Sales Variable Compensation Specialist

Cielo Projects•Portland, ME

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the leadership of the Sr. Director of Revenue Operations Strategy & Analytics, we are hiring a Sales Variable Compensation Specialist to support the design, administration, analysis, and governance of sales incentive compensation programs across a global commercial organization. This role is critical to driving sales performance, sales representative trust, and plan accuracy, and will be responsible for administering variable compensation plans for approximately 200 quota-carrying sales representatives, ensuring timely and accurate commission processing, and delivering reporting and insights that improve plan effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Requirements

Experience in sales compensation, sales operations, revenue operations, finance operations, or a related analytical function
Demonstrated ability to administer variable compensation plans with a high degree of accuracy, attention to detail, and confidentiality
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret compensation rules, translate business logic into calculations, and identify data issues or anomalies
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across Sales, Finance, HR, Payroll, and executive stakeholders
Ability to operate independently in a scaling environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines
Proficiency in Excel and experience working with large data sets, reporting tools, and compensation or CRM systems
Strong process orientation and commitment to documentation, controls, and continuous improvement
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, HR, Information Systems, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience
2–4+ years’ of relevant experience in sales compensation, sales operations, commissions administration, finance, or a related field

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a software, SaaS, industrial technology, or other recurring revenue commercial organization strongly preferred
Experience supporting mid-sized or scaled sales organizations with complex territories, quota structures, and incentive plans preferred

Responsibilities

Own and execute the administration of sales variable compensation plans, including monthly and quarterly incentive calculations, validations, adjustments, and payout support for approximately 200 quota-carrying sales representatives
Maintain compensation rules, crediting logic, quotas, territory assignments, and plan documentation in partnership with Sales Operations, Finance, HR, and sales leadership
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, HR, Payroll, and Business Systems teams to ensure compensation plans are aligned to company objectives and administered accurately and consistently
Develop and improve compensation processes, controls, workflows, and reporting to support scale, transparency, and auditability
Analyze commission results, plan performance, rep attainment, and payout trends, and provide actionable insights and recommendations to leadership
Support annual compensation plan rollout activities, including plan modeling, documentation, communication, exception tracking, and rep onboarding
Investigate and resolve compensation inquiries, disputes, and discrepancies in a timely, professional, and well-documented manner
Drive accountability against defined KPIs, including payout accuracy, cycle time, dispute resolution timing, and adherence to monthly close timelines
Ensure compliance with company standards, internal controls, compensation governance policies, and applicable audit requirements
Support continuous improvement of systems and tools used for incentive compensation administration, including CRM, compensation management platforms, and reporting environments