What Do Compliance Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Compliance Managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. They also report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate or required.

Other tasks include:

• Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.
• Discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices.
• File appropriate compliance reports with regulatory agencies.
• Maintain documentation of compliance activities, such as complaints received or investigation outcomes.
• Consult with corporate attorneys as necessary to address difficult legal compliance issues.
• Conduct or direct the internal investigation of compliance issues.

We asked Compliance Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

75% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Compliance Managers discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices. They serve as a confidential point of contact for employees to communicate with management, seek clarification on issues or dilemmas, or report irregularities.

A typical day for a Compliance Manager will also include:

• Maintain documentation of compliance activities, such as complaints received or investigation outcomes.
• Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.
• Review communications such as securities sales advertising to ensure there are no violations of standards or regulations.
• Oversee internal reporting systems, such as corporate compliance hotlines.
• Keep informed regarding pending industry changes, trends, or best practices.

We asked some Compliance Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	70% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	84% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	61% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	43% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Compliance Managers also develop or implement environmental compliance plans for programs, such as air quality, storm water, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste management, pollution prevention, or solid waste management. They may also conduct or direct the internal investigation of compliance issues.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Compliance Managers Conduct environmental audits to ensure adherence to environmental standards. They might also Consult with corporate attorneys as necessary to address difficult legal compliance issues.

In addition, they Design or implement improvements in communication, monitoring, or enforcement of compliance standards.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Review communications such as securities sales advertising to ensure there are no violations of standards or regulations.

To some Compliance Managers, it is also their responsibility to Provide employee training on compliance related topics, policies, or procedures.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Compliance Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131041.htm