Compensation & Benefits Coordinator

About Akuna:

Akuna Capital is an innovative trading firm with a strong focus on collaboration, cutting-edge technology, data driven solutions, and automation. We specialize in providing liquidity as an options market-maker – meaning we are committed to providing competitive quotes that we are willing to both buy and sell. To do this successfully, we design and implement our own low latency technologies, trading strategies, and mathematical models.

Our Founding Partners first conceptualized Akuna in their hometown of Sydney. They opened the firm’s first office in 2011 in the heart of the derivatives industry and the options capital of the world – Chicago. Today, Akuna is proud to operate from additional offices in Sydney, Shanghai, London, and Singapore.

What you’ll do as a Compensation & Benefits Coordinator at Akuna: 

Akuna is seeking an analytical and detail-oriented Compensation & Benefits Coordinator to assist in managing Akuna’s benefits offerings and compensation. Well-qualified candidates will have a foundational understanding of benefits programs, payroll administration, and broader HR policies & processes. The ideal candidate will be collaborative and professional, demonstrating strong communication skills and exercising appropriate discretion in all duties. You will also proactively identify opportunities to improve processes and enhance employee experience. In this role, you will: 

• Provide ongoing support to the Compensation & Benefits Specialist and broader HR Team

• Assist with the administration of US employee benefits and retirement programs, including enrollments, changes, and vendor coordination 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee inquiries related to pay, benefits, and 401(k), including plan provisions, enrollments, and life event changes

• Coordinate new hire onboarding activities related to benefits and compensation, including enrollments and benefits orientation

• Support open enrollment activities, including employee education, system setup, and communications

• Assist with benefits renewals, benchmarking, and annual employee benefits survey

• Continuously identify and implement improvements to benefits and payroll processes & systems

• Contribute to employee engagement and wellness initiatives, policy updates, and programming

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee pay and benefits data within HRIS systems

• Develop and distribute employee communications, including monthly benefit highlights

• Provide independent backup support for US and Canada payroll processing as needed

• Facilitate employee leave of absence processes (e.g. parental leave, FMLA, sabbaticals), ensuring compliance and proper documentation

• Support compliance and reporting requirements, including EEO reporting, ACA reporting, 401(k) audits, and non-discrimination testing

• Partner with brokers and benefits providers to resolve issues related to benefits administration and enrollment

• Partner with Benefits & Compensation Specialist to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations related to payroll, benefits, leave, and tax obligations

• Process and track miscellaneous leave such as comp time, jury duty, etc.

• Review and approve employee expense submissions related to benefits programs

• Prepare and manage recurring and ad hoc reporting

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive employee data

Qualities that make great candidates: 

• 1-2 years of prior Human Resources experience, ideally in benefits and/or payroll administration

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Working knowledge of core HR processes, policies, and legal/compliance requirement; SHRM or PHR certification is a plus

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a customer-focused mindset when handling sensitive or complex employee inquiries

• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to collaborate are must-haves

• Self-starter with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and effectively manage time in a fast-paced environment

• High level of professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive or confidential information

• Proactive problem-solver capable of identifying issues and generating solutions

• Ability to work independently while also being a team player with a can-do attitude

• Fluent in working with data, numbers, and reporting

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook and Excel

• Experience with HR systems, such as Namely and ADP, is a plus

In addition to technical skillsets, Akuna values the unique perspectives people can bring to the table to collaboratively solve complex problems and drive Akuna forward. We want everyone to feel empowered to apply. We welcome your application and encourage you to take the first steps toward your future with us!

In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act, the minimum base salary starts at $60,000. Exact compensation offered may vary based on many factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and skill set. This role is also eligible for a discretionary performance bonus as part of the total compensation package, in addition to the benefits listed here: https://akunacapital.com/our-culture#benefits. The minimum base salary herein was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.