Victoria McInnis’s career has been an interesting ride. McInnis, LLB ’90, joined General Motors Canada as a tax lawyer in 1995, after several years at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Her plan was to work in-house for a few years to gain business perspective and then return to law firm practice.
Twenty years later, her work with GM has been so challenging and varied, that McInnis is still driven to move the business forward.
As Vice-President of Tax and Audit, she oversees the company’s tax and customs strategy, planning and operations, as well as an internal audit department tasked with ensuring the company meets its governance and compliance commitments.
Working at a multi-national company offers so many opportunities. In fact, McInnis feels she’s had several careers within the same company.
In addition to her start at GM Canada in Oshawa, she spent four years in Switzerland leading GM’s European tax operations. Since, she has “clawed her way to Detroit,” she says with a laugh.
Chief Tax Officer for the company for the past six years, McInnis was asked earlier this year to also take on the company’s global internal audit function, building her team to more than 500 lawyers, accountants and audit professionals around the world.
McInnis describes the auto industry as closely linked to the economy. “When there are ups, it’s very exciting and there is expansion and opportunity to structure new transactions,” she says. “And when there are crashes, we take those crashes with the economy.”
A vivid example was the 2008 economic crisis which McInnis describes as a turbulent, challenging time at GM as the company transformed and resized for the future.
The practical implications of working inside a company appeal to McInnis, whose office overlooks the Detroit River and the Ambassador Bridge between the United States and Canada. “Up to 800 trucks carry GM autos and parts over that bridge every day. So, my customs team is challenged to make sure there are no misses that could delay justintime production.”
When she first joined GM, it was male dominated and many times McInnis found herself in meetings as the only woman at the table. That’s changed over time, including GM naming Mary Barra, the first female CEO of a major global automaker, whom McInnis describes as “an outstanding leader.”
A recipient of the National Association of Female Executives ‘Woman of Excellence’ Award in 2012, McInnis encourages women to join the auto industry.
“Working in a big, global company, especially in finance, is a great place for women because results are measurable. If you are willing to take risks and take on tough assignments, you can add value and advance.”
She also appreciates the opportunity to meet and work with people from different countries.
McInnis credits former Western Law professor Brian Arnold for connecting taxation’s blend of policy and logic in her mind. McInnis later found the practice in tax law to be just as intellectually interesting.
“Taking law at Western was a great choice. Being a lawyer gives you a terrific set of credentials and in-house lawyers usually get a good seat at the table,” she says. “My job today has very little of looking at the tax code or interpreting laws; it’s more focused on leadership and strategy. But having that legal grounding gives me thinking and analytical skills as well as an interest in understanding the big picture.”
McInnis is married. Her daughter, born the day after winter exams in McInnis’ third year of law school, now works in New York.
McInnis is active in professional and community organizations, serving on the board of the Detroit Institute of Art, home of the Diego Rivera murals, and on the board of Catalyst, a research-based nonprofit dedicated to inclusion in the workplace.
As for next steps, McInnis hopes to continue to broaden her experience, perhaps in corporate board service, and remains focused on driving results at GM. “It’s an exciting time at GM; I feel lucky to be here.”
Susanna Eayrs is the Communications Officer at Western’s Faculty of Law.
© 1878 - Western University
