HR Operations Specialist (Contract)

Role overview

Acorns is hiring a careful and driven HR Operations Specialist on a contract basis to support the HR Operations function during a period of change. This role focuses on keeping employee lifecycle processes, data quality, and cross-team coordination running smoothly for a global workforce. It is well suited to someone who works well in a fast-moving, lean environment and enjoys making a practical impact behind the scenes.

Acorns operates with a remote-first approach, with optional access to office space in Irvine, California.

Mission and values

Acorns is focused on protecting and improving the financial well-being of rising generations, starting with micro-investing. The company’s approach is shaped by its core values:

• Lead With Heart: act with compassion, integrity, and persistence to push past limits.
• Make Bold Decisions: stay optimistic, adventurous, and brave when building something new.
• Always Build Trust: be clear, keep commitments, and work as one accountable team.
• Never Stop Growing: remain curious, hungry, and committed to continual improvement.
• Find a way: stay resourceful, avoid excuses, and turn challenges into action.

The broader mission is to make wealth-building tools more accessible so families can work toward financial wellness.

What you will do

In this position, you will support employee onboarding, offboarding, and other job-related changes, while helping maintain accuracy across HR systems and processes.

• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding for employees and contractors across US and UK populations in Workday, following documented procedures to ensure timely and accurate processing.
• Handle employee changes such as role updates, organizational moves, contract changes, and manager updates within defined workflows.
• Draft employment paperwork, including change letters and contract amendments, for review and approval, and make sure records are saved correctly in Workday.
• Work closely with HR, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, IT, Accounting, and Payroll to complete lifecycle actions on schedule.
• Initiate background check requests and monitor their progress through the hiring process while keeping stakeholders updated.
• Maintain reliable employee and contractor data in Workday and raise any inconsistencies for correction.
• Support routine audits and data-cleanup work to protect system integrity.
• Assist with reporting requests by gathering and delivering accurate data for HR and business partners.
• Support compliance steps such as US I-9 monitoring and UK right-to-work checks during onboarding.
• Review onboarding and lifecycle compliance materials on a regular basis to confirm that completion and storage in Workday are correct.
• Follow standard operating procedures and inform the manager when documentation needs to be updated or when gaps are identified.
• Contribute to ad hoc compliance and operational maintenance projects as needed.
• Track tasks across Workday, Asana, Slack, and email to keep work moving without delay.
• Act as a responsive contact for HR colleagues and other stakeholders on lifecycle and coordination questions.
• Escalate risks, blockers, and timeline concerns early rather than waiting for issues to grow.

What you should bring

This role calls for someone with hands-on HR operations experience, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to stay organized in a high-pace environment.

• 1 to 3+ years of experience in HR operations, people operations, HR coordination, or a related operational role.
• Prior exposure to Workday is preferred, especially for employee transactions, data entry, and basic reporting.
• A strong accuracy mindset and a consistent record of delivering work promptly in a dynamic setting.
• Clear written and spoken communication skills across multiple channels and stakeholder groups.
• The ability to prioritize competing demands while maintaining quality under pressure.
• A proactive approach to surfacing concerns before they turn into larger problems.
• Experience using Google Workspace, Asana, and Slack.
• Comfort handling confidential employee information, including compensation, immigration, and personal data, with discretion and strong data hygiene.
• Alignment with Acorns’ mission, optimism about social change, and a strong drive to deliver meaningful work.

Additional information

Applicants are not expected to meet every listed requirement. Candidates who connect with Acorns’ mission, vision, and values are encouraged to apply.

What Acorns offers

• Flexible work location.
• Monthly Acorns account contribution and a GoHenry account for family use.
• Mindfulness and financial wellness support through Headspace and Addition Wealth.
• A team of motivated colleagues who care deeply about one another, the mission, and customers.
• The opportunity to contribute to work aimed at solving major societal challenges.

About Acorns

Acorns is a financial wellness app that helps individuals and families save and invest for the long term. Since launching in 2014, the company has expanded into a global business with products for kids, teens, adults, and parents. It has helped more than 14 million people save and invest over $27 billion, much of it through spare change and small contributions.

Compensation and contract terms

The expected starting pay rate for this role is $35 to $40 per hour for an initial 3-month contract period. Final pay may differ based on factors such as market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

This is an at-will position, and the company may change the base hourly rate or other discretionary compensation programs at any time, including due to individual performance, team or company performance, or market conditions.

Work authorization

Acorns uses E-Verify to confirm work eligibility for all newly hired employees.

For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov.