How to Apply to iA Financial Group

9 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 1 current role tracked
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • iA Financial Group is Canada's fourth-largest life insurer (TSX: IAG) headquartered in Quebec City, behind Manulife, Sun Life, and Great-West Lifeco.
  • French-English bilingualism is essential for Quebec City HQ roles and a significant differentiator for most senior corporate positions.
  • US Dealer Services (auto, RV, powersports F&I) is the company's strategic growth engine, built through acquisitions including DealerPolicy, IAS, and Lubrico.
  • Actuarial careers are a strong path: iA supports SOA exam progression and FCIA Fellowship, with structured study time and exam reimbursement.
  • Wealth management is consolidating: iA Wealth has approximately 3,000 advisors and continues to acquire boutique firms.
  • Application is through ia.ca careers portal; tailor resumes to the specific business segment and submit French versions for Quebec roles.
  • Interview process is multi-round, courteous, and substance-driven, with at least one French-language interview for Quebec City roles.
  • Tenure is rewarded; iA hires for long-term fit and offers a competitive pension plan and bilingualism premium for qualifying roles.

Source basis: This guide combines the company's public careers materials, detected ATS-provider data, and ResumeGeni analysis. Employer-specific details should be read alongside the Sources section below; interview-culture guidance may synthesize public candidate reports when official documentation is limited.

About iA Financial Group

iA Financial Group (iA Groupe financier; TSX: IAG) is a Quebec City-based insurance and wealth management company and one of Canada's largest publicly traded life insurers. Founded in 1892 as L'Industrielle, later L'Industrielle-Alliance, the company demutualized in 2000 with an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange and rebranded to iA Financial Group in 2018. The company employs more than 10,000 people in Canada, roughly 9,000 in the United States, and approximately 1,000 elsewhere, supported by a network of advisors and dealer partners. Headquarters remain at 1080 Grande Allee Ouest in Quebec City, with major Canadian offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax, and US operations in Charlotte (North Carolina), Carmel (Indiana), Birmingham (Alabama), and other locations added through acquisitions. Denis Ricard has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2018, succeeding Yvon Charest. Under Ricard, the company has accelerated diversification beyond traditional Canadian life insurance into US dealer services and Canadian wealth consolidation. iA operates through several distinct business segments: Individual Insurance (life, critical illness, and disability), Individual Wealth Management (mutual funds, ETFs, segregated funds, and a network of approximately 3,000 iA Wealth advisors), Group Insurance (employee benefits including medical, dental, and disability, plus creditor insurance), Group Savings and Retirement (defined-contribution pension plans and group RRSPs), Dealer Services in the United States (auto, RV, and powersports finance and insurance products distributed through dealerships under brands such as DealerPolicy, IAS, and Lubrico), PPI Solutions for third-party fund distribution, and iA Auto and Home for personal property and casualty insurance primarily in Quebec. In the Canadian life insurance hierarchy, iA ranks fourth by market share behind Manulife Financial (TSX: MFC), Sun Life Financial (TSX: SLF), and Great-West Lifeco (TSX: GWO, owned by Power Corporation of Canada). Other Canadian competitors include Empire Life, Equitable Life of Canada, RBC Insurance, Foresters Financial, Wawanesa, and The Co-operators. In wealth management, iA competes with the bank-owned platforms (RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotia), as well as IGM Financial, Mackenzie Investments, CI Financial (TSX: CIX), AGF Management, and Canoe Financial. In US dealer F&I, iA has built a top-ten position competing with Allstate Dealer Services, Protective Life (a Dai-ichi Life subsidiary), Assurant, JM&A Group, and Truist Dealer Services. With Quebec City as its operational center, iA carries a distinctly francophone corporate culture. French-English bilingualism is essential at headquarters and for most senior corporate roles, while English is the working language outside Quebec and across US operations. The company maintains a strong actuarial pipeline tied to the Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) credential and offers a meaningful pension and benefits program by industry standards.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Search openings on the iA Financial Group careers portal at ia

    Search openings on the iA Financial Group careers portal at ia.ca, filtering by language requirement, business segment (Individual Insurance, Wealth, Group, Dealer Services), and location (Quebec City, Toronto, Montreal, US offices).

  2. 2
    For Quebec City headquarters roles, expect the posting to specify French as esse

    For Quebec City headquarters roles, expect the posting to specify French as essential and English as required or strongly preferred; for Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and US roles, English is primary.

  3. 3
    Create a single candidate profile on the careers portal; you can apply to multip

    Create a single candidate profile on the careers portal; you can apply to multiple openings without rebuilding your profile each time.

  4. 4
    Tailor your resume to the specific business segment: actuarial roles emphasize F

    Tailor your resume to the specific business segment: actuarial roles emphasize FCIA progress and exam credits, wealth roles emphasize CFA/CFP/IIROC licensing, dealer services roles emphasize automotive F&I background.

  5. 5
    Submit a French-language cover letter for Quebec City roles even if the posting

    Submit a French-language cover letter for Quebec City roles even if the posting also accepts English, as it signals language readiness to hiring managers.

  6. 6
    Initial screening is typically a 20-30 minute call with a talent acquisition spe

    Initial screening is typically a 20-30 minute call with a talent acquisition specialist, often conducted in the language of the posting.

  7. 7
    Technical or functional interviews follow with the hiring manager and one or two

    Technical or functional interviews follow with the hiring manager and one or two team members; for actuarial and finance roles, expect case-style or technical questions tied to insurance and pension mechanics.

  8. 8
    Final-round interviews may include a senior leader (Vice-President or Assistant

    Final-round interviews may include a senior leader (Vice-President or Assistant Vice-President level) and an HR business partner; behavioral questions focus on collaboration, integrity, and client focus.

  9. 9
    Reference checks and a background check (criminal, credit for licensed roles, ed

    Reference checks and a background check (criminal, credit for licensed roles, education verification) typically follow a verbal offer.

  10. 10
    Offer letters arrive in the language of the role; review carefully for bilingual

    Offer letters arrive in the language of the role; review carefully for bilingualism premium, pension contribution rates, share purchase plan eligibility, and vacation entitlement, which is competitive by Canadian financial services standards.

Resume Tips for iA Financial Group

recommended

Lead with credentials relevant to the segment: FSA/FCIA for actuarial, CFA/CFP/C

Lead with credentials relevant to the segment: FSA/FCIA for actuarial, CFA/CFP/CIM/IIROC for wealth, FLMI/CEBS for group benefits, AINS/CPCU for property and casualty.

recommended

If applying to Quebec City roles, submit a French resume; for bilingual roles, s

If applying to Quebec City roles, submit a French resume; for bilingual roles, submit both versions or a single bilingual resume with parallel French-English sections.

recommended

Quantify business impact in financial services terms: assets under management or

Quantify business impact in financial services terms: assets under management or administration, premium written, loss ratio improvement, claim cycle time reduction, advisor retention rate, or dealer partner growth.

recommended

Name the regulators you have worked with: AMF (Autorite des marches financiers)

Name the regulators you have worked with: AMF (Autorite des marches financiers) in Quebec, OSFI federally, FSRA in Ontario, BCFSA in British Columbia, or state insurance departments in the US.

recommended

For actuarial candidates, list exam credits explicitly (e

For actuarial candidates, list exam credits explicitly (e.g., SOA FAM, ALTAM, ASA, FSA-LFV track) and any FCIA-track work experience under a Fellow's supervision.

recommended

For wealth advisor or sales roles, include book of business size (assets, househ

For wealth advisor or sales roles, include book of business size (assets, household count) only if you can move it ethically under your existing contractual obligations; otherwise focus on production metrics.

recommended

Highlight bilingual or multilingual capability prominently in the header; iA hir

Highlight bilingual or multilingual capability prominently in the header; iA hires advisors who serve allophone communities (Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Spanish, Arabic) across major Canadian metros.

recommended

For dealer services US roles, name the F&I products you sold or underwrote (vehi

For dealer services US roles, name the F&I products you sold or underwrote (vehicle service contracts, GAP, prepaid maintenance, tire and wheel) and your dealer relationships in specific states.

recommended

Use Canadian English spelling for Canadian roles (centre, cheque, organisation/o

Use Canadian English spelling for Canadian roles (centre, cheque, organisation/organization is acceptable) and French in any translated sections; mismatched localization is a small but visible signal.

recommended

Keep the resume to two pages for most roles; senior actuarial, finance, and exec

Keep the resume to two pages for most roles; senior actuarial, finance, and executive roles can extend to three pages if substantive.

ATS System: iA Financial Group careers portal (ia.ca)

iA operates a corporate careers portal at ia.ca that aggregates openings across all Canadian and US business segments. The exact ATS backbone is not publicly disclosed in the company registry, and behavior is consistent with either a Workday-style enterprise ATS or an in-house portal layered on a standard applicant tracking workflow. Candidates create one profile and apply to multiple roles. Postings are bilingual at the corporate level and posted in the local language for regional and US openings.

  • Mirror exact phrasing from the job posting in French and English versions of your resume; the portal stores your application in the language you submit.
  • Upload your resume as a clean PDF generated from a word processor, not a scanned image; PDFs preserve diacritics critical for French-language parsing.
  • Complete every profile field, including work authorization status (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, work permit, US citizen, or US work authorization) since dealer services roles cross the border frequently.
  • Use standard section headings in both languages: Experience/Experience professionnelle, Education/Formation, Certifications/Certifications professionnelles, Languages/Langues.
  • For internal mobility, apply through the employee portal to flag your application as internal; iA prioritizes internal candidates for many postings.
  • Avoid headers and footers in your PDF resume; some ATS parsers strip or misread content placed there.
  • Save your profile after each section and confirm receipt by email; resubmit only if no confirmation arrives within 24 hours.

Interview Culture

Interviews at iA Financial Group reflect the company's francophone Quebec roots and conservative financial services culture: courteous, substantive, and weighted toward demonstrated competence rather than performative confidence. Expect a multi-round process beginning with a talent acquisition screen, followed by hiring manager and team interviews, and closing with a senior leader conversation for most professional and managerial roles. For Quebec City headquarters positions, at least one interview will likely be conducted in French, and you should be prepared to switch fluidly between French and English depending on who joins the call. For Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and US offices, English dominates, with French capability seen as a valued asset rather than a barrier. Behavioral questions favor STAR-format answers grounded in concrete examples: how you handled a regulatory deadline, navigated a conflict with a distribution partner, mentored a junior actuarial student, or recovered from a reserving error. Technical questions for actuarial and finance candidates draw on pricing, valuation, IFRS 17 adoption, asset-liability management, and pension funding mechanics. Wealth management candidates can expect questions on suitability, KYC/KYP obligations under Canadian Securities Administrators rules, and product knowledge across mutual funds, ETFs, and segregated funds. Dealer services candidates in the US should be ready to discuss F&I product attachment rates, dealer reserve, and compliance with CFPB and state-level UDAP rules. Cultural fit signals at iA include long tenure (the company is known for retaining employees for decades), a collaborative rather than political style, and visible respect for the company's mutualist roots. Asking about pension plan structure, professional development support for actuarial exams, and bilingualism premiums is appropriate and well received.

What iA Financial Group Looks For

  • Bilingual French-English capability for Quebec City headquarters and senior corporate roles, with French essential for most Quebec-based positions.
  • Relevant professional credentials: FSA/FCIA for actuarial, CFA/CFP/CIM for wealth, FLMI for life insurance operations, AINS/CPCU for property and casualty.
  • Long-term career orientation; iA hires for tenure and rewards employees who grow within the company over decades.
  • Conservative judgment and ethical grounding, especially in roles touching reserving, pricing, claims, suitability, or fiduciary duties.
  • Demonstrated regulatory fluency with AMF (Quebec), OSFI (federal Canadian), provincial insurance regulators, and US state departments of insurance for dealer services.
  • Collaborative working style; iA prizes consensus building and dislikes overtly political or self-promotional candidates.
  • Quantitative rigor in actuarial, finance, investment, and group benefits roles; comfort with stochastic modeling, IFRS 17, and pension funding math.
  • Distribution and partner-management experience for advisor channel, group benefits, and dealer services leadership roles.
  • Cultural respect for the company's Quebec heritage and mutualist values, even after demutualization.
  • Willingness to relocate to or commute to Quebec City for headquarters roles; remote arrangements are limited for senior corporate functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak French to work at iA Financial Group?
For Quebec City headquarters roles and most positions in Quebec, French is essential and English is required or strongly preferred. For roles in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and US offices, English is the working language and French is a valuable asset rather than a requirement. Senior corporate roles, even those based outside Quebec, often require functional French to collaborate with HQ.
Where is iA Financial Group headquartered?
iA Financial Group's headquarters is at 1080 Grande Allee Ouest in Quebec City, Quebec. The company maintains major Canadian offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax, and US operations in Charlotte (North Carolina), Carmel (Indiana), Birmingham (Alabama), and other cities added through acquisitions.
How does iA rank among Canadian life insurers?
iA Financial Group is the fourth-largest publicly traded Canadian life insurer by market share, behind Manulife Financial (TSX: MFC), Sun Life Financial (TSX: SLF), and Great-West Lifeco (TSX: GWO). Other competitors include Empire Life, Equitable Life of Canada, RBC Insurance, Foresters Financial, Wawanesa, and The Co-operators.
What is the iA Dealer Services US business?
iA's US Dealer Services segment provides finance and insurance (F&I) products such as vehicle service contracts, GAP, prepaid maintenance, and tire-and-wheel coverage through automotive, RV, and powersports dealerships across the United States. The business has grown through acquisitions including DealerPolicy, IAS, and Lubrico, and is now a top-ten F&I provider in the US dealer channel.
Does iA support actuarial exam progression?
Yes. iA Financial Group has one of the strongest actuarial pipelines in Canada, supporting candidates pursuing the Society of Actuaries (SOA) credentials and the Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) designation. The company typically offers exam reimbursement, paid study time, and structured rotations across pricing, valuation, and asset-liability management.
Is iA Financial Group unionized?
iA Financial Group is largely non-unionized, consistent with the broader Canadian financial services sector. Some white-collar associations exist, but most employees are not covered by collective bargaining agreements.
What credentials matter most for wealth management roles at iA?
For iA Wealth advisor and head office roles, the most relevant credentials are the Canadian Securities Course (CSC), Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) licensing, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation for portfolio management roles. Quebec advisors also require AMF licensing.
Who is the CEO of iA Financial Group?
Denis Ricard has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of iA Financial Group since 2018, succeeding Yvon Charest. Ricard has accelerated the company's diversification into US dealer services and Canadian wealth management consolidation.
When did iA Financial Group become a public company?
iA Financial Group, then known as Industrial Alliance, demutualized in February 2000 and completed an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company was rebranded to iA Financial Group in 2018, with its TSX ticker remaining IAG.
Does iA hire remote workers?
iA Financial Group offers hybrid arrangements for many roles, but most positions require regular presence at one of its Canadian or US offices. Senior corporate roles, especially those tied to the Quebec City headquarters, are generally on-site or hybrid rather than fully remote. Dealer services and field roles often involve travel to dealer partners.
What is the interview process like?
The typical interview process is multi-round: a 20-30 minute talent acquisition screen, one or two hiring manager and team interviews, and a final senior leader interview for most professional and managerial roles. For Quebec City positions, at least one interview will be conducted in French. Behavioral and technical questions are weighted equally for most roles, with deeper technical content for actuarial, finance, and investment positions.
What benefits does iA offer employees?
iA provides a competitive total rewards package by Canadian financial services standards, including a defined-contribution pension plan, group health and dental coverage, an employee share purchase plan, vacation entitlement that grows with tenure, and a bilingualism premium for qualifying roles. Actuarial and professional designation candidates typically receive exam fee reimbursement and paid study time.

Current Role Context

ResumeGeni currently tracks 1 role for iA Financial Group. Use the company profile for current role context before tailoring your resume.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → Review iA Financial Group role context

Related Resources

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Sources

  1. iA Financial Group - Corporate Profile —
  2. iA Financial Group Careers Portal —
  3. iA Financial Corporation Inc. (IAG.TO) - Toronto Stock Exchange —
  4. iA Financial Group 2024 Annual Report —
  5. Denis Ricard - President and CEO Biography —
  6. Canadian Institute of Actuaries - FCIA Designation —
  7. Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) - Quebec Insurance Regulation —
  8. Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) —
  9. iA Dealer Services - US Operations —
  10. DealerPolicy - iA Acquisition Announcement —
  11. Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) - Industry Statistics —
  12. Society of Actuaries (SOA) Exam Pathway —