Director, Deferred Compensation and LTIA

Threadneedle group; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) program

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ameriprise Financial seeks a Director of Deferred Compensation and LTIA to provide strategic leadership and oversight for deferred compensation programs, ensuring compliance, governance, and cost efficiency. The role partners with Legal, Finance, HR, and external advisors to design, simplify, and manage 409A risk while aligning with business priorities.

The candidate will lead a team, drive cross-functional collaboration, and communicate complex requirements to stakeholders, ensuring accurate

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in benefits functional areas, with depth in deferred compensation and equity programs.
• Strong analytical and financial skills to analyze cost and effectiveness.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for benefit program communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead administration of deferred compensation and LTIA programs.
• Influence program design and optimization with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations and manage 409A risk.
• Oversee vendor relationships and service levels for recordkeeping and awards processes.
• Develop communications and enrollment materials for new or modified programs.

Skills

Deferred compensation

LTIA programs

Vendor management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (4 years)

Job description

About Our Company

We’re a diversified financial services leader with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management, administration and advisement as of year-end 2024. Our team of 22,000 people across 19 countries, serves more than 3.5 million individual, small business and institutional clients. We are a longstanding leader in financial planning and advice, a global asset manager and an insurer. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our unique businesses – Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities. Here, we foster meaningful careers, invest in the future, and make a difference for clients, institutions and communities around the world.

Job Description

The Director of Deferred Compensation and Long Term Incentive Awards (LTIA) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the organization’s deferred compensation and LTIA programs. This role is accountable for ensuring programs are compliant, well governed, cost effective, and aligned with organizational objectives. A critical component of the role is consulting closely with internal stakeholders and clients—often without direct reporting authority—to influence program design, simplify administration, and proactively manage 409A risk.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the administration of deferred compensation and LTIA programs for eligible employees, ensuring programs align with organizational strategy, business priorities, and talent objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor and consultant to senior leaders and key internal stakeholders, influencing decisions related to program design, modifications, and optimization through expertise, credibility, and collaboration rather than formal authority.
• Partner cross functionally with Legal, Finance, HR, Payroll, HR Operations, and external advisors to balance competitiveness, employee needs, fiscal responsibility, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead analysis of existing programs and associated costs to identify opportunities to simplify plan design, enhance benefit value, and reduce operational and compliance risk, including 409A exposure.
• Ensure all deferred compensation and LTIA programs are administered in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, with a strong focus on anticipating, mitigating, and managing 409A risk and administrative complexity.
• Guide stakeholders through complex regulatory considerations, helping translate technical requirements into practical, sustainable program designs.
• Own and maintain strong relationships with external deferred compensation and LTIA recordkeeping vendors, providing oversight to ensure service levels, accuracy, and compliance standards are met.
• Oversee vendor processes related to new awards, vesting, distributions, and participant support, ensuring operational practices reinforce simplification and risk management objectives.
• Develop and lead communication strategies for new or modified deferred compensation and LTIA programs, including annual enrollment materials, timelines, and participant guidance.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure communications are clear, accurate, compliant, and designed to promote informed decision making while reducing misunderstanding and compliance risk.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for the day to day administration and governance of deferred compensation and LTIA programs, fostering accountability, technical expertise, and continuous improvement.
• Provide ongoing feedback, formal performance reviews, and career development guidance to direct reports.
• Build team capabilities in consultative leadership, stakeholder influence, and risk aware decision making to support both operational excellence and strategic partnership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent (4 years)
• 10+ years of experience, with 5+ years experience in one or more benefits functional areas.
• Depth of experience/knowledge in deferred compensation and equity programs.
• Previous vendor management experience.
• Knowledgeable of deferred compensation and equity arrangements.
• Strong financial and analytical skills to analyze cost and effectiveness.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing benefit program communications and delivering information to others.
• Experienced people leader with demonstrated track record of building an effective team.

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.

Visa Sponsorship

Applicants must have a valid work authorization that does not now, or in the future, require visa sponsorship for employment in the United States (e.g., H-1B, F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, TN).

Base Pay Salary

The estimated base salary for this role is $117,900 - $207,100 / year. We have a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. Your initial total compensation may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographical work location. In addition, most of our roles are eligible for variable pay in the form of bonus, commissions, and/or long-term incentives depending on the role.

Benefits

We also have a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being, including but not limited to vacation time, sick time, 401(k), and health, dental and life insurances.

Full-Time/Part-Time / Exempt Status

Full time Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt Job Family Group Human Capital Line of Business HR Human Resources.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Ameriprise Financial is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, disability status, marital status, family status 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 participate in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.

Company Culture & History

Since 1894, Ameriprise Financial has helped people feel more confident about their financial future. Guided by strong values and a deep commitment to clients, we've remained a trusted leader in financial planning and advice for more than 130 years. Through our businesses, Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance & Annuities, we deliver advice, investment and protection solutions designed for long-term success. While each business brings distinct capabilities and expertise, all are united by our unwavering focus on clients and a strong financial foundation. For you, that means the opportunity to build a meaningful career in a high-performing, collaborative culture where your expertise can grow, your contributions are valued and your work can make a real impact. As a global financial services company with three complementary businesses, the breadth of our capabilities sets us apart. It also creates unique opportunities for employees to learn, collaborate and grow their careers: Ameriprise Financial: Financial planning, advice and wealth management. Columbia Threadneedle Investments: Global asset management serving individual, institutional and corporate clients. RiverSource Insurance & Annuities: Products and solutions designed to help clients protect and grow their wealth.

Explore opportunities within each business and region below.

Ameriprise US | Careers

Ameriprise India | Careers

Columbia Threadneedle Investments US | Careers

Columbia Threadneedle Investments EMEA APAC | Careers

RiverSource | Careers

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