Senior Trade Compliance Specialist
Role description
From the employerCOMPANY
Finning Canada
NUMBER OF OPENINGS
1
WORKER TYPE
Permanent
POSITION OVERVIEW
Finning Canada is seeking an experienced Senior Trade Compliance Specialist to
join our team. This is a senior‑level, individual‑contributor role for a trade
compliance expert who thrives in complexity, operates with independence, and
brings both strategic insight and hands‑on execution to customs and global trade
matters across Canada and the United States.
As a trusted internal consultant and subject matter expert, you will guide
Finning’s business units (OEM, SITECH, and Power Systems) through high‑risk and
technically complex trade scenarios while strengthening compliance frameworks,
reducing duty exposure, and driving operational excellence.
What we can offer you
- Great people and place to work with a hybrid work opportunity
- Career advancement and training opportunities
- Pension and employee stock purchase plans with company contributions
- Extensive health benefits including group medical and dental benefits, and
short-term and long-term disability benefits
- For this position, the expected salary range is between $90,000 to $100,000
annually with an additional bonus.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Why Join Finning?
At Finning, we operate at scale across borders, products, and regulatory
environments—making trade compliance a critical business enabler. In this role,
you’ll have
- Enterprise‑level impact across multiple business entities
- Autonomy to shape strategy, process, and governance
- Direct interaction with CBSA, CBP, brokers, consultants, and OEM partners
- The opportunity to mentor and elevate technical capability across the Trade
Compliance team
What You’ll Do
Trade Compliance Leadership & Process Ownership (≈85%)
- Own and govern all customs compliance processes across Finning entities,
ensuring alignment with current CBSA and CBP regulations
- Act as the senior technical expert for Canadian and U.S. customs matters,
including
- Tariff classification & valuation
- Origin determination & USMCA qualification
- SIMA, surtax, PGAs, export controls, and duty programs
- Independently manage high‑complexity HS classification, including new product
introductions, kits and assemblies, tariff shifts, and multi‑program
eligibility reviews
- Provide strategic guidance on tariff changes, SIMA applicability, valuation
adjustments, and regulatory developments
- Own and govern the USMCA qualification and review process for manufactured
and remanufactured products
- Manage Finning’s CARM account, ensuring compliance, financial security, and
system accuracy
- Lead detailed audits of broker entries, classifications, valuations, and
origin documentation to identify risks and drive corrective action
- Serve as Finning’s primary technical contact with CBSA, CBP, customs brokers,
Caterpillar, and external advisors
- Design and implement process improvements and compliance frameworks that
enhance accuracy, efficiency, and risk mitigation
- Provide advanced technical mentorship to Trade Compliance Specialists,
reducing reliance on management for complex decisions
Duty Recovery & Cost Optimization (≈10%)
- Lead technical analysis to identify duty recovery, conditional relief,
drawback, and end‑use opportunities
- Evaluate parts, assemblies, and product families to determine program
eligibility and compliance requirements
- Partner with Caterpillar and customs consultants on complex recovery
initiatives
- Analyze sales and part‑level data to ensure recovery claims are audit‑ready
- Quantify financial impact and clearly communicate duty savings
opportunities to the business
Operational Escalation & Risk Management (≈5%)
- Act as the primary escalation point for high‑risk and high‑value trade
issues, including SIMA scope, PGAs, temporary imports, CERS, export controls,
and valuation disputes
- Review and approve classification, valuation, and duty accuracy for
high‑value vendor invoices
- Provide hands‑on support during urgent or business‑critical shipments
- Coordinate with Treasury on customs bonds and duty payments to prevent
financial exposure
What You’ll Be Accountable For
- Maintaining expert‑level knowledge of Canadian and U.S. trade regulations
- Translating regulatory change into clear, actionable guidance
- Proactively identifying compliance risks and implementing mitigation plans
- Delivering data‑driven insights, reports, and recommendations to stakeholders
- Acting as a trusted internal consultant and thought partner to the business
- Supporting continuous improvement, SOP development, and best practices
- Safeguarding Finning against penalties, delays, and reputational risk
What You Bring
Skills & Capabilities
- Strategic thinker with strong independent judgment and decision‑making
ability
- Highly analytical with exceptional attention to detail
- Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation and training skills
- Collaborative influencer able to drive change across functions
- High ethical standards and the confidence to advocate for compliance
Technical Knowledge & Expertise
- Deep expertise in Canadian and U.S. customs regulations, tariff schedules,
GIRs, D‑Memos, WCO notes, SIMA, valuation, and surtax
- Advanced understanding of USMCA and free trade agreement qualification
- Strong knowledge of HS codes, ECCNs, ECL, and export controls
- Experience with duty recovery and minimization programs
- Familiarity with PGAs (EPA, FDA, CFIA, DOT, HC, CGP, Environment Canada)
- Solid understanding of supply chain, logistics, reverse logistics, and
INCOTERMS
- Proven ability to lead audits, amendments, and ruling‑based decisions
Education & Experience
- Diploma or degree in International Trade, Logistics, Business, or related
field
- 10+ years of experience in customs, trade compliance, export controls, and
duty recovery
- Professional certifications (or working toward):
- Certified Customs Specialist
- Certified Trade Compliance Specialist
- Customs Export Specialist
- Experience with CARM and Single Window (strong asset)
- CITP / FIBP as an asset
- Experience writing ruling requests and responding to ruling decisions
- Familiarity with U.S. export regulations, AES filings, and reporting
- Licensed Customs Broker or Control Goods Program experience (asset)
- Strong proficiency in Excel and Power BI, including reporting, pivots, and
data analysis
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you’re a seasoned trade compliance professional who enjoys solving complex
problems, influencing at scale, and protecting the business while enabling
growth, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and help shape the future of trade compliance at Finning Canada.
At Finning, we prioritize creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are
proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we actively encourage all
individuals to express themselves and achieve their full potential. As a
company, we continuously strive to enhance our outreach to individuals of all
backgrounds and identities. We do not discriminate against applicants based on
gender identity, race, national and ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual
orientation, marital and family status, and/or mental or physical
disabilities. Furthermore, Finning is committed to collaborating with and
providing reasonable accommodations /adjustments to individuals with
disabilities. If you require an adjustment/accommodation at any point during the
recruitment process, please inform your recruiter.