Manager, Compensation Operations

00001 Ameriprise Financial Inc; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 93,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Ameriprise Financial is seeking a Manager of Compensation Operations to lead the daily execution of compensation processes and to coach a team of professionals. You will partner across Compensation, Payroll, HR Systems, and Finance to drive operational excellence, capacity planning, and risk management.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in compensation operations, strong leadership, and advanced Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in Compensation Operations, HR Operations, Payroll Operations, HR Systems, or related function.
• Experience leading teams, coaching employees, and delivering results in fast-paced environments with competing priorities.
• Experience supporting annual compensation cycles and leading operational initiatives, projects, or workstreams.
• Strong workload management, prioritization, capacity planning, and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of operational risk management, controls, and compliance practices.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day compensation operations activities and develop the team.
• Partner with Compensation, Payroll, HR Systems, and stakeholders to drive efficiency.
• Manage workload distribution, capacity planning, and performance.
• Oversee continuity readiness and cross-training across operations.
• Support annual compensation cycles and year-end programs with accuracy and governance.
• Coordinate cross-functional resources and issue resolution for timely delivery.
• Drive process improvements and documentation to enhance efficiency.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

SOX/compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Workday

Compensation systems

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

Ameriprise has an exciting opportunity for a Manager of Compensation Operations to join our team! In this role, you will lead the day-to-day execution of Compensation Operations while providing hands-on leadership, coaching, workload management, and development for a team of Compensation Operations professionals. You will oversee the delivery of compensation administration, annual compensation cycles, audits and controls, compensation systems support, operational readiness, and issue resolution, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant execution. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence through effective capacity planning, continuity readiness, process improvement, and team development while building a scalable, sustainable, and high-performing Compensation Operations function. The ideal candidate brings experience supporting compensation administration, annual compensation cycles, compensation systems, operational controls, or related compensation operations activities.

Key responsibilities

• Compensation Operational Leadership & Daily Oversight Lead and participate in compensation operations activities, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent execution while reinforcing operational standards and resolving complex issues.
• Partner across Compensation, Payroll, HR Systems, and business stakeholders to drive operational efficiency and execution excellence.
• Team Leadership, Coaching & Employee Development Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and development for Compensation Operations team members.
• Manage workload distribution, capacity planning, performance, and prioritization to maintain service levels and support operational excellence across workstreams.
• Workload Management & Operational Continuity Oversee workload planning, resource allocation, cross-training, and continuity readiness across Compensation Operations activities.
• Identify and mitigate capacity risks to ensure sustainable service delivery and high-quality execution.
• Controls, Audits & Operational Risk Management Support a strong control environment through audit, SOX, compliance, validation, and operational risk activities.
• Ensure documentation, approvals, and governance requirements are met while maintaining accuracy and compliance across compensation processes.
• Annual Compensation Cycle & Year-End Support Lead operational readiness and execution activities for annual compensation cycles and year-end programs.
• Coordinate resources, validations, issue resolution, and key operational dependencies to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Issue Resolution Build strong relationships across Compensation, Payroll, HR Systems, HR Services, Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate dependencies, support issue resolution, communicate effectively, and escalation risks as appropriate to ensure seamless execution.
• Documentation, Process Improvement & Operational Excellence Drive process consistency, documentation standards, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and execution quality through standardization, knowledge sharing, and process enhancements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience in Compensation Operations, HR Operations, Payroll Operations, HR Systems, or a related operational function
• Experience leading teams, coaching employees, managing workloads, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities
• Experience supporting annual compensation cycles and leading operational initiatives, projects, or workstreams
• Strong workload management, prioritization, capacity planning, and stakeholder management skills
• Knowledge of operational risk management, controls, and compliance practices
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
• Advanced Excel skills

Preferred Qualifications

• 7-10 years of Compensation Operations, HR Operations, or related experience
• Experience leading teams through change, process improvement, and operational transformation initiatives
• Workday and/or compensation systems expertise
• Experience with annual compensation cycles, audits, SOX, controls, and operational risk MANAGEMENT
• Demonstrated success coaching and developing employees
• Experience leveraging reporting, dashboards, and operational metrics to drive decision-making and efficiency
• Experience creating SOPs, training materials, and scalable operational processes

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 $93,400 - $128,400 / 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.

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

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.

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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