Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recruitment needs

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is one of the largest public service organizations in Canada. The Agency administers tax programs and benefits for the social and economic wellbeing of Canadians.

Taxes are used to fund hospitals, schools, and the infrastructure that keeps towns and cities across the country running. And for the fifth year in a row, the CRA has been named one of the top 100 employers in Canada.

CRA has locations in Summerside, in Charlottetown, and across Canada. There are more than 55,000 employees nationally. On PEI, the current workforce is about 1,000 employees, and the vast majority are working remotely since the pandemic started.

There are various divisions within CRA, and most divisions have a range of positions from entry-level to management. These divisions include:

• Audit
• Business and Accounting
• Finance and Administration
• Human Resources
• Information Technology (IT)
• Program Services
• Revenue Collections
• Security

Employment opportunities

“We have continued to be busy since the pandemic started,” says Jeff Lansing, CRA spokesperson. “CRA is a lot more than taxes. We administer a lot of benefits for Canadians, including all the different COVID-19 related benefits that were announced over the last two years.

“We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace which fosters innovation and drives us to be a world-class tax and benefit administration. We are committed to hiring people from various cultural, ethnic, gender, and language groups.”

Jeff says network groups have been formed to support a diverse and inclusive workplace.

“We are committed to supporting the Government of Canada’s initiative to hire 5,000 persons with disabilities by 2025,” Jeff says. “Our agency leadership and various networks meet regularly to discuss ideas to support and contribute to an inclusive work environment.”

Hiring needs

CRA hires for multiple positions on a regular basis. The ability to speak English and French is an asset when applying.

“We are continually looking to hire, and we are also strongly recruiting for students and new graduates to fill a variety of exciting and challenging jobs in various areas, doing work that matters to all Canadians,” says Jeff.

“Positions for recent graduates and post-secondary accounting students are available, including Examiners and Auditors, which require introductory and intermediate accounting courses.

“UPEI graduates and/or students who have accomplished the following accounting courses (ACCT 1010, 2020, 3010 & 3020), would meet our criteria for these specific positions.

“If you are not an accounting student, we have lots of job streams that do not require accounting, like Information Technology, Human Resources, and Communications, just to name a few.”

Post-secondary student opportunities

Summer student, co-op, and international student opportunities are available as well. “In PEI, we tend to arrange student employment through post-secondary coordinators,” says Jeff. “We make a call out to them to ask if they have students who would like to join our team while in school. This is seen as a starting point for students to be introduced to CRA for long-term employment.”

For students who identify as Indigenous, apply to the CRA’s Indigenous Student Employment Program (ISEP): Requisition number 57218972.

For more information on student and graduate opportunities at CRA, click here.

Salary and benefits

The salary range of most entry-level positions is between approximately $40,000 and $60,000.

Hours of work are 37.5 hours a week with a flexible work schedule. They also offer competitive vacation and sick leave allowances.

CRA offers a defined benefit and pension plan. Survival benefits for spouses and/or children are also available.

“Every job has salary increments, and as long as you are meeting expectations for the role you are hired for, you automatically move to the next salary level. There is also a full comprehensive health and dental plan.”

What kind of training and/or mentorship can I expect?

“New employees starting as Examiners / Auditors receive structured classroom training, which has been offered virtually in recent years,” says Jeff. “They are then paired with another employee while they learn their new role and gain their independence.”

“Employees have the option of taking further training, which is often reimbursed by CRA, to work toward further career development,” says Jeff.

“CRA encourages its employees to create their own learning plans, such as language training and project management, as long as the training is specific to the work you do.”

Programs that CRA uses to hire include the following:

• Federal Student Work Program (FSWEP): a program offering work experience in the federal public service to full-time students.
• Information Technology Apprenticeship Program (ITAP): graduated post-secondary students from a diploma or degree program in computer science, information technology, and/or information management or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed.
• Indigenous Student Employment Program (ISEP): Employment throughout Canada to qualified Indigenous students, regardless of your field of study.
• Employment Opportunities for Students with Disabilities: Full-time and part-time positions open to students with disabilities only. Students are encouraged to apply year-round.
• Upcoming and Recent Graduate Employment Opportunities: Opportunities for talented individuals who have recently graduated or who will graduate from a post-secondary institution by June 2022 to fill a variety of exciting and challenging positions. These positions are in various areas such as Administrative Services, Audit and Accounting, Human Resources and IT just to name a few!