Senior Compensation Specialist

Company: Dscout
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description At Dscout, we're building the most flexible and powerful UX research platform on the market—trusted by the world's top brands in finance (JP Morgan Chase, Intuit, Charles Schwab, PayPal), healthcare (Aya, Headspace), consumer goods (Keen, Verizon, Target, Northface), and tech (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Meta, Spotify, AirBnB). Our tools help teams deeply understand the humans behind their products, so they can build better ones. We are expanding our smart and driven team and would love for you to join us. Ready to make an impact at a fast-growing company? We are seeking a detail-oriented and reliable Senior Compensation Specialist to join our team. This role will focus primarily on managing payroll and sales commission processing for our employees, ensuring accurate and timely payroll execution, compliance with all applicable laws, and exceptional customer service to employees. The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of end-to-end payroll and commission processing, particularly when it comes to managing complex state requirements, tax compliance, and workers' compensation. This is also someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and is passionate about operational excellence and process improvement. This role will report directly to Dscout's Controller. Responsibilities: Process end-to-end semi-monthly payrolls, including but not limited to timesheets, garnishments, benefits, taxes and variable payments, while ensuring compliance with federal, state/provincial, and local regulations Calculate, validate, get approval for, and process monthly commissions across Sales, Customer Success, and GTM teams with 100% accuracy and on-time delivery in collaboration with our Revenue Operations team Audit and maintain accurate records of payroll and commission documentation and transactions Support the accounting operations team in the administration of Scout (research respondent) incentive payments Serve as the primary point of contact for all employee compensation inquiries, including responding to payroll, commissions, and incentive disputes in a professional and timely manner Collaborate with People, Finance, Revenue Operations, Legal teams in the administration of payroll and on payroll-related matters including commissions, benefits, taxation, and year-end reporting Support month-end close, annual audits and other payroll-related projects, including year-end reporting preparation Support end-to-end processing of international payrolls across multiple countries in coordination with external payroll vendors Identify and implement improvements in payroll and commission systems and workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy Lead internal and external payroll and 401(k) audits Help to develop and build, in conjunction with the Revenue Operations team, compensation calculators and models, both to administer the program and to support individual employees. Basic Qualifications: 4 years in payroll, compensation, revenue ops, or finance with ownership of payroll and/or commissions processes (preferably both) Incredible attention to precision and detail–a "no errors" mindset Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage and hour laws Experience with data analysis in Excel and Google Sheets, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, array functions, and Apps Script automation Salesforce experience required — able to query, reconcile, and validate GTM data Experience with associated accounting entries related to payroll and commissions Experience with the calculation and administration of variable compensation plans for general employees and sales employees Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to interact with employees at all levels Ability to work directly with internal customers and process stakeholders in a highly professional and effective manner Proven track record in designing and implementing compensation strategies. Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment A team mindset and eagerness to jump in wherever needed—no task is too small! Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), or certification or equivalent international certification Experience with Paycor, BambooHR, & Deel Experience with Salesforce Experience with NetSuite Of course, what is outlined above is an ideal set of expectations; however, business needs and other projects and tasks may shift, and additional tasks could be assigned at the discretion of your manager. About Dscout Dscout is a team of passionate, empathetic, and curious professionals. As a recognized leader in the Forrester Wave, we're at the cutting edge of experience research technology. The power of research drives us - how in-context insights from real people can build more enjoyable products and services. We prioritize learning, sharing, and building. We also deeply value being a diverse and inclusive team and company and look for team members who align with that belief. Join our dynamic team and help shape product roadmaps and business strategies for the world's most loved brands. It doesn't stop there. When you join the Dscout team, you will get: A strong and competitive compensation package with a built-in bonus and equity program. An incredible and progressive benefits package (for both you and your dependents) to support work/life balance, including flexible PTO, 15 company holidays, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, 401k match, and much more. An education stipend to support your growth & development, and a remote work stipend. A company that is open and transparent with our team. You will know what is happening and why it matters. Dscout is an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity. We do not discriminate based on identity, including race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity and expression, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged or sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at accommodations@dscout.com with the nature of your request and your contact information. We'll do everything possible to ensure you're well-prepared for success during our interview process, while also upholding your privacy, including accommodating any special requests. Please note that only inquiries regarding requests for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. When you apply at Dscout, we will process your job applicant data, including your employment and education history, transcript, writing samples, and references, as necessary to consider your job application for open positions. For more information about our privacy practices, please visit our Privacy Policy. Dscout participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Location Flexibility: Dscout is proud to support a remote-first workforce and enable employees to work from almost anywhere. At this time, however, we are unable to hire in the following locations: Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington DC. NOTE: DSCOUT NEVER CONTACTS JOB APPLICANTS VIA TEXT, MESSENGER, OR OTHER SIMILAR APPLICATIONS. BE AWARE OF PHISHING AND SPOOFING SCAMS, BOTH VIA TEXT AND EMAIL. ONLY RESPOND TO EMAILS FROM DSCOUT.COM

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