How to become a Compliance Officer

What does a Compliance Officer do?

Good at playing by the rules? You should start a career in compliance…

A Compliance Officer acts ethically and morally in order to create and maintain a compliant organisation. Their role involves monitoring and managing a company’s policies and procedures, ensuring they comply with any legal regulations and requirements. This includes meeting both professional and internal standards. If these standards aren’t adhered to, the company could face huge fines - making the role of a compliance officer extremely important in almost every industry. 

A Compliance Officer’s duties will vary depending on their specialism, but will usually include: 

• Carrying out risk assessments
• Keeping up to date with relevant laws and regulations
• Regularly reviewing the compliance of websites and marketing materials  
• Advising and educating employees on laws and regulations 
• Investigating irregularities or areas of concern 
• Reporting any instances of non-compliant behaviour 
• Creating a culture of compliance

Is a career as a Compliance Officer right for me?

If you’re known to break the rules, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that a career in compliance is not for you. Instead, you’ll need integrity and a strong moral backbone, along with the ability to solve problems critically, manage projects, and communicate effectively. An interest in your chosen area of compliance (which could be assurance, financial crime, product advisory, regulatory affairs, or trade surveillance) is also vital. 

A successful Compliance Officer will also need to be: 

• Good at analysing and interpreting data
• A proactive decision maker
• Persuasive and charismatic
• Strategic and meticulous 
• Knowledgeable on the latest rules and regulations
• Able to write detailed reports