Can a compliance officer report to the COO?
Asked by: Devon Wisozk | Last update: September 13, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (39 votes)
They usually report to the CEO or COO. The International Compliance Association breaks down the role of a compliance officer into two levels of responsibility: Level 1: compliance with the external rules that are imposed upon an organization as a whole.
Who should a compliance officer report to?
The CCO must report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. He must also inform the Board about important issues and material violations.
Who reports directly to the COO?
Who Typically Reports Directly to a COO? VP of Operations: The VP of Operations is often one of the closest direct reports to the COO, handling the day-to-day management of the company's operational activities.
What is the power of a compliance officer?
Compliance officers actively monitor and audit internal processes to detect and address any deviations from established standards. They often serve as liaisons between the organisation and regulatory bodies, ensuring that the company is well-informed about changes in legislation.
Can a compliance officer be a whistleblower?
Under certain circumstances, however, compliance and ethics personnel can be eligible for SEC whistleblower awards. Since 2012, the SEC has issued more than $1.3 billion in awards to whistleblowers, including awards to compliance officers.
Who should the compliance officer report to?
Who Cannot be a whistleblower?
People are not usually protected in law if they're: genuinely self-employed. a volunteer with no enforceable employment contract. a non-executive director.
Who is not protected by whistleblowing?
Most career civil service employees in the executive branch are covered under the Whistleblower Protection Act or a sector-specific law. However, some executive branch employees are excluded from protections including political appointees such as inspectors general.
What do compliance officers have the right to do?
Compliance officers under OSHA's compliance program have the right to: Enter an establishment or facility if the employer refuses. Privately question any employer, owner, or employee. Start up a powered-down machine to inspect its functionality.
Why is a compliance officer calling me?
Common Reasons for Compliance Calls
Compliance officers reach out for various reasons, such as routine checks, audits, or specific concerns about regulatory adherence. These calls can arise from a range of triggers, including: Suspicious financial activities that suggest money laundering or fraud.
What is the difference between a chief compliance officer and a compliance officer?
A compliance officer is an employee of a company that ensures the firm is in compliance with its outside regulatory and legal requirements as well as internal policies and bylaws. The chief compliance officer is usually the head of a firm's compliance department.
Who is right under the COO?
In most cases, general managers are below COOs in a company's leadership hierarchy. Depending on the specific tasks and duties assigned to the general manager, they might report directly to the COO or to another intermediary leadership employee, like an operations manager.
Does everyone report to the COO?
As such, everyone other than the CEO reports to the COO eventually, as ideas and plans move up the ladder. Directly, the COO strategizes with the other company executives, implementing ideas to move the company forward and to cut costs.
Who is above the COO?
Reporting Structure
The reporting structure pertains to how COOs and CEOs fit within the chain of command. COOs typically report directly to the CEO. They are often the second-highest-ranking executives in the company and are responsible for executing the CEO's strategic vision.
What is the main function of a compliance officer?
Compliance Officers are responsible for ensuring their organisational and business processes comply with government regulations. Their duties are diverse and can range from conducting risk assessments to advising the management.
Can compliance report to legal?
Compliance Reporting to Legal Counsel is Not Prohibited, but is Problematic. Key Points: Not prohibited, but frowned upon by the DOJ and OIG. Creates a potential conflict of interest.
Who does a compliance officer report suspicious transactions to?
Reports in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing suspicions should be made to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which is part of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Who do most compliance officers report to?
They usually report to the CEO or COO.
How serious is a compliance interview?
A compliance interview is slightly different from an interview under caution. These are spot checks undertaken by the Compliance Section. If you are asked to attend a Compliance Interview you are not suspected of fraudulent activity: it is just a random check to ensure they have all the right details.
Can a compliance officer search my house?
A Probation Officer Can Usually Search Your Home Without a Warrant. In California, being on probation comes with certain restrictions on your privacy. When you agree to probation terms, one of the key conditions could include allowing searches of your home without a warrant.
Can compliance officers be whistleblowers?
Compliance Officer Whistleblowers
By raising sensitive issues, compliance personnel may find themselves at odds with management, who can be single-minded about maximizing revenue even if that means ignoring laws and regulations.
Can a CEO be a compliance officer?
In addition, “[b]y separating the compliance function from the key management positions, a system of checks and balances is established to more effectively achieve the goals of the compliance program.” CEOs may have the requisite authority needed to be a compliance officer.
What are the five functions performed by the compliance officer?
The compliance officer is responsible for several key functions, including creating annual company policies in accordance with legal rules and regulations, updating and revising company policies, organizing training sessions to ensure employees are aware of company policies, preparing reports for the management board, ...
Can you be fired for whistleblowing?
You are protected from retaliation for reporting issues relating to employee safety, consumer product and food safety, environmental protection, fraud and financial issues, health insurance, and transportation services.
What is an example of gross mismanagement?
This category includes, but is not limited to, indications of bribery, forgery, extortion, embezzlement, theft of participant checks, kickbacks from participants or contractors, intentional payments to a contractor without the expectation of receiving services, payments to ghost enrollees, misuse of appropriated funds, ...
What qualifies as a whistleblower complaint?
Whistleblowing means disclosing information that you reasonably believe is evidence of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.