Commissions Data Analyst

About The Role:

As a Commissions Data Analyst, you’ll play a key role within Baird’s Operations organization, supporting the accurate and timely processing of commission data that drives advisor compensation. This role sits within a highly data-focused Commissions team and is responsible for receiving, analyzing, and processing commission files from multiple internal and third‑party sources. Working in close partnership with PWM Branch Associates, Wealth Solutions Group, Finance, and Compliance, you’ll apply strong analytical and technical skills to ensure data integrity, resolve exceptions, and continuously improve commission workflows. This role is ideal for an analyst who enjoys working with complex datasets, automation, and problem-solving in a collaborative, operations-focused environment.

The Impact You’ll Make:

• Receive and analyze commission files from multiple internal and third‑party sources, each with distinct data structures and processing requirements.
• Process and validate commission data to ensure accurate crediting of advisor compensation tied to sales activity.
• Use SQL and data queries to investigate discrepancies, research trends, and support exception resolution.
• Serve as a point of escalation for complex commission issues, unique scenarios, and data anomalies.
• Help ensure commission processes and calculations align with PWM and Compliance policies, and support audit requests to validate advisor compensation is accurate and within policy.
• Lead process improvement and automation initiatives, troubleshoot data issues, test process improvements, drive awareness of key issues and progress, and refine commission processing workflows.
• Collaborate closely with Wealth Solutions Group, Finance, Compliance, and other partner teams to resolve issues and improve end‑to‑end commission processes.

What You’ll Bring to Baird:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business, Data Analytics, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in financial services operations or 3+ years in a related environment is preferred.
• Experience supporting compensation, commissions, or revenue‑related processes
• Experience partnering with upstream or downstream teams to resolve data issues

Key Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong client service and communication skills, with the ability to provide high-value support on complex compensation matters to Financial Advisors and internal and external business partners.
• Proven ability to analyze and work with large, complex datasets from multiple sources using SQL in a data‑heavy environment.
• Experience processing and validating financial or compensation‑related data with a high degree of accuracy and integrity.
• Strong investigative and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to identify anomalies, determine root cause, and recommend corrective actions.
• Comfort working in partially automated environments, including troubleshooting data, system, and process issues.
• Ability to balance project‑based work with recurring, deadline‑driven operational responsibilities.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across operations, finance, and compliance teams.

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Baird is committed to diversity and provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.