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How to become a Compliance Officer

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Compliance Officer jobs

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Compliance Officer courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Compliance Officer

Compliance Officer

| Up to £38,000

Compliance Manager

| Up to £82,000

Global Head of Compliance

| Up to £160,000

The role of 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

What's it like to be a Compliance Officer?

"If you’re looking for a challenging role where you’re always learning, a career in compliance is for you. I spend a lot of my time educating my colleagues on rules and regulations, as well as advising each department what needs to be done to remain compliant. You definitely need lots of integrity, that will not budge when pressured to take shortcuts or find ways around the written regulations. Otherwise, you could end up on the wrong side of the law..."

Get qualified as a Compliance Officer

You won’t need any specific qualifications to become a Compliance Officer, but a bachelor's degree in a relevant field like business or law is often preferred, along with experience or knowledge in areas like risk management, regulatory compliance, and Anti Money Laundering (AML). Professional certifications such as Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) or International Compliance Association (ICA) qualifications can also enhance your credibility.

Recommended Compliance courses

Master of Laws (LLM) Compliance and Regulation Online

The University of Law
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- 168 enquiries
- Online
- Part-time or full-time
- University - Postgraduate
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The LLM Compliance and Regulation Online will provide you with the opportunity to explore issues surrounding compliance and regulation with a focus in one or more of the following areas: insurance law; energy law; environmental law; data protection and intellectual property.
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Certificate in Compliance

London Governance & Compliance Academy

Level 3 Professional Certificate accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF).
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- 45 enquiries
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- 25 hours · Self-paced
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- Exam(s) included
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Here’s your starting point to a rewarding and successful career in compliance! Learn the ins and outs of compliance for the financial services industry with LGCA and become a certified professional member of the fastest growing GRC association out there. Every organization faces …
£650