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, cross‑team process improvements with clear ROI
- Stakeholder management - Aligns priorities to resolve cross‑functional 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
About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 20,000-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at [email protected].
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
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