Governance and Compliance Manager
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Design and maintain governance policies, standards, and procedures
- Lead compliance risk assessments and prioritize remediation plans
- Build and monitor internal controls and compliance testing schedules
- Coordinate internal audits and support external regulatory reviews
- Track regulatory changes and translate them into actionable requirements
- Create training and awareness programs for employees and leaders
- Investigate incidents, document findings, and manage corrective actions
- Report compliance metrics and key risks to senior leadership and boards
- Manage third party compliance due diligence and ongoing monitoring
- Partner with Legal, Security, HR, and Operations to embed compliance in processes
Top Skills for Success
Regulatory Knowledge
Policy Development
Risk Assessment
Internal Controls Design
Audit Management
Third Party Risk Management
Incident Management
Stakeholder Management
Clear Writing
Training Facilitation
Data Literacy
Program Management
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Senior Governance and Compliance Manager
Head of Governance
Director of Compliance
Director of Risk Management
Director of Internal Audit
Chief Compliance Officer
Transition Opportunities
Data Privacy Manager
Security Governance Manager
Enterprise Risk Manager
Ethics and Investigations Manager
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Operational Risk Manager
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Controls TestingEvidence CollectionRegulatory ReportingThird Party Due DiligenceCompliance MetricsRoot Cause AnalysisBoard Level CommunicationChange Management
Development SuggestionsBuild a repeatable compliance calendar, practice writing clear control narratives, and lead one end to end remediation effort with measurable outcomes. Ask to co lead an audit or regulatory exam workstream to strengthen evidence and reporting skills.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUS 85000 to 115000
Mid LevelUS 115000 to 155000
Senior LevelUS 155000 to 210000
Growth Trend
Strong and steady demand, driven by rising regulatory expectations, data privacy requirements, third party risk, and increased board oversight.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthKaiser PermanenteAmazonMicrosoftGoogleDeloittePwCAccentureExxonMobilShellLockheed Martin
Industry Sectors
Financial ServicesHealthcareTechnologyConsultingInsuranceEnergyGovernment ContractingManufacturing
Recommended Next Steps
1
Choose a target domain such as financial compliance, healthcare compliance, privacy, or security governance2
Create a portfolio of two to three artifacts such as a policy, a risk assessment, and a controls test plan3
Run a gap assessment against one framework used in your industry and document a prioritized remediation roadmap4
Build a simple compliance dashboard with a small set of leading and lagging indicators5
Strengthen stakeholder communication by presenting quarterly compliance updates to senior leaders6
Pursue a relevant certification aligned to your domain and local requirements7
Network with compliance leaders in your industry and request informational interviews focused on hiring expectations