Director of Risk and Compliance
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Set the risk and compliance strategy aligned to business goals
- Build and maintain a company-wide risk register
- Lead compliance programs for relevant laws and regulations
- Oversee internal policies, standards, and controls
- Design and run risk assessments for products, vendors, and operations
- Lead internal investigations and support incident response
- Coordinate audits and manage regulator inquiries when needed
- Report risk and compliance status to executives and the board
- Train teams on policies, ethics, and compliance expectations
- Manage third-party risk reviews and contract compliance requirements
- Track key risk indicators and compliance metrics
- Lead and develop a team of risk and compliance professionals
Top Skills for Success
Risk Assessment
Regulatory Compliance
Policy Development
Internal Controls
Audit Management
Third-Party Risk Management
Incident Management
Stakeholder Management
Executive Communication
Program Management
Ethical Judgment
Data Analysis
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Chief Compliance Officer
Chief Risk Officer
Head of Governance
VP of Risk and Compliance
VP of Legal Operations
Transition Opportunities
Director of Internal Audit
Director of Privacy
Director of Security Governance
Director of Operational Risk
Director of Enterprise Risk Management
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Board ReportingRegulatory Change ManagementControl TestingVendor Risk ManagementPrivacy Risk ManagementBusiness Continuity PlanningRisk QuantificationMetrics Design
Development SuggestionsStrengthen your ability to translate complex requirements into clear actions, build simple metrics that show risk movement over time, and practice presenting concise updates to executives and boards. Seek projects that involve audits, vendor reviews, and cross-functional incident response.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 140,000 to 190,000
Mid LevelUSD 190,000 to 260,000
Senior LevelUSD 260,000 to 350,000
Growth Trend
Strong demand, driven by tighter regulations, increased cyber and privacy risks, and greater board focus on governance.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitiGoldman SachsUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthPfizerAmazonGoogleMicrosoftSalesforceWalmartExxonMobilAT&T
Industry Sectors
Financial ServicesHealthcareInsurancePharmaceuticalsTechnologyRetailEnergyTelecommunicationsManufacturing
Recommended Next Steps
1
Review job postings in your target industry to map the most common compliance requirements2
Build a one-page risk program overview you can share in interviews3
Create a portfolio of policy updates, audit support, and risk assessment examples with sensitive details removed4
Partner with legal, security, and finance leaders to lead a cross-functional risk review5
Set up a quarterly risk reporting cadence with clear metrics and action plans6
Pursue a relevant certification such as CRCM, CAMS, CCEP, or CRISC based on your industry focus7
Prepare interview stories that show how you prevented losses, improved compliance, or shortened audit timelines