Let $f$ be a symmetric function of $s$ variables. The identity is
$$\sum_{all \ k's}^\infty x^{\sum_{j=1}^s k_j} f(k_1,k_2,k_3,...,k_s)=\sum_{n=s}^\infty x^n\sum_{\lambda\vdash n}\frac{s!\prod_l \lambda_l}{z_\lambda} f(\lambda)$$
where $z_\lambda$ is the size of the centralizer of a permutation of type $\lambda$. So as you can see $\frac{s!\prod_l \lambda_l}{z_\lambda}$ is the number of compositions with the elements of $\lambda$. And don't forget that $\lambda$ is always a partition with $s$ parts.


I have verified it for some values of $s$. For example (s=3):

$$
\sum_{k_1=1}^\infty\sum_{k_1=1}^\infty\sum_{k_1=1}^\infty x^{x_1+x_2+x_3}f(k_1,k_2,k_3)=x^3f(1,1,1)+3x^4f(2,1,1)+x^5[3f(2,2,1)+3f(3,1,1)]+x^6[f(2,2,2)+6f(3,2,1)+3f(4,1,1)]...
$$
So it is kind of obvious that the pattern emerges.

How can this be proved in a rigorous way? (for all $s\in \mathbb{N}$ off course!) Any reference on this kind of manipulations?

Also, if you have a better way to write the number $\frac{s!\prod_l \lambda_l}{z_\lambda}$ it will be helpfull.