Total Rewards Strategy Lead

Focus Financial Partners; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 275,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Annual bonus

401(k)

Job summary

Focus Financial Partners is seeking a Head of Total Rewards to lead strategy, design, and execution of compensation, benefits, equity, and recognition programs across the enterprise. Reporting to the CHRO, this leader will modernize total rewards programs, build scalable processes, develop a high‑performing team, and ensure rewards programs support business growth, performance, and employee engagement.

This role requires a strategic, hands‑on leader who can balance long‑term vision with

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, including senior leadership responsibility.
• Experience with Workday, including Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Benefits, and related HR systems modules required.
• Proven success building, scaling, or transforming total rewards functions in a complex or high‑growth environment.
• Deep expertise in compensation strategy, market benchmarking, incentive design, and rewards governance.
• Strong working knowledge of employee benefits and retirement programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive total rewards strategy aligned with business goals and talent priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CHRO and senior leadership team on compensation, benefits, and market trends.
• Ensure rewards programs are competitive, equitable, and scalable across all business units.
• Lead the design, administration, and governance of base salary, annual incentive, commission, and long-term incentive programs.
• Oversee annual compensation cycles including merit planning, bonus processes, promotions, and market reviews.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and compensation modeling.
• Support executive compensation programs, including board-level materials, analytics, and recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable compensation regulations, reporting, and governance requirements.
• Lead strategy and oversight of health, retirement, wellness, leave, and other employee benefit programs.
• Evaluate vendor partnerships and optimize benefits offerings to balance employee experience, competitiveness, and cost efficiency.
• Drive employee education and engagement and education around benefits programs and resources.
• Assess current processes and implement more efficient, scalable ways of working across total rewards.
• Lead systems optimization and process automation, including partnership with Workday team.
• Build governance, controls, and repeatable processes that improve execution and service delivery; support integration and harmonization efforts across a dynamic and evolving business portfolio.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing total rewards team focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear priorities, development plans, and operating rhythms across the function.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Workday

Job description

Focus Financial Partners is seeking a Head of Total Rewards to lead strategy, design, and execution of compensation, benefits, equity, and recognition programs across the enterprise. Reporting to the CHRO, this leader will modernize total rewards programs, build scalable processes, develop a high‑performing team, and ensure rewards programs support business growth, performance, and employee engagement.

This role requires a strategic, hands‑on leader who can balance long‑term vision with