Director of Risk and Compliance

Career Guide

A Director of Risk and Compliance leads the company’s approach to identifying major risks, meeting legal and regulatory requirements, and building a culture of ethical decision-making. This role partners closely with executives, legal, finance, security, and operations to reduce surprises and protect customers, employees, and the business.

Key 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

Review job postings in your target industry to map the most common compliance requirements

Build a one-page risk program overview you can share in interviews

Create a portfolio of policy updates, audit support, and risk assessment examples with sensitive details removed

Partner with legal, security, and finance leaders to lead a cross-functional risk review

Set up a quarterly risk reporting cadence with clear metrics and action plans

Pursue a relevant certification such as CRCM, CAMS, CCEP, or CRISC based on your industry focus

Prepare interview stories that show how you prevented losses, improved compliance, or shortened audit timelines