Variable Compensation Specialist

About the role

The Variable Compensation Specialist is responsible for supporting the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the company's variable compensation programs. This role partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Sales Leadership, and business unit management to administer commission and bonus plans, ensure accurate and timely payouts, and provide analytical support for compensation strategy.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design, implementation, and administration of variable compensation programs, including sales commissions, management incentives, and executive bonus plans.
• Administer monthly, quarterly, and annual incentive compensation cycles, ensuring accurate and timely calculations and payments.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries regarding commission calculations, bonus payouts, and incentive plan provisions.
• Maintain accurate compensation accruals, partnering with Finance to ensure proper budgeting and accounting.
• Support the development of competitive, compliant, and motivating commission and bonus structures that align employee performance with business objectives.
• Partner with Finance to forecast compensation expenses, model plan costs, and support the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
• Research and evaluate compensation management systems and process improvements to enhance plan administration, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Conduct market benchmarking and competitive analysis to ensure variable compensation programs remain effective and aligned with industry practices.
• Collaborate with Sales Leadership, Human Resources, Finance, and executive leadership to evaluate plan effectiveness, resolve compensation issues, and recommend program enhancements.
• Prepare and maintain incentive plan documents, policies, and administrative procedures to support governance and compliance.
• Review, validate, and process monthly sales commission payments and management bonus calculations.
• Generate reports and analyses to support leadership decision-making and ongoing compensation program evaluation.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field.
• Experience: 4-6+ years of progressive experience in variable compensation plan design, incentive compensation administration, or sales compensation.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling, complex formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis. Experience with compensation management software, HRIS, or incentive compensation platforms is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills; strong attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy; ability to interpret compensation plans and apply complex business rules; excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to explain compensation calculations to employees and leadership; strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines; ability to maintain confidentiality while handling sensitive compensation information.