Regulatory Compliance Program Manager

Career Guide
A Regulatory Compliance Program Manager builds and runs programs that help an organization meet laws, regulations, and internal policies. The role coordinates people, processes, and evidence so the business can pass audits, reduce risk, and respond quickly to regulatory change.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and maintain the compliance program roadmap and yearly plan
  • Track regulatory changes and assess business impact
  • Translate regulatory requirements into clear internal controls and procedures
  • Partner with Legal, Risk, Security, Finance, and Operations to implement controls
  • Create compliance testing and monitoring plans to confirm controls work
  • Prepare for audits and regulator exams by organizing evidence and responses
  • Run issue management by logging gaps, assigning owners, and tracking fixes
  • Deliver compliance training and awareness for relevant teams
  • Report program status and key risks to senior leaders

Top Skills for Success

Regulatory Knowledge
Compliance Program Management
Risk Assessment
Control Design
Policy Development
Audit Readiness
Stakeholder Management
Clear Writing
Data Fluency
Project Planning

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Regulatory Compliance Program Manager
Compliance Lead
Compliance Director
Head of Compliance
Chief Compliance Officer
Transition Opportunities
Risk Manager
Internal Audit Manager
Governance Program Manager
Privacy Program Manager
Regulatory Affairs Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Control TestingMetrics DefinitionRegulatory Change ManagementEvidence ManagementProcess MappingExecutive Communication
Development SuggestionsBuild a simple compliance lifecycle for one area of regulation, from requirements to controls to evidence. Practice writing audit-ready procedures, define a small set of measurable compliance indicators, and run a monthly review with clear ownership and due dates.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 85,000 to 110,000
Mid LevelUSD 110,000 to 150,000
Senior LevelUSD 150,000 to 200,000
Growth Trend
Strong demand, driven by increased regulation, higher enforcement activity, and broader adoption of compliance programs in technology, financial services, and healthcare.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyCitigroupPayPalStripeVisaMastercardUnitedHealth GroupCVS Health
Industry Sectors
BankingInsurancePaymentsFintechHealthcarePharmaceuticalsEnergyTelecommunicationsEcommerceBusiness Process Outsourcing

Recommended Next Steps

1
Choose a target industry and list the top regulations relevant to it
2
Create a sample compliance control library with owners, frequency, and evidence
3
Build a basic audit readiness checklist and evidence request tracker
4
Strengthen writing by drafting short policies and clear procedures
5
Learn common compliance tools used for tracking controls and issues
6
Prepare a resume section that highlights audits supported, controls implemented, and measurable risk reduction