About the role
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 Fundamental Equity Analyst at Akuna
Akuna's Relative Value desk is one of the firm's newest businesses and its dedicated position-taking desk. While Akuna's core business is providing liquidity, the Relative Value desk takes calculated risk: we express views primarily through volatility positions across index and single-name options, alongside directional exposure, backed by Akuna's proprietary pricing, execution, and data infrastructure.
We are seeking a Fundamental Equity Analyst to own research into company earnings, catalysts, and other news. This is not a reporting seat: your research is a direct input to live positioning, and you will be expected to form views, advocate for trades, and be accountable for the quality of your calls. The ideal candidate has 4+ years of equity research experience, an appetite for risk, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment. In this role, you will:
- Conduct deep fundamental research on companies, industries, and corporate events to develop differentiated views the desk can trade
- Own the desk's information edge by tracking earnings, guidance, corporate actions, and market-moving news so the desk is informed before it matters
- Analyze event plays with a focus on timing, positioning, and how outcomes map to price and volatility
- Pitch long/short, volatility, and event-driven trade ideas directly to the desk and defend them in open debate
- Build the models, sheets, and tooling that power your research process, leveraging AI and Akuna's data and technology stack to multiply your output
- Build relationships with sell-side analysts, expert networks, and industry contacts to deepen the desk's research access
- Learn to express fundamental views in options space, developing a working understanding of volatility alongside experienced index and single-name traders
Qualities that make great candidates
- 4+ years of fundamental equity research experience; buy-side strongly preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related/equivalent field
- Valuation and financial modeling skills with strong command of Excel
- A genuine passion for investing and a desire to ultimately take risk and see your research end in positions
- Equity options experience a plus
- Python or other programming skills, fluency with incorporating AI tools into a research workflow a plus
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Entrepreneurial self-starter ready to work in a fast paced, team environment
- The ability to react quickly and accurately to rapidly changing market conditions, including the ability to quickly and accurately respond and/or solve math and coding problems are essential functions of the role
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 $145,000. 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 and includes a comprehensive benefits package that may encompass employer-paid medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits. The minimum base salary herein was determined in good faith by Akuna Capital LLC.