Senior Trade Compliance Specialist

Finning • Edmonton, AB

1d • CA$90,000 - CA$100,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Finning Canada is seeking an experienced Senior Trade Compliance Specialist to join their 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, this role 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. The role offers enterprise-level impact across multiple business entities, autonomy to shape strategy, process, and governance, direct interaction with CBSA, CBP, brokers, consultants, and OEM partners, and the opportunity to mentor and elevate technical capability across the Trade Compliance team.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Diploma or degree in International Trade, Logistics, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in customs, trade compliance, export controls, and duty recovery.
• Strong proficiency in Excel and Power BI, including reporting, pivots, and data analysis.

Nice To Haves

• 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)

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree