Companies often position equity compensation as a cornerstone of their ownership culture—but that promise doesn’t always translate globally. Regulatory complexity, tax considerations, and operational barriers can result in international employees being excluded from share plans or shifted into cash-settled alternatives, creating a disconnect between intention and reality. This session challenges those assumptions and explores what it really means for employees everywhere to own a piece of your company.

We’ll explore the “compliance gap” in cross-border equity and its impact on culture, alignment, and growth. Attendees will gain insight into the realities of balancing global consistency with local requirements, examine whether cash-settled awards truly deliver ownership, and uncover hidden risks while rethinking how to design equity programs that are both globally consistent and locally compliant.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

• Identify the key regulatory, tax, and operational challenges that create the cross-border equity “compliance gap”
• Evaluate the effectiveness of cash-settled awards versus equity in delivering true ownership and alignment
• Apply practical strategies to design globally consistent, locally compliant equity programs

 
CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

 Field of study: Specialized Knowledge
 Levels: O
 Delivery method: Group Internet-Based
 Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit:1.0 credits *CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only.

Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

COST

• Members: Free access — Live and on-demand
• Non-members: $85 per webcast — Live and on-demand

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This article explores the complexities of Canadian equity compensation plans, including ESPPs, EPSPs, RRSPs, RSUs, and stock options, from issuer, administrator, and employee perspectives. It highlights the unique Canadian tax, payroll, and reporting requirements associated with these plans, including CRA compliance, provincial obligations, and participant education considerations. The discussion reinforces that successful administration depends on strong coordination across stakeholders, accurate reporting, and clear communication to help employees fully understand the financial and tax implications of participation.

Canada offers a wide range of equity compensation plans for Canadian employees, each with its own set of advantages, compliance requirements, and tax reporting obligations.

 Through a panel discussion addressing issuer, administrator, and employee perspectives, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how different Canadian equity plans are administered throughout the lifecycle—from initial enrollment, to dividend payment, to sale of shares, and the resulting taxation and reporting requirements. The panel will also discuss how these requirements come together in practice, current CRA enforcement activities, and best practices.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

• Learn the key differences between Canadian equity plans, including their benefits, limitations, and applicable tax and reporting requirements.
• Gain practical insight into issuer, administrator, and employee responsibilities for accurate tax tracking, withholding, and reporting for Canadian participants.
• Take away actionable best practices to improve compliance and administration.

Andrew Schwartz, Computershare (CA)

Cynthia Gosselin, Computershare (CA)

Katherine Leung, EY (CA)

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 60 minutes

CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

Please find the conference materials for GEO's 27th Annual Conference - Austin

This white paper, developed by the Global Equity Organization’s (GEO) Future Leaders Program Class of 2024, stems from the recognition that while the strategic benefits of employee share ownership are often well understood within the compensation and benefits community - and widely supported in academic circles - there is still a need for a resource that is both data-driven and practically applicable in today’s workplace.

GEO's Dach Chapter Meeting - December 2025 Handouts

GEO's Dach Chapter Meeting - December 2025 Handouts

The role of the equity professional is evolving at pace. No longer confined to plan administration and reactive problem-solving, today’s equity leaders are emerging as strategic advisors—connecting functions, educating stakeholders, and shaping enterprise-wide conversations. As companies place greater emphasis on talent strategy, retention, and long-term value creation, equity professionals are increasingly influencing decisions at the highest levels of the organisation.

In this session, speakers will examine how equity leaders can move beyond execution to adopt a proactive, advisory mindset. The discussion will focus on guiding executives through complex equity decisions, anticipating challenges before they arise, and translating technical concepts into clear, commercially relevant insights. Attendees will gain practical perspectives on elevating their influence, strengthening equity literacy across the business, and positioning equity as a critical enabler of informed, strategic decision-making.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

• Understand how the equity leader role is shifting from administrator to strategic advisor, coordinator, and educator
• Learn practical approaches to driving cross-functional collaboration and improving equity literacy among executives and key stakeholders
• Identify strategies for moving from reactive problem-solving to proactive guidance that supports stronger decisions and better business outcomes.

Justin James, insightsoftware (US)

Devin McCreary, Compintelligence (US)

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 60 minutes

CPE credits are provided for live webcasts only. Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

Please find the conference materials for GEO's 25th Annual Conference Nashville.

Please find the conference materials for GEO's 25th Annual Conference Nashville.