Senior Compensation Operations Analyst

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is seeking a Compensation Operations professional to manage execution, validation, governance, and reporting across compensation programs. You will own recurring processes, audit readiness, and documentation while driving continuous improvement and cross-training across capabilities.

You will collaborate with HR, payroll, and systems teams to ensure data accuracy, timely execution, and strong controls.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience within Compensation Operations, HR Operations, Payroll, HR Systems, or a similar role.
• Workday experience.
• Compensation systems experience.
• UAT/testing experience.
• Audit and SOX support.
• BI, dashboard, or reporting experience.
• Workflow optimization experience.
• Year-End compensation-cycle experience.
• Strong analytical and validation skills.
• Advanced Excel capabilities.
• Experience managing multiple priorities.
• Strong documentation and organizational skills.
• Experience supporting audits, reconciliations, or controls.
• Ability to manage assigned capability areas, including documentation, training support, and knowledge transfer.
• Ability to independently manage recurring operational processes while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Compensation Operations Execution & Administration: Support compensation administration activities through execution of recurring Compensation Operations processes, issue resolution, stakeholder coordination, and operational support. Independently manage assigned operational work while ensuring quality, accuracy, adherence to established procedures, and timely execution across compensation programs and operational activities.
• Validation, Audits & Reconciliations: Perform validation, reconciliation, audit, and control activities to support operational accuracy and data integrity. Investigate discrepancies, compare expected versus actual results, identify root causes, and maintain supporting documentation to support audit readiness and operational compliance.
• Reporting & Analytics: Produce, analyse, and maintain operational reports, metrics, dashboards, and analytical outputs supporting compensation operations. Identify trends, provide operational insights, and support business decision-making through accurate reporting and analysis.
• Documentation & Governance: Maintain standard operating procedures, documentation, evidence records, and governance artifacts supporting Compensation Operations activities. Reinforce process consistency, documentation discipline, and operational control requirements while supporting audit readiness and sustainable execution practices.
• Year-End Readiness & Testing Support: Support testing, validation, readiness reviews, issue resolution, and execution activities associated with annual compensation cycles and Year-End compensation programs. Assist with follow-up actions, readiness checkpoints, and operational support necessary for successful execution.
• Training, Cross-Training & Continuous Improvement: Support capability development through on-boarding, knowledge transfer, process improvement, and cross-training activities. May serve as a functional capability owner responsible for maintaining documentation, supporting training, preserving execution standards, and strengthening organizational continuity within assigned capability area.

Skills

Compensation Ops

Workday experience

Audit/SOX support

BI/Reporting

Excel skills

Multiple priorities

Documentation

Process improvement

Validation skills

Data analytics

Analytics

Tools

Workday

Excel

BI dashboards

SOX tooling

Job description

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses.

We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,300 people working together. Our capability is diverse with more than 550 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our enterprise businesses - Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities.

Job Description

Where you'll fit in & what our team goals are…

You will provide advanced operational execution, validation, controls support, reporting, systems support, readiness activities, and functional capability ownership across Compensation Operations processes.

You may serve as a functional capability owner responsible for maintaining documentation, training materials, execution standards, and subject matter expertise within designated Compensation Operations capability areas. You will also independently manage recurring operational processes while supporting execution quality, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.

How you'll spend your time…

Compensation Operations Execution & Administration

Support compensation administration activities through execution of recurring Compensation Operations processes, issue resolution, stakeholder coordination, and
operational support. Independently manage assigned operational work while ensuring quality, accuracy, adherence to established procedures, and timely execution across
compensation programs and operational activities.

Validation, Audits & Reconciliations

Perform validation, reconciliation, audit, and control activities to support operational accuracy and data integrity. Investigate discrepancies, compare expected versus
actual results, identify root causes, and maintain supporting documentation to support audit readiness and operational compliance.

Reporting & Analytics

Produce, analyse, and maintain operational reports, metrics, dashboards, and analytical outputs supporting compensation operations. Identify trends, provide
operational insights, and support business decision-making through accurate reporting and analysis.

Documentation & Governance

Maintain standard operating procedures, documentation, evidence records, and governance artifacts supporting Compensation Operations activities. Reinforce process
consistency, documentation discipline, and operational control requirements while supporting audit readiness and sustainable execution practices.

Year-End Readiness & Testing Support

Support testing, validation, readiness reviews, issue resolution, and execution activities associated with annual compensation cycles and Year-End compensation
programs. Assist with follow-up actions, readiness checkpoints, and operational support necessary for successful execution.

Training, Cross-Training & Continuous Improvement

Support capability development through on-boarding, knowledge transfer, process improvement, and cross-training activities. May serve as a functional capability owner
responsible for maintaining documentation, supporting training, preserving execution standards, and strengthening organizational continuity within assigned capability area.

To be successful in this role you will have…

• Extensive experience within Compensation Operations, HR Operations, Payroll, HR Systems, or a similar role.
• Workday experience
• Compensation systems experience
• UAT/testing experience
• Audit and SOX support
• BI, dashboard, or reporting experience
• Workflow optimization experience
• Year-End compensation-cycle experience
• Strong analytical and validation skills
• Advanced Excel capabilities
• Experience managing multiple priorities
• Strong documentation and organizational skills
• Experience supporting audits, reconciliations, or controls
• Ability to manage assigned capability areas, including documentation, training support, and knowledge transfer
• Ability to independently manage recurring operational processes while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines

In-Office Collaboration

We are a client-centric, relationship-based business. Working together, in-person, is foundational to how we achieve results. By fostering a culture of face-to-face collaboration, idea sharing, productivity and personal connection, we deliver for our stakeholders - clients, advisors, employees and shareholders. Our employees work in the office at least four (4) days per week, with flexibility to work from home one (1) day per week. Some roles may require additional in-office time or different in-office expectations, and specific requirements will be discussed during the hiring process.

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full time

Worker Sub Type

Permanent

Job Family Group

Human Capital

Columbia Threadneedle is a people business, and we recognise that our success is due to our talented people, who bring diversity of thought, complementary skills and capabilities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and performance-based culture where everyone can belong, grow, contribute and realise their potential.

We appreciate that work-life balance is an important factor for many when considering their next move so please discuss any flexible working requirements directly with your recruiter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, sex or gender, nationality, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or any other basis prohibited by law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to aid your participation in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.