Recognized as one of National Capital Region's Top Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 31, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Department of Finance Canada was selected as one of National Capital Region's Top Employers (2022):
- Department of Finance supports a dedicated wellness committee that aims to build awareness of workplace well-being, as well as wellness champions who are responsible for leading activities and promoting awareness within each of their respective branches
- As part of the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Department of Finance established an anti-racism champion as well as an anti-racism committee, dedicated to carrying forward the Clerk of the Privy Council's recent call to action on system racism
- Department of Finance helps employees plan securely for the future with contributions to a defined benefit pension plan, retirement planning assistance and health benefits that extend to retirees (with 48 per cent premium coverage and no age limit) -- and offers a pre-retirement transition leave option for those within two years of retirement

Highlights
Industry | Federal government, general economic programs |
Established in Canada | 1867 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Ottawa ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 780 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 7 |
Average age of employees in Canada | 41 years |
Longest serving employee | 38.6 years |
Benefits note | Department of Finance has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position |
Long-term savings | defined-benefit (DB) pension |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months |
In-house training initiatives | apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, leadership training, mentoring, paid internships |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 50% of tuition per year |
Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day) |
Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2022):
By Kristina Leung and Stephanie Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 7, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Department of Finance Canada was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2022):
- In December 2020, the Department of Finance established an Anti-Racism Champion, responsible for leading an anti-racism committee -- the committee's mandate is to carry forward the Deputy Minister Commitments on Diversity and Inclusion and the Clerkâs Recent Call to Action on systemic racism, and to develop a sustainable action plan to promote inclusion for all
- Department of Finance's diversity champion launched FIN Builds, an initiative aimed at identifying reasons behind women's underrepresentation in leadership positions in the department -- a working group completed a diagnostic piece, held candid conversations across the organization to better understand its culture, and is working to launch a pilot leadership development program for a small group of women
- Department of Finance utilizes gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) to help ensure that the development of policies, programs, and legislation includes consideration of differential impacts on diverse groups of genders

Highlights
Industry | Federal government, general economic programs |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Ottawa ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 780 |
Management of diversity and inclusion initiatives | Diversity Champion (held by an assistant deputy minister), anti-racism committee (led by the Anti-racism Champion), diversity action plan covers recruitment and staffing practices, workforce analysis, inclusive workplace, communications, accountability and leadership and a supportive workplace, gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) committee to help ensure that policies, programs and legislation include consideration of differential impacts on diverse groups of women and men |
Performance management and accountability | tracks employment equity data through self-identification questionnaires and reports on a quarterly basis (self-identification rate of over 93%) |
Recruitment initiatives | hiring managers completed unconscious bias training in advance of the university recruitment campaign |
Retention and development programs | launched the FIN Builds initiative to identify reasons behind women's underrepresentation in leadership positions in the department (and is piloting a leadership development program for a small group of women) |
Training and awareness initiatives | mandatory introductory course on GBA+, analysts receive GBA+ training sessions to help improve their understanding, how it applies to their everyday work, and how to perform GBA+ through department-relevant practice examples), organizes activities for mental health week, language training and language buddy program |
Diversity highlights | launched a Diversity Blog in 2018 to share information, resources, and interesting facts related to diversity and inclusion (previous posts include a profile on a public servant who is a survivor of the Sixties Scoop, tips on how to maintain a safe working space for LGBTQ2+ employees, Black History Month, Sikh history and heritage, and challenging anti-Asian sentiments) |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 23, 2023)
Here are some of the reasons why Department of Finance Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
- Department of Finance manages an economics and social sciences development program targeted towards junior-level employees -- the program includes work assignments, coaching and a combination of formal and informal training to help participants transition to roles in economic, financial and taxation policy, among others -- additionally, the organization offers similar programs for human resources, access to information and privacy officers, internal auditors, and procurement and contracting officers
- Young staff at the Department of Finance can learn from their peers as well as professionals from other federal departments through the Finance Young Professional Network -- past events and activities include panel discussions on topics of interest for young professionals, executive speed networking events, pub nights, and picnics
- The Finance Young Professional Network also manages a dedicated buddy program to guide new hires through the onboarding process and help them build connections across the organization -- the EX buddy system was also introduced in 2021, matching early-career employees with experienced executive employees

Highlights
Industry | Federal government, general economic programs |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Ottawa ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 796 |
Student opportunities | summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships |
In-house training programs | orientation program, in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership training, apprenticeship/skilled trades programs |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 50% of tuition per year |
Unique training and development opportunities | economics and social sciences development program (similar programs for HR, access to information and privacy officers, internal auditors, and procurement and contracting officers), experiential learning (micro-missions, job shadowing, site visits), economic policy research PhD internship (4 to 6 months in duration, participants receive a salary and resources to pursue a policy-oriented research project), (Departmental Workplace Committee, temporary Interchange Canada assignments, international assignments on Canadian Missions in New York, Washington, United Kingdom, China as well as partners like the IMF and World Bank |
Additional highlights | participates in the Federal Student Work Experience Program and offers student bridging programs, FIN Ideas Hub Exchange (informal exchanges to share perspectives on various policy topics) |
Dedicated employee resource group | Finance Young Professional Network (organizes social activities and professional development events and manages a buddy program for new employees) |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
The Career Directory
Department of Finance Canada has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Highlights for New Grads
Industry | Federal government, general economic programs |
Full-time employees in Canada | 751 to 1,000 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Ottawa ON |
Student opportunities | paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities |
Training | subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, leadership training |
Tuition subsidies (related to job) | yes |
Starting salary | $55K to $60K |
Work benefits | flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day) |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Academic fields recruited
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Master of Arts
- Economics
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Master of Business Administration
- Finance