Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a premier proprietary trading firm specializing in options market making. Our collaborative culture fuels innovation in quantitative research, systematic trading strategies, and cutting-edge trading technology. For over three decades CTC has provided critical liquidity across derivatives exchanges worldwide - making them fairer, more transparent, and more efficient.
We strive to be the most innovative firm in the industry today, tomorrow, and long into the future while upholding ethical excellence. We believe that CTC makes a positive impact on the markets, the lives of our employees, and all the communities to which we belong. Started in 1995 by a team of forward-thinking Traders, we are proud to call ourselves an industry leader that keeps making markets and each other better.
As CTC's Senior Compensation Analyst, you will oversee the compensation process from start to finish. This involves running the annual comp cycle, setting packages for new hires and internal moves, and leading market survey submissions. You'll report to our HCM Operations Lead, with a seat at the table for financial modeling and analysis, alongside finance and senior leadership. Over time, as you build experience and demonstrate you're ready, you'll take on more of that work directly. And at a firm our size, your scope will go beyond just comp: you’ll get exposure to other parts of HCM, shaped by your skills, your interests, and what the team needs.
What You'll Do
- Own execution of CTC's annual compensation cycle, including comp statements, comp tracker maintenance, and coordination across HCM, Finance, and business leaders
- Own CTC's market pricing strategy, using benchmarking data and market judgment to help the firm make competitive, well-informed offers for new hires and employee moves
- Lead CTC's participation in market surveys, such as McLagan, and maintain compensation benchmarking data
- Partner with Finance to build bonus pool models and run scenario analysis, taking on more direct ownership as your trust and expertise grows
- Own comp reporting and insights that support HCM and business leaders in decision-making, expanding into other HCM analytics and reporting needs during lower-volume periods
- Conduct pay equity analysis to help ensure fairness across roles and responsibilities
- Partner with HCM Practice Leaders (HR Generalists/Business Partners) to structure and process separation packages
- Manage CTC’s other compensation programs, such as our 401(k) plan, deferred compensation, and long-term incentive awards
- Lead the development and implementation of process and tool enhancements that improve and scale our comp function
- Partner with firm leaders to help managers and employees understand CTC's compensation philosophy and how it's applied
- Learn CTC's bonus pool sizing and modeling process alongside our Finance team, with increasing involvement as your comfort and track record grow
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years' experience in HR compensation. Prop trading, hedge fund, or financial services experience is helpful but not required. We're equally interested in candidates from adjacent analytical backgrounds (e.g., FP&A, business management) with a genuine interest in managing the comp process
- Comfortable operating with senior leadership: someone who can navigate ambiguity, ask good questions, and build trust over time with executives and desk heads
- Strong aptitude in building financial models and conducting scenario analysis, employing advanced Excel skills to help inform major compensation decisions with leaders
- Proven ability to own and complete a process end to end, including under timeline pressure
- High attention to detail and the discretion to always handle confidential comp data appropriately
- Genuinely energized by variety and willing to jump into work outside comp when the group requires it
- Experience analyzing benchmarking data to guide compensation decisions
- A track record of building more effective and efficient processes; prior experience using AI for this is a plus, and genuine enthusiasm to leverage AI and automation is a must
Compensation
The salary range for this role is listed below. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and firm performance.
Most teams at CTC, with the exception of Trading, follow a hybrid workplace model, subject to change based on business need.
Our Benefits
We strongly believe in the well-being of our employees and their families so we offer outstanding benefits to support you both professionally and personally. These benefits include generous time off, insurance coverage, paid parental leave, free breakfast and lunch (plus healthy snacks, of course), wellness reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits focused on providing the best employee experience.
(Disclaimer: interns and contractors are not eligible for benefits at CTC)
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At CTC, we aim to cultivate a workplace that celebrates diversity and each person feels included, engaged and empowered. Where each of us feels we belong. We are committed to having a diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us at [email protected]. Note that emails sent to this email account for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Information submitted by job applicants may be subject to review and analysis by automated systems, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of the recruitment process. Such systems are utilized to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our hiring procedures. Applicants are advised that any information provided may be evaluated by AI tools to ensure an equitable and thorough assessment.
Skills Required
- 5+ years experience in HR compensation or adjacent analytical background (FP&A, business management)
- Advanced Excel skills and strong aptitude for building financial models and scenario analysis
- Experience analyzing compensation benchmarking data and participating in market surveys (e.g., McLagan)
- Proven ability to own and complete processes end to end, including under timeline pressure
- Comfortable operating with senior leadership and building trust with executives and desk heads
- High attention to detail and discretion handling confidential compensation data
- Experience managing compensation programs (401(k), deferred compensation, long-term incentive awards)
- Track record of improving processes and implementing tooling enhancements
- Genuine enthusiasm to leverage AI and automation in processes
- Prior experience using AI for compensation/process automation
- Prop trading, hedge fund, or financial services experience
What We Do
Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is a highly analytical, team oriented derivatives trading firm that employs a dynamic, disciplined approach to trading across a variety of products and strategies. We take decisive action to position ourselves at the forefront of the financial markets. We actively trade in a broad spectrum of asset classes that include Equities, Interest Rates, and Commodities. We have grown dramatically since our inception in 1995. Recognized as a leading provider of liquidity and pricing on numerous derivatives exchanges globally, we trade more than 20 hours a day, six days a week. With offices in Chicago and London, our success and rapid growth are due to our market experience, state of the art technology, risk management capabilities, and financial engineering expertise.
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