Ira Finn
Total Rewards  ·  Human Resources

Ira Finn

PHR  ·  SHRM-CP  ·  CPSP

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Professional Summary

Global Total Rewards executive with 20+ years of experience leading enterprise compensation, benefits, and executive pay programs in complex, fast-growing organizations. Most recently at Ryan Specialty, I built the Total Rewards COE from the ground up, scaled the team from 1 to 9, and partnered with the CHRO, executive leadership, and the Compensation Committee through an IPO and 40+ acquisitions as the organization grew from 1,800 to 6,500 employees across 12 countries.

With a re-org and realignment underway, I completed this year's compensation cycle and am now beginning my next chapter — ready to bring this same depth of experience to another organization's Total Rewards function. I advise on executive pay, M&A integration, pay equity and transparency (UK and EU), global benefits governance, and public-company readiness, with a track record of translating complexity into clear strategy that earns trust at the board level.

Work Experience

Ryan Specialty LLC (RYAN) 2018 – 2025
Vice President, Total Rewards
  • Set enterprise Total Rewards strategy (compensation, benefits, and equity) for a 6,500-employee, multi-country organization; supported $3B revenue growth while strengthening retention and pay-for-performance outcomes.
  • Advised the CHRO, executive leadership team, and Compensation Committee on rewards strategy, executive pay decisions, and governance.
  • Played a key leadership role in IPO launch readiness and execution, partnering with Finance, Legal, and external consultants on equity program design, SOX governance, and disclosure-supporting documentation.
  • Converted the U.S. medical plan from fully insured to self-insured, managing medical spend that scaled from $8M to $100M (+1,150%).
  • Scaled the Total Rewards COE from 1 to 9 employees; built analytics, controls, and global governance for consistent program delivery.
  • Led Workday HCM implementation delivering executive dashboards, compensation budgeting workflows, and SOX-aligned controls.
  • Governed executive compensation for CEO + Section 16 officers; delivered Comp Committee decision support grounded in performance, risk, and shareholder alignment.
  • Reduced annual compensation planning cycle time 50% (8 weeks to 4 weeks) by standardizing analytics, processes, and governance.
  • Led firmwide pay equity analyses and global pay transparency; delivered a 5% reduction in gender and race pay gaps; owned UK Gender Pay Gap reporting and EU Pay Transparency Directive readiness.
  • Built an M&A compensation integration playbook, aligning compensation structures across 40+ acquisitions into enterprise job architecture and salary ranges.
  • Designed and administered global STI programs totaling ~$150M per year; managed ~$80M equity budget including IPO equity plan governance and modeling.
  • Directed global benefits strategy and vendor negotiations for $100M health & welfare programs and $900M in retirement assets.
  • Governed 401(k), pension, and international retirement plans, scaling 401(k) assets from $130M to $900M in five years.
  • Led global benefits integration for 40+ acquisitions, delivering Day 1 benefits continuity and generating millions in synergies.
  • Expanded benefits programs to 12 countries and established a UK pension plan with a global broker.
Heidrick & Struggles (HSII) 2014 – 2018
Vice President, Global Benefits and HR Systems  ·  Chicago, IL
  • Led strategy and execution for employee benefits across North America, APAC, EMEA, and LATAM, including health and welfare, executive non-qualified deferred compensation, retirement programs, and regulatory compliance.
  • Directed HR technology roadmap, data governance, and reporting infrastructure; owned HCM RFP and Workday HCM implementation.
  • Managed annual renewal process: partnered with brokers, analyzed data, prepared recommendations, and aligned with financial leadership to meet budgeting goals.
Career Education 2012 – 2014
Benefits Consultant  ·  Schaumburg, IL
  • Oversaw defined contribution retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation, and stock option programs, ensuring compliance and operational accuracy.
  • Managed Form 5500 filings, investment monitoring, and relationships with retirement providers, auditors, and financial consultants.
Komatsu America Corp 2004 – 2012
Senior Benefits Manager  ·  Rolling Meadows, IL
  • Responsible for global design, implementation, and administration of health and benefits, leave, and retirement programs.