HR Advisory Economist

Equity Methods seeks a results-focused, growth-oriented professional to support and drive client engagements serving the chief human resources officers and compensation executives at Fortune 500 companies and beyond. Our HR advisory practice offers the ability to apply core economics and quantitative science principles in a rigorous yet applied capacity. This role directly impacts the C-suite on topics such as pay equity, talent mobility analytics, workforce planning, and incentive design.

About the role

You will lead complex client engagements, delivering high-impact solutions leveraging your background in economics, while supervising associates on the team. This custom pathway into a senior consulting role is designed for graduate degree holders (Masters or PhD) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or other applied quantitative sciences. The role blends data analysis, modeling, statistics, consulting, and AI to help clients optimize their workforce.

Although prior professional services or compensation/workforce analytics experience is not required, Economists in this role will:

• Complete initial training in compensation and workforce analytics projects, ranging from broad-based compensation issues to incentive design to statistical pay equity analysis.
• Lead projects and deliver guidance on statistical matters in pay equity, talent mobility, workforce planning, and other workforce analytics-related projects for clients across industries and company sizes.
• Contribute to compensation strategy projects, recommending new incentive programs that support critical business objectives for public and private companies.
• Capture recommendations and analytics for external and internal audiences in structured and clear PowerPoint presentations and Excel worksheets.
• Perform research using clients’ 10-K and proxy statements to form viewpoints on market compensation practices, including pay levels, incentive structures, corporate governance, disclosure, and equity dilution.
• Analyze broad-based compensation benchmarking survey data to recommend employee pay levels in light of industry and peer practices.
• Monitor and interpret the regulatory landscape for pay equity and workforce analytics (e.g., EUPTD, OFCCP, EEOC, state and international pay transparency requirements) to keep methodologies current and defensible.

The role is not a back-office technical position; all candidates are expected to learn the ropes of managing consulting projects and transition into formal client management roles.

Skills

• Fluent in classical and applied econometrics.
• Ability to build repeatable, well-documented models that comply with industry-accepted frameworks and regulatory standards.
• Ability to visualize complex technical results clearly for non-technical audiences.
• Ability to translate analysis results into plain-English for actionable insights and recommendations for HR and C-suite stakeholders.
• Interest in contributing to thought leadership that advances Equity Methods’ services.
• Strong Excel skills and the ability to design robust, insight-rich models.
• Coding experience in SAS, Python, R, or STATA.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, with a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability and willingness to think critically and solve “out-of-the-box” problems independently.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, shifting priorities, and tight turnarounds.
• Thrives in ambiguity-rich environments and enjoys iterative experimentation toward solutions.
• Works autonomously but is comfortable collaborating in groups.
• Excels at data analysis and visualization.

Requirements

• PhD or Masters in Statistics, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or another quantitative social science-related field.
• Prior experience in compensation, pay equity, or workforce analytics is not required.
• Prior work experience in consulting or professional services is not required but is a plus.
• Strong detail- and accuracy-orientation.
• Background check required.

About the team

We are:

• Zealous about exceptional client service: Delighting every client, large or small, is our priority.
• Agile and execution-focused: We are people of action, not just talk.
• Growth-oriented: We welcome new clients and support professional development in our colleagues.
• Plain-English communicators: Our work translates analytical rigor into actionable results for non-technical teams.
• Feedback-heavy and mentoring-rich: We foster professional growth through hands-on client experience and leader feedback, not a competitive culture.
• Impact-driven: Our professionals thrive on making a difference for clients, each other, and the business.
• Not a 9-to-5 job: Delivering excellence takes time, even for the most efficient and talented individuals.

The HR Advisory (HRA) practice within Equity Methods excels in analytical rigor and superior client service. We constantly innovate to improve our service offerings, from problem-solving to visualization and user-friendly deliverables. Attention to detail, polish, and receptiveness to feedback are key traits for success.

About the company

Equity Methods serves a diverse clientele, from dozens of Fortune 500 firms to early-stage pre-IPO companies. Our clients span the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe. We offer a range of services addressing mission-critical priorities within corporate accounting and human resources functions.

With 180+ professionals and countless brand-name clients, we combine the strengths of a large professional services firm with the agility of an entrepreneurial growth venture. Our culture fosters excellence in client service, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We promote from within, celebrate diverse strengths, and have consistently been rated a Top Company to Work for in Arizona.