Associate Manager, Sales Operations - AZ

At NerdWallet Small Business, we’re on a mission to bring clarity to all of life’s financial decisions and every great mission needs a team of exceptional Nerds. We’ve built an inclusive, flexible, and candid culture where you’re empowered to grow, take smart risks, and be unapologetically yourself (cape optional). Whether remote or in-office, we support how you thrive best. We invest in your well-being, development, and ability to make an impact because when one Nerd levels up, we all do.

The Associate Manager, Sales Operations is responsible for managing the core operational processes that support NerdWallet's SMB Sales organization, including lead routing, sales commissions, revenue reconciliation, sales performance management, and sales technology administration. This role leads a small team of Sales Operations Analysts and partners closely with Sales Leadership, Finance, Accounting, Payroll, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure accurate, efficient, and scalable sales operations. The Associate Manager serves as the accountable owner of critical operational processes, identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, and delivers reliable data and insights that support sales performance, revenue integrity, and informed business decisions.

The Associate Manager, Sales Operations serves as a hands-on people leader and operational partner responsible for the accuracy, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of key SMB Sales processes. This role is embedded within the Sales team (in office) and will manage and develop 1–2 Sales Operations Analysts, establish team priorities, and provide coaching and performance feedback to support consistent execution and professional growth. Working closely with Sales Leadership and cross-functional partners, the Associate Manager translates business requirements into operational solutions, exercises sound judgment in resolving complex issues, and maintains effective processes and controls that support the sales organization. The role balances day-to-day operational accountability with process improvements, demonstrating ownership, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering reliable results.

This role reports to the Director, Sales Operations.

Where you can make an impact:

Accountable for lead routing and assignment processes across Originations and Renewals, including designing, maintaining, and optimizing routing logic and assignment rules to ensure timely, accurate, and equitable lead distribution. Monitor speed-to-lead, distribution balance, and conversion performance, and resolve routing issues that may impact revenue.

Manage sales commission administration, including calculating, validating, and finalizing monthly commission payouts in accordance with approved compensation plans. Partner with Finance, Accounting, and Payroll to ensure accurate and timely processing, investigate commission discrepancies, and resolve disputes while maintaining appropriate documentation and audit controls.

Oversee sales and revenue reconciliation processes by validating closed and funded transactions, revenue data, and partner information against Salesforce and Finance records. Identify and resolve discrepancies, document adjustments, and ensure the integrity of reported sales results and related compensation calculations.

Manage sales performance reporting and analytics, including developing and maintaining individual and team KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools. Analyze attainment, activity, conversion, and quality metrics to provide actionable insights that inform sales coaching, performance management, and capacity planning.

Lead and develop a team of Sales Operations Analysts by establishing priorities, assigning and reviewing work, providing ongoing coaching and performance feedback, conducting regular one-on-one meetings, and supporting employee development. Ensure accurate and timely delivery of operational support and provide hands-on coverage when necessary.

Administer and optimize the sales technology stack, including Salesforce configuration, user access, permissions, fields, workflows, system changes, and data integrity. Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve technical issues, maintain operational continuity, and recommend improvements that support business scalability.

Drive continuous process improvement by identifying inefficiencies, operational risks, and opportunities to strengthen workflows across lead routing, commission administration, reconciliation, and reporting. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, documentation, and internal controls to improve consistency, accuracy, and efficiency.

Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, Accounting, Payroll, HR, Product, Engineering, and partner-facing teams to support operational initiatives, system enhancements, and business changes. Communicate risks, provide recommendations, and facilitate alignment on priorities and solutions.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Ability to work for prolonged periods using a computer and other company-provided electronic equipment.

Ability to analyze complex information, maintain attention to detail, and exercise independent judgment when resolving operational issues.

Ability to manage competing priorities, meet time-sensitive deadlines, and respond to business-critical issues.

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with sales representatives, business leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders, including delivering presentations and facilitating training as needed.

No specialized manual labor or physical lifting requirements.

Your experience:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

4+ years of experience in Sales Operations, Revenue Operations, or Business Operations supporting a sales organization, including at least 1 year of people leadership or functional ownership experience.

Hands-on experience administering Salesforce in a sales environment, including lead assignment rules, objects, fields, flows, reporting, and dashboards.

Experience managing or administering sales commission calculations, payout processes, and compensation reconciliation in partnership with Finance, Accounting, or Payroll.

Demonstrated experience reconciling sales, revenue, or partner data across multiple systems while maintaining accuracy and appropriate controls.

Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, including data analysis, reporting, and financial or operational reconciliation.

Experience developing and maintaining sales performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting that support business decision-making.

Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, provide coaching and feedback, and support the professional development of team members.

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify root causes, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical solutions.

Ability to build collaborative relationships with business partners, communicate complex operational information clearly, and influence decisions through data and sound judgment.

Demonstrated ownership and accountability, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage confidential compensation, financial, and employee performance information with discretion.

Ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume sales environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Salesforce Administrator or Advanced Administrator certification.

Experience with Sweep, RingDNA ( Revenue.io ), LeanData, Outreach, Salesloft, Five9, or comparable sales routing and engagement platforms.

Experience with sales commission management platforms and supporting compensation plan design or administration.

Proficiency in SQL or business intelligence tools such as Tableau, Looker, or Mode.

Experience supporting financial services, lending, or o