Senior Compensation Analyst

Smurfit Westrock; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock in Atlanta, GA seeks a Senior Compensation Analyst—North America to design, analyze, and administer compensation programs that attract, retain, and motivate talent while ensuring external competitiveness and internal equity.

This role partners with HR, Finance, and business leaders to deliver data-driven insights, support compensation strategy, and ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, finance, or related field.
• 3-5 years of progressive compensation experience.
• Experience in a large, matrixed or global organization with salaried and hourly populations.
• Strong knowledge of compensation laws (FLSA, Equal Pay Act, state pay laws).
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with HRIS/compensation systems (Workday preferred).
• Strategic thinking with ability to translate data into recommendations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and data accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and administer base pay, short-term and long-term incentive programs.
• Maintain salary structures, job architecture, and pay ranges for market competitiveness.
• Partner on annual compensation processes (merit, bonus, equity planning) with modeling and governance.
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations and support audits.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Business acumen

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Finance

Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)

Tools

Workday

SAP SuccessFactors

Job description

The Senior Compensation Analyst— North America plays a critical role in the design, analysis, and administration of compensation programs that attract, retain, and motivate talent while ensuring external competitiveness and internal equity. This role partners closely with HR Business Partners, Finance, and business leaders to deliver data-driven insights, support compensation strategy, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock:

Compensation Program Design and Administration

• Support the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of base pay, short-term incentives, and long-term incentive programs
• Evaluate and maintain salary structures, job architecture, and pay ranges to ensure market competitiveness and internal consistency
• Partner on annual compensation processes (merit, bonus, equity planning), including modeling, guidelines, and governance
• Maintain salary structures and pay ranges

Market Analysis and Benchmarking

• Conduct market pricing using survey data (e.g., Mercer, Radford, Willis Towers Watson)
• Analyze competitive positioning and recommend adjustments to salary ranges, job matches, and pay practices
• Develop insights on compensation trends across industry, geography, and employee segments
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., FLSA, pay transparency laws, equal pay requirements)
• Assist in audits, regulatory reporting, and documentation of compensation decisions

Business Partnership

• Consult with HR and business leaders on compensation decisions such as offers, promotions, and retention actions
• Provide guidance on pay positioning and internal equity considerations
• Translate compensation philosophy into practical application for managers

Process Improvement and Systems

• Drive automation and efficiency improvements in compensation processes
• Support HRIS and compensation system maintenance (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors)
• Ensure data integrity and governance within compensation systems

What You Need to Succeed:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or related field
• 3-5 years of progressive compensation experience
• Experience in a large, matrixed, or global organization with both salaried and hourly populations
• Strong knowledge of compensation-related laws and regulations (FLSA, Equal Pay Act, state/provincial pay transparency laws)
• Advanced skills in Excel and experience with HRIS and compensation systems (Workday preferred)
• Strategic thinking and business acumen with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations for leaders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy

Preferred

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) strongly preferred
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent professional certification
• Experience in manufacturing (Paper, packaging, or forest products industries preferred)
• Active participation in professional organizations such as WorldatWork