Corporate Secretary

Join a Challenger

At EQ, we're remaking banking so every Canadian gets ahead, every day. Serving nearly 4 million Canadians from coast to coast, we offer a wide variety of financial services from banking and lending, to trust and credit union solutions. We've been at this since 1970, challenging the conventions of traditional banking with smarter, faster, and more connected financial experiences. What's kept us moving? The people behind it all: challengers who ask better questions, push back on old assumptions, and look for a better way forward. If you're driven to help reshape how banking works for Canadians and the businesses that power our economy, this could be your next big opportunity. We can’t wait to get to know you!

Purpose of the Job

The Corporate Secretary, reporting to the General Counsel, is the Bank’s senior governance officer and a trusted advisor to the Board of Directors, Board Chair, Committee Chairs, Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership. The role safeguards the integrity of EQB’s governance framework, enables effective Board decision-making and ensures EQB Inc., Equitable Bank and their subsidiaries meet applicable corporate, securities, stock exchange and financial institution governance obligations. The Corporate Secretary leads the enterprise governance agenda, establishes governance standards, advises on complex Board and Committee matters and oversees corporate records, public-company reporting and insider compliance. The role ensures Board decisions are clearly documented, communicated and implemented, and operates with significant independence, discretion and judgment.

Board Leadership and Advisory

• Act as principal governance advisor to the Board Chair, Committee Chairs, directors, the CEO and senior management on fiduciary duties, governance practices, conflicts of interest, decision authorities and Board processes.
• Lead the annual Board and Committee calendar, agendas and workplans, aligning regulatory obligations, strategic priorities, risk oversight and outstanding actions.
• Partner with the Board Chair, Committee Chairs, CEO and executive sponsors to ensure agendas and materials support informed, timely and effective decision-making.
• Oversee the timely and accurate assembly and distribution of board and committee materials for EQB and all subsidiaries
• Serve as Corporate Secretary at meetings of the Board, Board Committees and shareholders, ensuring meetings are properly called, constituted and conducted.
• Oversee preparation of accurate and defensible minutes and resolutions that reflect deliberations, challenge, conflicts, advice received, decisions and accountabilities while protecting confidentiality and legal privilege.
• Communicate Board decisions, assign accountabilities and oversee the timely completion of actions.
• Advise on director independence, suitability, succession, onboarding, education, evaluation, compensation, share ownership and departures.
• Lead Board, Committee, Chair and director effectiveness assessments and translate findings into practical governance improvements.

Corporate Governance and Regulatory Stewardship

• Own and continuously strengthen EQB’s enterprise governance framework, including Board and Committee mandates, governance guidelines, position descriptions, by-laws, delegated authorities, policies and annual workplans.
• Monitor regulatory, legal, securities and governance developments affecting federally regulated financial institutions and Canadian public issuers.
• Assess emerging requirements and risks, provide clear recommendations and lead the implementation of required governance changes.
• Support the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in a manner aligned with EQB’s strategy, complexity and risk profile.
• Oversee subsidiary and affiliate governance, including entity records, appointments, mandates, meetings, approvals, registrations, licences and reporting.
• Lead director and officer conflict-of-interest, independence, related-party and personal compliance processes, escalating significant matters as required.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulators, securities authorities, stock exchanges, proxy advisors, external counsel, auditors and other governance stakeholders.

Public Company, Shareholder and Corporate Services

• Lead the governance components of continuous disclosure and annual reporting, including the management information circular, annual information form, material change reports, voting results and governance-related website disclosure.
• Oversee accurate and timely SEDAR+ and SEDI filings, insider reporting and director and officer compliance with securities and stock exchange requirements.
• Lead the planning and execution of the annual meeting of shareholders, including proxy materials, voting, scripts, resolutions, meeting records and post-meeting filings.
• Oversee corporate and share capital documentation, including incorporations, continuances, director and officer changes, share issuances, transfers and redemptions, capital changes and dividend declarations.
• Manage relationships with the transfer agent, Toronto Stock Exchange, proxy solicitors, newswire providers and external advisors within the role’s mandate.
• Ensure the integrity, security, retention and accessibility of minute books, corporate records, Board materials and the Board portal.

Leadership and Operating Excellence

• Lead the Board Services and corporate governance function, establishing clear priorities, standards, accountabilities, controls and service expectations.
• Translate enterprise priorities and governance requirements into functional strategies, workplans and measurable outcomes.
• Lead complex, cross-functional governance initiatives and establish clear responsibilities, timelines and escalation paths.
• Anticipate resource requirements, competing priorities and potential obstacles, and develop practical contingency plans.
• Modernize governance practices, processes and technology to improve Board effectiveness, information flow, security, efficiency and auditability.
• Build strong partnerships across Legal, Risk, Finance, Compliance, Internal Audit, Human Resources, Investor Relations and the business.
• Coach and mentor team members and emerging leaders, providing clear expectations, meaningful feedback and development opportunities.
• Manage the function’s budget, resources and external providers and report transparently on priorities, capacity, risks and delivery.

Let’s Talk About You!

• Undergraduate degree in law, business, governance or a related discipline. A Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws, governance designation or equivalent professional qualification is strongly preferred.
• 15 or more years of progressive corporate governance, corporate secretarial, securities or legal experience, including significant experience supporting a Canadian public-company Board and its Committees.
• Significant experience within a federally regulated financial institution or another complex, highly regulated financial services organization.
• Expert knowledge of the Bank Act, Trust and Loan Companies Act, applicable corporate statutes, Canadian securities requirements, TSX requirements, OSFI governance expectations and leading Board practices.
• Demonstrated experience leading annual meeting and proxy processes, SEDAR+ and SEDI filings, insider reporting, subsidiary governance and corporate records.
• Recognized technical expertise in corporate governance, with the ability to anticipate regulatory and market developments and translate them into practical action.
• Exceptional Boardroom judgment, executive presence and credibility, with the confidence to provide independent advice and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and business judgment, including the ability to assess complex issues, consider broader implications and make timely, risk-informed recommendations.
• Outstanding drafting and communication skills, including Board minutes, resolutions, mandates, policies, public disclosure and governance advice.
• Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, build alignment and influence decisions across organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex change initiatives, including the ability to anticipate resistance, create practical implementation plans and reinforce sustainable improvements.
• Strong planning, prioritization and resource management skills, with the ability to manage multiple long-term priorities and immovable deadlines.
• High integrity and discretion, with mature judgment in handling market-sensitive, privileged and confidential information.

Job Complexities and Thinking Challenges

The role operates at the intersection of the Board, senior management, regulators and public-company stakeholders. It requires the ability to interpret complex and evolving requirements, anticipate their broader implications and provide clear, practical advice in situations involving incomplete information, competing priorities or significant risk.

• Exercise exceptional judgment in sensitive, uncertain and time-critical situations.
• Balance legal, regulatory, governance, strategic and stakeholder considerations.
• Provide independent advice and constructive challenge to directors and senior executives.
• Translate complex requirements into clear decisions, accountabilities and implementation plans.
• Navigate competing expectations while maintaining the independence and integrity of the governance function.
• Protect confidential, privileged and market-sensitive information.
• Lead cross-functional responses to emerging governance, regulatory and disclosure matters.
• Make timely decisions while considering immediate, longer-term and enterprise-wide implications.
• Be able to function under pressure and be flexible and adaptable to changing agendas, materials and other last-minute items.

Corporate Secretary is responsible for the effective functioning of board meetings and governance practices for all boards and committees within the EQB corporate family.

What we offer [For full-time permanent roles]

Competitive discretionary bonus

Market leading RRSP match program

Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits

Employee Share Purchase Plan

Maternity/Parental top-up while you care for your little one

Generous vacation policy and personal days

Virtual events to connect with your fellow colleagues

Professional development and comprehensive Career Development program

A fulfilling opportunity to join one of the top FinTechs and help create a new kind of banking experience

The incumbent will be working hybrid and in office time will be spent working from EQ Bank’s additional office space located at 2200-25 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

EQ is committed to building an inclusive, accessible environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and supported. We believe our organization is stronger - and our people thrive - when we honour and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives. We’re equally committed to supporting your growth, both professionally and personally.

We provide a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. If you require accommodations at any stage, we will work with you to ensure you can bring your best self to the process and beyond.

As part of our recruitment process, EQ uses AI to help screen, assess, and/or select applicants for this position. All AI-enabled outputs are reviewed and validated by our talent team. All candidates considered for hire must successfully complete a criminal background check and credit check. While we appreciate every application, an EQ recruiter will contact only those whose skills and experience most closely match the requirements of the role. EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB) is the parent company of Equitable Bank, the country's seventh-largest Schedule I bank by assets, which operates EQ Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank™. EQB Inc. serves nearly 4 million Canadians and manages approximately $150 billion in combined assets under management and administration.