Sales Compensation Manager - United States

Cornerstone; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 105,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Annual bonuses

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Cornerstone is seeking a Sales Compensation Manager who will lead end‑to‑end compensation for assigned sales teams. This player‑coach will mentor a Sales Compensation Analyst, while executing monthly and quarterly commissions and partnering with Finance to close the books.

In this high‑visibility role, you will optimize processes, manage SPIFF/ICM tooling, and address pay inquiries with precision and speed. A SaaS background and strong Excel skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in sales compensation administration or related role at a SaaS company.
• 2+ years of people management experience, with a track record of developing a high‑performing team.
• Experience in full‑cycle sales compensation administration — calculations, crediting, draws, clawbacks and dispute resolution.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and recommend solutions.
• Hands‑on experience administrating a modern ICM tool (SPIFF preferred; Xactly, CaptivateIQ or similar acceptable).
• Familiarity with Salesforce reporting and CRM data.
• Strong Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets skills and a high bar for accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple deadlines, and lead through ambiguity while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
• Sound judgement handling confidential compensation data and clear, well‑structured communication.
• Experience partnering with geographically dispersed teams.
• A team player with a positive “can do” attitude

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, and develop a Sales Compensation Analyst through regular feedback, prioritization, and professional development.
• Own the quality and accuracy of commission processing for assigned business units, providing oversight and quality assurance for work completed by the Sales Compensation Analyst.
• Execute monthly and quarterly commission calculations accurately and on schedule.
• Produce commission statements and support monthly close and commission accrual processes in partnership with Finance.
• Identify process improvements that enhance the accuracy, scalability, and efficiency of sales compensation operations, including automation and system enhancements.
• Assist with the administration of the SPIFF incentive compensation management (ICM) platform, including maintaining plan configuration, payee assignments, quotas, and hierarchy management.
• Serve as the first point of contact for commission inquiries - investigating and resolving issues while providing exceptional customer support.
• Independently execute the commission calculation cycle with high‑level direction, owning a defined scope and using established approaches to solve well‑defined problems.
• Deliver high‑quality, well‑documented output that others can rely on, and communicate clear, concise updates to stakeholders.
• Gather feedback from payees and validate that solutions address any underlying issue.

Skills

Sales compensation administration

Mentoring / people management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

Xactly

CaptivateIQ

Salesforce

Excel / Google Sheets

Job description

This role is Remote, United States

We're looking for a Sales Compensation Manager to join our global sales compensation team. We are looking for a player‑coach who will mentor a Sales Compensation Analyst while also serving as a hands‑on operator and strategic partner to our sales organization — owning end‑to‑end compensation administration for assigned teams.

This is a high‑visibility role at the intersection of Sales, Finance and Operations. You will help with the accurate, on‑time execution of our monthly and quarterly commission cycles and administer the compensation tooling that supports them. This role will be a key member of the sales compensation team: when payees are paid correctly and on time, and their questions are answered quickly, the whole GTM organization runs with more trust and less friction.

You will work with high‑level direction from your manager but be relied on to independently execute each commission cycle, escalating the genuinely ambiguous calls.

In this role you will

• Coach, mentor, and develop a Sales Compensation Analyst through regular feedback, prioritization, and professional development.
• Own the quality and accuracy of commission processing for assigned business units, providing oversight and quality assurance for work completed by the Sales Compensation Analyst.
• Execute monthly and quarterly commission calculations accurately and on schedule.
• Produce commission statements and support monthly close and commission accrual processes in partnership with Finance.
• Identify process improvements that enhance the accuracy, scalability, and efficiency of sales compensation operations, including automation and system enhancements.
• Assist with the administration of the SPIFF incentive compensation management (ICM) platform, including maintaining plan configuration, payee assignments, quotas, and hierarchy management.
• Serve as the first point of contact for commission inquiries - investigating and resolving issues while providing exceptional customer support.
• Independently execute the commission calculation cycle with high‑level direction, owning a defined scope and using established approaches to solve well‑defined problems.
• Deliver high‑quality, well‑documented output that others can rely on, and communicate clear, concise updates to stakeholders.
• Gather feedback from payees and validate that solutions address any underlying issue.

You Have What It Takes If You Have

• 6+ years in sales compensation administration or related role at a SaaS company.
• 2+ years of people management experience, with a track record of developing a high‑performing team.
• Experience in full‑cycle sales compensation administration — calculations, crediting, draws, clawbacks and dispute resolution.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and recommend solutions.
• Hands‑on experience administrating a modern ICM tool (SPIFF preferred; Xactly, CaptivateIQ or similar acceptable).
• Familiarity with Salesforce reporting and CRM data.
• Strong Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets skills and a high bar for accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple deadlines, and lead through ambiguity while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
• Sound judgement handling confidential compensation data and clear, well‑structured communication.
• Experience partnering with geographically dispersed teams.
• A team player with a positive “can do” attitude
• #LI-remote

Our Culture

Spark Greatness. Shatter Boundaries. Share Success. Are you ready? Because here, right now – is where the future of work is happening. Where curious disruptors and change innovators like you are helping communities and customers enable everyone – anywhere – to learn, grow and advance. To be better tomorrow than they are today.

Who We Are

At Cornerstone, we believe in AI that works in the service of people, amplifying their judgment to drive high‑performing, future‑ready organizations forward. Cornerstone Workforce AI™, the intelligence platform for workforce readiness, brings together workforce and labor market data into a proprietary Cornerstone People Graph™, translating signals into intelligence, targeting learning where it matters, developing critical skills, and surfacing hidden talent. Delivered as an open, enterprise platform across whatever application your people work in every day, Cornerstone Workforce AI is built for scale, security, and trust, with certified AI guardrails. As an industry leader, Cornerstone is helping approximately 7,000 organizations, 140M+ users, across 186 countries build continuous workforce readiness.

Total Rewards

At Cornerstone, we are dedicated to inspiring excellence and pushing boundaries in everything we do. Our compensation strategy is based on three fundamental principles: equitable pay, market‑driven research, and skill‑based appraisals. As part of our mission to share success and empower individuals to thrive in an ever‑changing world, the listed salary range is just one element of Cornerstone’s comprehensive compensation package. The disclosed salary range reflects the geographic differential based on the location of the position if applicable. The starting salary for the successful applicant will depend on several job‑related factors, including education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, and market demands. This range is based on a full‑time position and may be adjusted in the future. Join us in shaping the future of work — tomorrow, together. Experience flexibility and empowerment in your career at Cornerstone.

• annual bonuses, short‑and program‑specific awards depending on the role, and a comprehensive benefit offering.

The BASE salary range for this position is: 105400 - 168600 USD.

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Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental commitment at Cornerstone OnDemand. All qualified applicants are given consideration regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class as provided in applicable Federal, State, or Local fair employment laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail] or [phone].

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