What are compliance officers called?

Asked by: Edward Marquardt Jr.  |  Last update: December 5, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (71 votes)

The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) The Chief Compliance Officer, one of the most important members of the management team, is primarily responsible for overseeing compliance within an organization, and ensuring compliance with laws, regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.

What's another name for a compliance officer?

Some common alternative job titles include: Compliance Analyst. Compliance Officer. Compliance Specialist.

What is the job title of a compliance officer?

Common job titles for Regulatory Compliance Officers include Compliance Manager, Compliance Officer, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Compliance Analyst, Risk and Compliance Manager, Regulatory Compliance Specialist, Compliance Coordinator, Compliance Consultant, and Compliance Auditor.

What department does compliance fall under?

Whether an independent compliance department makes sense depends on the industry as well as the size and structure of the company. Alternatively, compliance can take place in existing departments such as legal, HR or sales.

Is a compliance officer the same as HR?

While both roles require a thorough understanding of HR policies and procedures, a Compliance Officer focuses on legal compliance while a HR Manager has a more strategic and operational focus.

What is a Compliance Officer? (In about a minute)

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What are the job titles for compliance professionals?

Job titles that are especially common for a Compliance Specialist to move into include Operational Specialist, Compliance Auditor, Compliance Advisor, Risk Analyst, Risk Manager and Compliance Program Manager.

Does compliance fall under HR?

These are commonly referred to as compliances—and both employers and employees are responsible for adhering to them. Often, within a company, the bulk of the compliance work falls under the human resources (HR) umbrella. HR professionals are responsible for understanding which compliances must be met.

What is the highest position in compliance?

The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) The Chief Compliance Officer, one of the most important members of the management team, is primarily responsible for overseeing compliance within an organization, and ensuring compliance with laws, regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.

Who does a compliance officer report to?

They usually report to the CEO or COO.

What degree do you need to be a compliance officer?

Compliance officers typically have a four-year bachelor's degree open_in_new. They might start off with a bachelor's degree program that's related to their industry preference. Common majors for aspiring compliance officers include accounting, business, economics, finance, legal studies, management, and manufacturing.

Is a compliance officer an entry level job?

Organizations look to hire compliance officers who have three to five years of work experience in their chosen field. Some individuals work in an entry-level role in an industry they're interested in while they pursue their master's degree.

What is the acronym for compliance officer?

CCO. Chief Compliance Officer. However, more commonly the CCO is a Chief Commercial Officer.

What are the three attributes of a compliance officer?

As with all leadership roles, there are obvious skills and traits that will help fulfill the position. In addition to being intelligent and analytical, a compliance officer must be of high integrity and possess the ability to communicate with diverse personalities.

What is a professional word for compliance?

  • obedience.
  • submission.
  • adherence.
  • compliancy.
  • conformity.
  • conformance.
  • acquiescence.
  • observation.

What position is 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.

Where does compliance sit in an organization?

Often, it's the general counsel but it doesn't need to be. In fact, there is a growing debate about whether the legal department should run compliance or not. Regardless of where it sits, the compliance function should have a direct line into the CEO and the Board of Directors, typically through the audit committee.

Who signs the certificate of compliance?

Typically, the Freehold Owner or a Management Company issues the Certificate of Compliance. Sometimes, the task may be delegated to a Managing Agent acting on behalf of the Freeholder. The responsibility for ensuring the buyer complies with all the lease obligations lies with these parties.

Who approves the compliance officer?

Such appointment of a compliance officer must first be approved by the registrar.

What are the duties of a CCO?

A Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) is a high-level executive position responsible for overseeing and managing all commercial aspects of the company's operations. This role may vary depending on the business and industry, but their primary focus is to drive revenue generation, business growth, and profitability.

Can you make a lot of money in compliance?

At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for Regulatory Compliance Specialists. According to data from 2023, there were about 397,049 positions for regulatory compliance specialists in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for regulatory compliance specialists was reported to be $75,670.

What is the highest legal position in a company?

General Counsel (GC) is almost always the most senior person on the legal team.

Is compliance above HR?

Company compliance issues do not just concern the legal or compliance departments; the HR function is also a key player within the organisation's compliance structure. Compliance means adherence to legal regulations, regulatory standards and ethical principles.

What field does compliance fall under?

Compliance jobs are essential in the field of business. Businesses work under many regulations that protect their customers. Business regulations include operational regulations, tax laws and security standards, making compliance professionals essential for businesses.

Who holds HR accountable?

In the case of human resources, we're accountable on several levels. From a technical standpoint, some HR departments are audited. In a large organization, an internal auditor might conduct the audit. There could also be audits by a third-party, if your organization uses an outside auditing firm.

How to become an HR compliance officer?

In addition to a bachelor's degree, an HR Compliance Officer must also have a good understanding of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the workplace. Those who wish to pursue a career in this field should consider taking courses in labor law, employment law, and business law.