Sales Operations Analyst (Contract)

Sales Operations Analyst (Contract) - Palo Alto Networks

This role is a contract assignment at Palo Alto Networks. Contractors will not be employed by Palo Alto Networks but through our trusted staffing partners.

• Location: Remote, India
• Duration: 12 Months

Job Description

Rebate & Incentive Program Management

• Incentive Calculation: Own the end-to-end calculation and administration of complex, performance-based partner rebates and incentives
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and validate partner achievement against specific targets (e.g., Bookings, Revenue, Consumption, or Utilization metrics) to determine payout eligibility
• Financial Reconciliation: Conduct regular audits of incentive data to ensure financial accuracy, resolving discrepancies between booked revenue and system data prior to payout approval

Data Analysis & Technical Querying

• Advanced Querying: Design and execute complex SQL queries (e.g., within Google BigQuery) to mine large datasets across multiple systems (CRM, Cloud Telemetry, Transactional databases)
• Data Integrity: Manage data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) processes to ensure clean, reliable data is used for all program calculations
• Automation: Develop automated workflows and scripts to streamline manual data processes, reducing cycle time for reporting and payments

Reporting, Dashboards & Visualization

• Dashboard Design: Build and maintain dynamic dashboards and reports (using tools like Tableau, PowerBI, or CRM-native tools) to provide stakeholders with real-time visibility into program health and partner performance
• Custom Reporting: Create specialized views and widgets within internal platforms to track specific KPIs, such as \"Earned vs. Suspended\" funds or cohort-based performance trends

Operational Support & Process Optimization

• Scenario Modeling: Perform ad-hoc financial modeling and sensitivity analysis to support leadership in designing future incentive structures or adjusting program caps
• System Support: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for data-related inquiries, troubleshooting system errors, and ensuring data alignment across sales and finance tools
• Process Engineering: Proactively identify opportunities to improve data hygiene and operational efficiency within the incentive management lifecycle

Communication & Documentation

• Stakeholder Communication: Translate complex data findings and statistical models into clear, actionable business insights for non-technical stakeholders and executive leadership
• Documentation & Presentation: Create high-quality, professional documentation and presentations (using Google Docs/Slides) to summarize program performance, methodology, and strategic recommendations
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a bridge between technical teams (Data/Engineering) and business teams (Sales/Finance), ensuring that data outputs are understood and effectively utilized for decision-making

Skills

• Technical Proficiency: Advanced expertise in SQL (writing complex queries, joins, and optimizations) and familiarity with cloud data warehouses like Google BigQuery
• Data Visualization: Proven ability to design and build dynamic dashboards and reports using tools such as Tableau , PowerBI, or CRM-native reporting engines
• CRM & Systems: Experience navigating and extracting data from CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce ) and internal data systems (e.g., OSSOT)
• Data Analysis & Modeling: Strong analytical skills with the ability to manage large datasets, perform financial reconciliation, and model complex incentive/rebate scenarios (e.g., cohort analysis, performance tracking)
• Automation: Experience scripting or building automated data workflows to reduce manual processing and improve data hygiene
• Operational Acumen: Understanding of sales operations, channel programs, or incentive compensation mechanics
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate technical data and statistical models into clear, non-technical business insights for leadership
• Documentation & Presentation: Proficiency in Google Docs/Slides for creating executive summaries, process documentation, and strategic presentations
• Attention to Detail: High standard for acc