Senior Manager, New Partner Compensation Programs

About the role

The Senior Manager, New Partner Compensation Programs is accountable for end-to-end compensation strategy, execution, and governance for acquired partner firms. This role sits at the intersection of Partner Development, People, Finance, and Legal, ensuring that compensation decisions made during transactions are intentional, well-understood, and executable over time.

Essential Job Functions

• Deal-Stage Compensation Diagnosis and Strategy
  • Assess and diagnose current seller compensation plans.
  • Partner with Partner Development, Finance, People, and Legal during diligence and deal structuring to design aligned compensation approaches.
  • Model compensation scenarios and clearly articulate tradeoffs and considerations.
  • Ensure compensation commitments made during negotiations are deliberate, documented, and operationally feasible post-close.
• M&A Compensation Frameworks and Playbooks
  • Own and maintain clear, scalable compensation frameworks for M&A, including standard models, transition approaches, and exception criteria.
  • Define governance for bespoke arrangements, including tracking, sunset provisions, and conversion to standard plans.
  • Create repeatable playbooks, tools, and documentation used by deal teams, People Partners, Rewards, and Finance.
  • Develop clear education materials for incoming partners explaining Mercer’s compensation philosophy, programs, and what to expect over time.
• Post-Close Compensation Integration and Execution
  • Translate specific compensation commitments into Mercer’s compensation cycle.
  • Manage phased transitions, including multi-year or multi-cycle transitions.
  • Ensure accuracy and alignment across Compensation, Legal and Finance.
  • Act as the escalation owner for M&A compensation issues post-close.
• Ongoing Governance and Industry Expertise
  • Maintain a centralized, living repository of all M&A compensation commitments.
  • Build and maintain deep industry expertise in wealth management compensation practices, including advisor, partner, and leadership pay models.
• Relationship Building
  • Interact directly with sellers, acting as a credible, trusted partner.
  • Represent Mercer’s culture of collaboration, professionalism, and long-term partnership in all seller interactions.
  • Partner seamlessly internally, presenting a unified and collaborative front to sellers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong business acumen paired with compensation expertise.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and making tradeoffs.
• High emotional intelligence and strong executive presence.
• Able to build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders in high-stakes situations.
• Ability to explain complex topics clearly and simply.
• Experience in M&A or Corporate Development environments.
• Financial Services or Wealth Management experience preferred.

Work Schedule

This professional role requires availability during standard business hours of Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM. At times, the role may have early or late hours to meet business tasks and deadlines for external and internal client needs. All roles classified as a non-exempt are required to record working time into the timekeeping system daily at the start and end of each workday plus a 30-minute unpaid lunch period.

Working Conditions

This position may be in a professional office environment or a dedicated home office workspace which is free of interruptions. Whether position is in a dedicated office space or home office workspace, basic technology needs will be provided to satisfy position requirements. Routinely sitting and standing for periods of time. No heavy lifting over 10 lbs.

Benefits

• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Life & AD&D; Short-Term Disability; Accident; Critical Illness; and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Three Cigna medical plans offerings including two High Deductible Health Plans and a Traditional Co-Pay medical plan.
• Kaiser Medical plans available in California
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions if enrolled in either HDHP medical plan.
• Two comprehensive Dental Plans
• Vision Insurance Plan
• Dependent Care Savings Account for child and dependent care.
• 14 Company Paid Holidays including a full week off at Thanksgiving.
• Generous paid time off program for vacation and sick days
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Family Medical Leave
• Paid Parental Leave (8 weeks)
• Maternity benefits utilizing company paid STD, any supplemental STD, plus Parental Leave (8 weeks) to provide time for recovery, baby bonding, and enjoying your family time.
• Adoption Assistance Reimbursement Program
• Company Paid Concierge Services for you and your loved ones for the spectrum of caring needs for your aging parents, young children, life’s challenges and more.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with both Traditional and Roth plans with per pay period match as well as an after-tax option
• Pet Insurance
• Personalized financial planning and guidance from Mercer Advisors professionals, offered at preferred employee pricing

Actual base pay within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the applicant’s geographic location, relevant experience, education, skills and licenses/certifications.

Benefits:

• Competitive and robust benefit package to our employees.
• Focused on meeting all of our employees and their eligible dependents health and welfare needs.
• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Life & AD&D; Short-Term Disability; Accident; Critical Illness; and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Three Cigna medical plans offerings including two High Deductible Health Plans and a Traditional Co-Pay medical plan.
• Kaiser Medical plans available in California
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions if enrolled in either HDHP medical plan.
• Two comprehensive Dental Plans
• Vision Insurance Plan
• Dependent Care Savings Account for child and dependent care.
• 14 Company Paid Holidays including a full week off at Thanksgiving.
• Generous paid time off program for vacation and sick days
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Family Medical Leave
• Paid Parental Leave (8 weeks)
• Maternity benefits utilizing company paid STD, any supplemental STD, plus Parental Leave (8 weeks) to provide time for recovery, baby bonding, and enjoying your family time.
• Adoption Assistance Reimbursement Program
• Company Paid Concierge Services for you and your loved ones for the spectrum of caring needs for your aging parents, young children, life’s challenges and more.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with both Traditional and Roth plans with per pay period match as well as an after-tax option
• Pet Insurance
• Personalized financial planning and guidance from Mercer Advisors professionals, offered at preferred employee pricing