Diversity is a reality. Inclusion is a choice and a management responsibility.
That’s why Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, a Quebec-based firm specializing in assurance, tax, consulting, business recovery and reorganization, is increasingly promoting an inclusive culture in its work environment to recognize all its employees as an important part of a diverse workforce, regardless of gender expression or identity, or sexual orientation.
We spoke with Christine Regimbal and Gautier Péchadre, two members of the LGBTQ community, to see how this is being put into practice at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
In 2019, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton undertook an important initiative to look at diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias. The exercise resulted in the appointment of Christine Regimbal, a firm partner for 20 years and member of the Partnership Board, as Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In her role, she promotes diversity and inclusion so that all employees can reach their full potential at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
“We had been discussing this for some time in the Partnership Board. On the one hand, we wanted to move towards greater gender parity among partners and, on the other, to include diversity in its broadest sense and also make room for inclusion in decision-making. This became a standing item that was discussed at each meeting to follow up on the actions to be taken.”
Christine’s first mandate was to set up a cross-disciplinary committee of partners and employees from all regions in Quebec that reflects inclusion and diversity in its ranks (gender, cultural communities, LGBTQ community, people with physical limitations, etc.). “The goal was to set clear, achievable and measurable objectives that would have a positive impact on employees, the future and the firm’s sustainability.”
Christine herself states it in a short YouTube corporate video, where she is seen with her wife on their wedding day. “Over the years, the firm’s mentality, like society’s, has evolved significantly.” The video was part of a “Being Proud Together” series broadcast in 2020-2021 that features employees in the LGBTQ community and its allies.
Gautier Péchadre has been representing RCGT with Pride at Work/Fierté au travail for two years. He is also involved in the GRIS-Montréal campaign committee. He is proud to have been able to raise donations from his colleagues totaling more than $10,000 for the organization.
“Since the firm will be supporting the upcoming 2022-2023 campaign, I’m confident that I’ll be able to exceed that amount next year. I wish there had been an organization like GRIS in my school when I was 12 years old and discovering my sexuality. The work that GRIS does is incredible. Thanks to GRIS, every year, thousands of young people benefit from workshops that demystify sexual and gender diversity. Also, thanks to GRIS, many dozens of young people finally don’t feel so ‘different’ and understand that they can be themselves!”
Until recently, only regular employees with one year of continuous service at the time of going on maternity leave of 15 to 18 weeks were eligible for the Supplementary Parental Insurance Benefit (SPIB). This has changed: the SPIB is now available to all new parents, regardless of who they are. Since June 1, 2022, parents who want to adopt or foster a child, use a surrogate mother or are not biological parents are now included in the SPIB and can take or share a parental leave. Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton offers up to 23 weeks to all employees who become parents, biological or not, regardless of the type of leave they wish to take.
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s SPIB sets it apart from the competition and is a source of pride for both Christine and Gautier.
Gautier says, “I believe that the firm is increasingly embracing the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that are important to employees.” Christine adds, “At Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, we walk the talk, we’re leading the way. We have enviable working conditions and are among the industry leaders.”
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Life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
Choose the most admired management and accounting firm in Québec
Since 1948, we have been empowering our people, clients and communities with sound advice.
Working at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, is choosing to be part of competent teams in Québec’s leading accounting firm as well as the one most admired by Quebeckers and one of the most important enterprises in Québec.
We are part of the Grant Thornton global organization with a presence in over 140 countries.
Experience the enjoyment of working in a motivating team
The connections we make at work are essential to our sense of belonging
- Our CLAIRE values (Collaboration, Leadership, Agility, Integrity, Respect, Excellence) reflect our corporate culture and behaviour.
- We are a human-scale firm with a great work environment and friendly colleagues.
- Every person is called upon to freely express their ideas and creativity.
- There is a close relationship with management and your managers.
- Management is attentive and involved.
- We have access to several efficient and useful technology tools to make work easier.
Pave the way with our clients
Our clients are at the heart of everything we do
- There is a wide variety of assignments.
- You deal with clients of various sizes and in different industries.
- In a way, the clients’ projects, challenges and ambitions become your own.
- You have access to people in the field, to decision-makers and numerous business networks.
- You have the flexibility to make important decisions on a timely basis.
- You can easily build a strong professional network.
Get the opportunity to learn and take action
To satisfy your curiosity and your quest for challenges
- We have access to a wide range of training programs.
- There is a great collaboration with colleagues from various specialties.
- We have a network of specialists that are accessible within the firm.
- Innovation is an important part of our business model.
Gain recognition and progress in your career
Being recognized for your efforts and having access to a multitude of opportunities
- Efforts are recognized and appreciated.
- There are opportunities to specialize in certain areas of expertise.
- There are mobility opportunities:
- Discover new areas of expertise;
- We are part of the Grant Thornton global organization.
Benefits and Well-Being
Choose an organization that truly cares about your well-being
Life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is more than just career and development opportunities, team spirit, a great culture and a broad client base. We also offer a wide range of benefits and working conditions that help you grow.
Remuneration, benefits and leaves of absence
- Compensation is competitive for our business sector and, under certain conditions, includes a performance and business development bonus.
- We offer a competitive group retirement savings plan (RRSP, TFSA).
- Our group insurance plan is both competitive and flexible.
- We pay the professional membership dues for one association per person per year.
- We offer a multitude of leaves of absence, including the Supplementary Parental Insurance Benefit (SPIB).
Health and well-being initiatives
- We offer free access to Dialogue, a telemedicine service, an employee and family assistance program and a stress and on the-job well-being program.
- An annual amount of $500 is granted to employees under the Health and Well-being Program.
- Several conferences and video clips are offered to employees at no cost.
Other benefits
- We have generous referral bonuses for new hires and interns of up to $5,000.
- Corporate rebates are available for employees.
Did you know?
The Supplementary Parental Insurance Benefit (SPIB) will provide up to 23 weeks to all employees who become parents, whether biological or not, regardless of the type of leave they wish to take.
Read about life at Raymond through employee stories
“I started my career as an intern and now I’m a senior manager. Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton has given me great opportunities to develop, grow and climb the ranks. Now it’s my turn to help out and train new colleagues. I love it. My colleagues are great and the working atmosphere is pleasant. Management is accessible and attentive. I made the right choice for my career and it’s a privilege to work at the firm.”
Marie-Joel Massicotte
Senior Manager
Assurance
“I work with the best professionals in the industry. The team spirit is the best I’ve ever experienced. My managers give me a free hand in my work. The firm values me for my efforts and my career prospects are excellent. All this is very important to me. Considering working anywhere else but at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is simply not an option for me.”
Jean-François Djoufak
Senior Manager
Tax
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We are proud to announce that the Supplementary Parental Insurance Benefit (SPIB) has been revamped.
The result of a collaborative effort by members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Talent and Culture team, the enhanced SPIB reflects the values of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that are important to us by recognizing that parenthood is very diverse in an era of multiple family configurations
What are the main changes in the SPIB?
Previously, only regular female employees who had completed one year of continuous service at the time of going on maternity leave were eligible. Fathers taking paternity leave, shared parental leave, parents wishing to adopt or foster a child or have a child through a surrogate mother, or a parent who is not a biological parent were excluded from the SPIB.
Beginning June 1, 2022, the SPIB will provide up to 23 weeks to all regular employees who have completed at least one year of continuous service who become parents, whether biological or not, regardless of the type of leave they wish to take.
“Having a thriving family is truly a core value at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton: a new era begins today, this new program will make a real difference in the lives of ALL parents-to-be, in ALL their diversity! I am so proud of our accomplishment!” Gautier Péchadre, Senior Manager, Recovery & Reorganization
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When crossing borders to do business or manage assets, there are specific tax measures to consider.
Highly specialized knowledge is required and this is where mobility and international business tax specialists, like Mylène Tétreault, come in.
How would you describe your tax specialty?
Mobility is a component of international taxation. Whenever companies do business abroad or have subsidiaries in another country, they need experts to deal with tax compliance, financial statements, tax planning or reorganization, etc.
Many companies today have mobile employees. It could be workers who are permanently deployed overseas or those who are on short or long-term assignments in another country. It can also be employees who decide to telework outside the country.
Our goal is to ensure that companies or employees meet their international tax filing and payment obligations, while managing tax risks and costs for both Canadian companies locating outside the country and foreign companies coming to Canada.
How did you get here?
I started in Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s tax department in Sherbrooke in 2007. Because I had a particular interest in this field, I was given the resources to develop my skills in American and international taxation.
Three years later, I moved to Québec City and joined the International Tax team that specializes in U.S. corporate tax, international mobility and tax reorganization.
Our department evolved and I chose to specialize in mobility. It was something that really interested me and I could see the demand for it increasing due to business globalization and worker mobility. It was this niche that I wanted to grow. We developed an exceptional international mobility service, in both Québec City and Montréal. I am very proud of this.
What is a typical assignment like?
The focus of our work is to assist companies in their foreign assignment process. We offer them consulting and compliance services that cover all tax matters.
We also support employees by providing tax advice in their home and new country and with preparing tax returns.
Because each country has its own laws and regulations, it gets complicated. You have to be very familiar with what applies in each context to make sure you’re optimizing the company’s or employees’ situation. Otherwise, they could be fined or penalized.
We also have other types of assignments for individuals, such as someone who inherits a property or wants to invest abroad. What happens? What is taxable, what isn’t? Or it could be for the purchase of property in the U.S., in Florida, for example.
What is most motivating about your work?
We cover a very broad range of assignments. Working with the laws and regulations of different countries is very challenging. You learn something new every day.
I’m a team player, so I appreciate the opportunity to work with my colleagues across the province and those in the Grant Thornton International network.
I also really value the openness to new projects. Management never hesitates to say yes to an employee, to say: go ahead, we trust you!
How does the firm stand out as an employer?
Here, anyone who wants to get involved can participate in a variety of projects and innovative committees. Employees’ ideas are taken into account. The firm listens to its clients as well as its employees. Several committees and projects have been set up to help the next generation of employees progress.
Are you involved in the community as a tax expert?
Yes, I often give conferences to individuals, businesses or banking institutions to clarify the concepts of my field of expertise. I also write articles to inform our clients and share my knowledge and that of my colleagues on international taxation and mobility. This is a side of my work that I really enjoy.