Strategic Compensation Consultant [AQ-11823]

Join a leading financial services organization dedicated to shaping the future of financial management. Our client is renowned for its commitment to innovation, client success, and fostering a collaborative environment where strategic thinking drives significant impact.

Are you a seasoned compensation expert ready to make a profound impact? We’re seeking a highly strategic and influential consultant to join our client’s team. In this pivotal role, you will serve as a sole contributor and trusted advisor, directly shaping the compensation strategies that attract, retain, and motivate top talent across our financial services division. This is your chance to leverage your deep expertise to influence senior leadership, design cutting-edge programs, and drive organizational success through innovative compensation solutions.

What You’ll Do

• Manage business client group relationships, regularly consulting with senior management and HR Business Partners on total compensation issues, design principles, and regulations.
• Provide guidance and develop creative, competitive solutions for base pay, annual incentives (including sales/advisor compensation), and executive or international compensation structures.
• Consult with business groups on the compensation impacts and considerations resulting from shifts in organizational structure or evolving business priorities.
• Support and lead regular cyclical compensation work, including market studies, bonus administration, job analysis/pricing, and annual review processes.
• Support internal role frameworks; participate in setting up, configuring, and testing systems for new international locations.
• Lead compensation-related projects, process improvement initiatives, and represent the compensation function in broader, cross-functional corporate projects.
• Perform deep-dive analyses on the effectiveness and competitiveness of existing compensation programs; model the potential financial and organizational impacts of alternative structures.
• Translate complex research and data analysis into clear, actionable insights using data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Excel.
• Review, develop, and implement holistic tools, programs, and processes to ensure a seamless compensation experience for HR partners and business leaders.
• Lead the development of educational materials and communication strategies designed to provide associates, managers, and HR partners with timely, accurate information regarding new compensation initiatives.

What You’ll Bring

• Demonstrated full knowledge of compensation principles as an experienced individual contributor, ideally within financial services or a similarly complex corporate environment.
• Proven track record of consulting, influencing, and building strong relationships with senior management and internal HR stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to perform deep data analysis. High proficiency in Advanced Excel is required.
• Hands-on experience using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or advanced Excel dashboards to present complex research to executive audiences.
• Familiarity with job analysis methodologies, external market benchmarking, and specialized compensation areas (e.g., sales/incentive compensation, executive compensation, or international regulations).

What Will Set You Apart

• Working knowledge of advanced compensation systems (including comprehensive compensation management, plan design, compensation process, event management, and insights) and advanced reporting is highly preferred.
• Experience navigating the regulatory landscape and unique compensation structures inherent to top-tier financial institutions.

What We Offer

• A collaborative, high-performance environment working alongside industry leaders.
• The opportunity to drive high-impact, global compensation initiatives.
• Competitive total rewards package tailored to match your expertise.

Compensation

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $80 to $82 hr. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

Client Description

This client is one of our largest financial services clients. But don’t let that stop you from reading further!

We place so many freelancers here who consistently tell us its one of the best places they’ve worked. Why? The teams, the culture, the management, and most recently, the client’s willingness to recognize that it was important to step up to the digital demands of the marketplace:

• A new CMO and high level digital leadership that have transitioned in from top technology, retail and CPG companies

• Transitioning their marketing structure to Agile methodology to be able to deliver valuable content to its audiences faster

• They even followed this up with a floor remodel, to support the methodology, creativity & collaboration

We hear often that the constant here is change. The company is consistently trying new approaches that they think will improve not only their product offerings but the worklife as well. If you’re used to “going with the flow”, this is a great opportunity for you!

These are key elements to be able to walk away with and add to your resume, especially if you’re coming from a traditional marketing structure. What a great way to help transition your career in this trending direction!

#LI-Hybrid