VP. Chief Compliance Officer, Sun Life Canada

Sun Life • Waterloo, ON

11d • CA$195,000 - CA$270,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Sun Life Canada serves as the Senior Compliance Officer for Sun Life Canada as defined in Sun Life’s Compliance Risk Management Framework which aligns with OSFI’s E-13 requirements. The role leads the independent second line Compliance function for Canada and is accountable for promoting, facilitating, monitoring, and assessing compliance with applicable regulatory requirements while providing effective oversight and challenge of compliance and fraud risks across the business. As a member of the Compliance Leadership Team, the incumbent partners closely with business leaders, Risk, Legal, Internal Audit, and oversight functions to ensure Sun Life Canada maintains a strong regulatory compliance management program, effective risk governance practices, and a culture of integrity and accountability. The role provides objective, independent advice to senior management and the Board on emerging regulatory issues, material compliance risks, and the effectiveness of the compliance framework.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in regulatory compliance and OSFI’s E-13 requirements, governance, risk management, and regulatory affairs within the financial services industry, including strong knowledge of the legislative, regulatory, and supervisory environment applicable to Sun Life Canada’s insurance and wealth business
• Proven track record on implementing data automation and AI projects.
• Proven ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements, assess business impacts, and influence strategic decisions that effectively balance client, business, regulatory, and risk considerations.
• Demonstrated executive leadership capability, with a track record of building, leading, and developing high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Strong relationship management and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility and drive outcomes across executive leadership teams, regulators, governance committees, and key stakeholders.
• Exceptional judgment, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage complexity, and lead effectively through change and transformation.
• Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to convey complex regulatory and risk matters clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior management, boards, and regulators.
• Working knowledge of governing legislation and related regulations (e.g. Insurance Companies Act, provincial Insurance Act, Securities Act, PCMLTFA and Regulations, etc.) and regulatory guidelines and rules (e.g. OSFI Guidelines and, in particular E-13, CSA National Instruments, etc.)
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Compliance, Risk Management, Legal, Audit, or a related financial services discipline, with experience as a Compliance Officer preferred.
• Significant experience leading large-scale compliance programs and regulatory oversight functions.
• Experience in Wealth and Asset Management
• Demonstrated experience engaging with regulators, executive committees, and boards.
• Proven success leading and developing large, highly skilled teams within complex organizations.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree, legal designation, compliance certification, or relevant professional designation considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the independent Compliance function for Sun Life Canada, providing oversight, challenge, and guidance to ensure effective management of compliance and fraud risks across the business.
• Serve as the Senior Compliance Officer for Sun Life Canada, accountable for promoting, facilitating, monitoring, and assessing compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and enterprise compliance standards.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance a risk-based regulatory compliance management framework that enables the effective identification, assessment, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of compliance risks.
• Provide objective, independent advice and challenge to executive leadership, governance committees, and business leaders on material compliance, fraud, regulatory, reputational, and conduct-related matters.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and industry trends, assess their potential impact on Sun Life Canada, and influence business strategies and decisions to support sustainable, compliant growth.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with regulators, industry bodies, and enterprise partners while serving as a trusted advisor on regulatory compliance matters.
• Oversee governance, monitoring, testing, reporting, and escalation processes to ensure material compliance and fraud risks are identified, addressed, and communicated appropriately to senior management and relevant governance bodies.
• Partner with business leaders and oversight functions to strengthen risk management practices, promote a culture of integrity and accountability, and enhance awareness of regulatory requirements through effective training and engagement.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of compliance professionals, fostering an inclusive culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, innovation, and strong business partnership.
• Model Sun Life's Leadership Excellence expectations by leading with purpose, developing talent, fostering authenticity and care, elevating performance, enabling innovation, and driving meaningful business outcomes for clients, employees, and the organization.

Benefits

• Eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.
• Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive