Senior Sales Compensation Analyst

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life is seeking a Senior Sales Compensation Analyst to lead complex incentive programs for the Group Sales Distribution organization. You will partner with senior leaders, drive analytics, and shape compensation design and governance.

The role requires advanced Excel, data modeling, and experience with large datasets, plus the ability to communicate insights through executive-ready reporting and presentations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related field.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in sales compensation, compensation, finance, or related field.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret complex data.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and MS Office, including complex models and reporting.
• Experience with large datasets and producing executive-level reporting.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills for senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end administration of complex sales incentive programs.
• Own analysis across multiple data sources to assess plan performance and opportunities.
• Model, design, and implement annual incentive plans aligned with business goals.
• Develop executive-ready analytics and performance reporting.
• Lead compensation workstreams for new products, channels, and organizational changes.
• Build governance, documentation, and controls; support audits and remediation.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Executive reporting

Communication

Analytical thinking

SQL

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Access

Visual Basic

SQL

Data visualization tools

Job description

Hybrid - In office 3 days per week

Bethlehem

New York

Boston

Holmdel

Full time

R000110421

Position Summary

Do you enjoy turning complex data into meaningful business insights and translating those insights into compensation strategies that drive sales performance? Guardian's Group Distribution Compensation team is seeking a Senior Sales Compensation Analyst to lead complex analysis, administration, design, and continuous improvement of incentive compensation programs for our Group Sales Distribution organization. In this role, you will serve as a strategic and consultative partner to senior business leaders, independently lead high-impact compensation initiatives, collaborate across functions, and leverage advanced analytics, automation, and emerging technologies to strengthen decision-making. You will help ensure compensation programs are accurate, scalable, well-governed, and aligned with evolving business priorities and sales strategies.

You Are

A highly analytical and solutions-oriented professional who brings sound judgment, business acumen, and a continuous improvement mindset to complex work. You are comfortable operating with a high degree of independence, translating ambiguous business needs into practical solutions, and influencing stakeholders through clear, data-driven recommendations. You balance strategic thinking with disciplined execution, manage multiple priorities, and maintain a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, and customer focus. You also contribute to the development of team capabilities by sharing expertise, establishing effective practices, and providing guidance to others.

You Have

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 6+ years of progressive professional experience in sales compensation, compensation, finance, sales operations, business analytics, payroll, or a related field.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends and anomalies, evaluate business impact, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications, including the ability to build and validate complex models and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience working with large and complex datasets, reconciling information across multiple sources, and producing accurate executive-level reporting.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex compensation concepts, influence decisions, and tailor communications for senior leadership and varied stakeholder audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep experience administering complex sales incentive compensation programs, including plan governance, payment validation, and issue resolution.
• Strong knowledge of compensation design, financial modeling, plan mechanics, controls, and end-to-end plan administration.
• Experience with Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, SQL, data visualization tools, or comparable technologies used to automate and enhance analysis and reporting.
• Experience supporting large or complex sales organizations, distribution teams, or multiple compensation plans and channels.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects involving compensation, payroll, finance, sales performance, systems, or process transformation.
• Experience applying AI-enabled tools, automation, advanced analytics, or data visualization to improve reporting, decision-making, controls, and operational efficiency.

You Will

• Lead the end-to-end administration of complex sales incentive compensation programs, including payment calculations, validation, exception management, payroll coordination, and timely delivery of accurate reporting.
• Own advanced analysis and modeling across multiple data sources to assess plan performance, identify risks and opportunities, resolve discrepancies, and provide actionable insights that support business decisions.
• Partner with senior leadership to evaluate, model, design, and implement annual incentive compensation plans and strategic enhancements aligned with business objectives, sales strategy, and financial parameters.
• Develop and deliver executive-ready presentations, plan documents, analytics, and performance reporting that clearly communicate compensation program design, results, risks, and recommended actions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and lead compensation workstreams supporting new products, distribution channels, organizational changes, system enhancements, and other strategic business initiatives.
• Build trusted relationships with sales leaders and key business partners across Finance, Payroll, HR, Legal, Technology, and Sales Operations to anticipate needs, provide guidance, and influence decisions through data-driven recommendations.
• Establish and maintain strong governance, documentation, and quality controls; proactively assess risks and support audit, compliance, and remediation activities.
• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of complex compensation issues, balancing accuracy, plan intent, business impact, and stakeholder needs.
• Provide coaching, technical guidance, and peer review to analysts and cross-functional partners; share best practices and help strengthen team capabilities.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts by identifying and implementing opportunities to strengthen automation, AI-enabled capabilities, advanced analytics, reporting, scalability, controls, and the stakeholder experience.

Reporting Relationships

As our Senior Sales Compensation Analyst, you will report to the Head of Sales Compensation.

Location

This is a hybrid role - 3 days in Bethlehem, PA, Boston, MA, Hudson Yards, NYC, or Stamford CT office. 2 days WFH. Travel to other Guardian offices as determined by the People Leader.

Salary Range:

$68,970.00 - $113,310.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] . Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers (http://%20https://www.guardianlife.com/careers) ). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [e-mail] , making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [e-mail] .

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here (https://assets.ctfassets.net/gau1nv66ynug/1M2AOzFsFCirlWeAmIh4MD/23463b78b6cdd8ebdce9410b98d7a080/Audit.pdf) .

Every day, Guardian helps our 29 million customers realize their dreams through a range of insurance and financial products and services. Our Purpose, to inspire well-being, guides our dedication to the colleagues, consumers, and communities we serve. We know that people count, and we go above and beyond to prepare them for the life they want to live, focusing on their overall well-being — mind, body, and wallet. As one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we put our customers first. Behind every bright future is a GuardianTM. Learn more about Guardian at guardianlife.com .

Visa Sponsorship:

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.