitting requested information and documents, and attending CRA or provincial meetings. Support clients during CRA reviews of SR&ED claims and Clean Economy tax credit claims or related tax credit positions.
Financial Advisory and Incentives Planning: Offer specialized advice on tax credits and deductions, ensuring alignment with clients’ fiscal goals and optimizing financial gains. Stay abreast of changes to SR&ED federal and provincial programs and other relevant tax incentives. Comfortable with research as required, reviewing the Income Tax Act, CRA policies, and relevant case law. Develop practical advice to help clients evaluate and access Clean Economy ITCs, direct grants, and other federal or provincial incentives.
Engagement and Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of client engagements, deliver work on time and within budget, assist with forecasting and support the management and delivery of larger or more complex engagements.
Business Insights and Growth: Cultivate a comprehensive understanding of clients’ operational landscapes, leading multiple engagements to success with informed strategies. Stay up to date with relevant internal and external professional development and pursue ongoing education opportunities. Contribute to business development by identifying, researching, and pursuing SR&ED, Clean Economy, and broader incentives opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
Team Development: Build and strengthen your technical knowledge while contributing to the development of the team’s SR&ED finance/tax, Clean Economy, and incentives capabilities.
Required Qualifications:
SR&ED Finance/Tax Experience: 2 to 5+ years of previous experience claiming SR&ED tax credits and supporting claim defense. Experience should be finance/tax focused, including costing, eligible expenditure analysis, documentation support, and tax return input.
Clean Economy / Incentives Exposure: Experience with, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, Clean Economy ITCs or other federal and provincial incentives. Prior exposure to capital asset classification or eligible capital project analysis would be an asset
Academic and Professional Background: A solid foundation in Accounting/Tax or a related field, in public accounting and/or industry. Undergraduate university degree in business, accounting, tax, corporate finance, or equivalent. Candidates with a finance, accounting, tax, or incentives background who are comfortable working with engineering and technical teams will be well suited to this hybrid role.
Analytical and Research Skills: Strong ability to understand business and financial aspects of client projects, interpret tax legislation and administrative guidance, analyze cost and capital data, and communicate conclusions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Software: Proficient using TaxPrep/iFirm and MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Strong Excel skills for costing, allocation, and support schedules are important.
Client-Centric Approach: Outstanding client service abilities, complemented by superior verbal and written communication skills
Collaborative Spirit: Ability to flourish in both autonomous and team-based environments, contributing to collective goals and milestones. Comfortable collaborating across SR&ED finance, technical, tax, and industry teams.
Quality Focus: A self-starter who is detail orientated with a steadfast commitment to upholding quality and excellence in every project undertaken.
Adaptability to Dynamic Environment: Possess the capabilities to excel and adapt within a dynamic, fast-paced workplace while navigating complex tasks to deliver highest quality work to clients.
Time Management Expertise: To effectively provide an outstanding client experience, it is essential to have the ability to juggle multiple client assignments, prioritize tasks, and work autonomously to meet deadlines.
Interpersonal Skills: This role requires effective verbal and written communications and the ability to work professionally with other individuals and groups, ranging from RSM colleagues, to client stakeholders, to accounting partners, and to leadership.
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional Designation: MPAcc or equivalent, and/or CPA designation for Manager level role, preferred but not required. In-depth Tax course completion considered an asset.
Software: Proficient in other tax preparation software, such as ProFile, TaxCycle, CanTax, or others.
Provincial Incentives: Experience claiming Alberta Innovation Employment Grant (IEG) and/or Quebec R&D credit. Experience with other provincial innovation, clean economy, or investment incentives would be considered an asset.
Clean Economy Incentives: Experience with or demonstrated interest in Clean Technology ITC, Clean Technology Manufacturing ITC, Clean Hydrogen ITC, CCUS ITC, Clean Electricity ITC, and related government incentive programs.
Tax Incentives: Experience with and/or interest in learning more about other Canadian tax incentive programs, federally and provincially.
Industry Exposure: Familiarity with energy transition, decarbonization, critical minerals, clean technology, manufacturing, hydrogen, electricity, carbon capture, or other capital-intensive sectors would be an asset, but this remains a finance/tax role rather than a technical engineering position.
Language: Bilingualism, English/French, would be an asset.
Location: Role is National, although preference will be given to candidates located in Alberta or British Columbia. Additional consideration may be given to candidates in markets with Clean Economy, energy transition, or incentives growth opportunities.
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmcanada.com/careers/life-at-rsm/rewards-and-benefits.html.
RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; colour; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression); sexual orientation; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the Canadian uniformed service; Canadian Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable provincial employment legislation.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.
At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Compensation Range: $84,000 - $155,000Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.