Melody Ma, CPA, TEP
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Summary
- Experienced CPA specializing in international tax advisory, research, compliance, and project oversight.
- Skilled in cross-border tax planning, M&A transactions, and assisting with internal and external audits across multiple jurisdictions.
- Currently serving on the board of a $25 million trust, providing financial and strategic planning for its operations.
- Recognized for attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines, with extensive experience in conducting audits with various tax authorities.
- Proficient in streamlining internal tax compliance processes for organizations.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
3
3
Certificate
Work History
VP, CLIENT TAX REPORTING
Canaccord Genuity
10.2024 - Current
- Lead Client Taxation department in the tactical day to day of client taxation reporting, as well as strategic planning and deployment of all CRA/RQ and IRS regulations and updates;
- Maintain strong relationships with Investment Advisors, Compliance, and Risk, with the view to deploy all regulated rule changes as well as continually enhance processing efficiencies;
- Comply with our regulatory requirements to maintain clean monthly reconciliations of CRA, RQ and IRS remittance Control accounts;
- Consistently seek out ways to improve tax-reporting processes, implementing changes when suitable;
- Coordinate and guide the different facets of CRA/IRS tax adherence, tax accounting, tax investigation, and support for internal and external CRA & IRS audits;
- Oversee the generation of year-end US & CDN tax slip production and delivery to ensure client filing requirements are met;
- Plan and coordinate training for the Tax Admin team and provide coaching as required, to enable further growth and development in the pursuit to provide exemplary customer service to Investment Advisors and their clients;
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, FINANCE, TAX & TREASURY
MUFG Fund Services Limited
07.2021 - 10.2024
- Managed timely and accurate completion of tax compliance globally, including but not limited to Canada, Ireland, UK, Jersey, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Malaysia, and Australia.
- Oversaw Global Minimum Tax Regime and planned global tax optimization for total tax saving of 1.3M
- Supported legal and outsourcing teams with design of agreements and ensured transfer pricing studies were maintained following local tax requirements
- Partnered with internal stakeholders providing tax advice regarding corporate, sales tax, employee tax, or cross-border issues
- Researched and advised on all tax matters, limiting reliance on outside firms
- Reviewed monthly income tax provision and defer tax calculation, and ensured tax installments are paid on time
- Led complex projects to identify, evaluate and quantify potential tax liabilities and exposures and worked with stakeholders to mitigate these exposures prior to commencing M&A transactions
- Ensured global intercompany relationships, payments and cash balances are operating effectively and efficiently
- Reviewed proposed regulatory changes and evaluated potential impacts on business operations.
Board of Trustees Member
Sipekne'katik First Nation
01.2020 - Current
- Prepare policies and financial controls that address the administration and safeguard of the trust funds; Establish and administer the Trust Fund on behalf of the Band Members.
- Review and co-sign off the trusts’ financial statements, income tax returns, trustees’ T3 tax slips, and make sure the compliance according to Income Tax Regulations
- Invest, reinvest and divest the monies of the Fund, and to authorize investment managers to invest. Review the investment reports and performances on the quarterly basis to make sure the financial risks are
properly recognized and mitigated and perform the duty to investment prudently.
MANAGER, TAX OPERATION
RBC
11.2020 - 07.2021
- Delivered monthly, quarterly, annually tax reporting documents for high net worth clients
- Ensured the prompt escalation and risk management of all matters which may present a potential financial loss or client service concern
- Supervised the process of all European tax operations within set timeframes and manage the reconciliation process between sub-custodian, reporting platforms and reclaim system records
- Oversaw six countries tax reclaims services, ensuring that target production periods are met and acceptable levels of accuracy maintained.
GROUP TAX SPECIALIST
Butterfield Bank
02.2019 - 10.2020
- Developed jurisdictional/group internal procedures for FATCA/CRS/QI in compliance with the Regulation, and designed various methodologies for period review and testing
- Assisted internal and external audit regarding transfer pricing, Fin 48 Tax Provision and helped with developing the relevant internal procedures
- Oversaw and managed FATCA/CRS reporting for bank subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions
- Reviewed entity/corporate tax return and working paper for multiple jurisdictions and assisted with ad hoc queries related to cross border issues
- Educated business units in tax compliance and reporting obligations.
SENIOR TAX ACCOUNTANT
Baker Tilly Canada
11.2014 - 01.2019
- Performed complex business and personal tax planning based on clients' need and scenario analysis to estimate and optimize the tax consequences
- Prepared Canadian and US filing, including tax reclaim, cross-border compliance related to personal, corporate and trust, indirect tax, including but not limited to PFIC calculation, Form 5471, 3520, Safe Income calculation
- Analyzed the notice of assessment and prepare Notice of Objections and file Appeals
- Assisted clients with IRS & CRA tax review and audit.
Education
Bachelor of Accounting -
Saint Mary's University
Halifax, NS01.2015
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Stakeholder Relationship
- Policy and Procedure Development
- Global Tax Compliance Expertise
- Tax Law Interpretation
- Tax Process Improvement
Timeline
VP, CLIENT TAX REPORTING
Canaccord Genuity
10.2024 - Current
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, FINANCE, TAX & TREASURY
MUFG Fund Services Limited
07.2021 - 10.2024
MANAGER, TAX OPERATION
RBC
11.2020 - 07.2021
Board of Trustees Member
Sipekne'katik First Nation
01.2020 - Current
GROUP TAX SPECIALIST
Butterfield Bank
02.2019 - 10.2020
SENIOR TAX ACCOUNTANT
Baker Tilly Canada
11.2014 - 01.2019
Bachelor of Accounting -
Saint Mary's University
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