Risk and Compliance Manager

Career Guide

A Risk and Compliance Manager helps an organization identify key risks, follow laws and internal policies, and build practical controls that reduce mistakes, fraud, and regulatory issues. The role partners with leaders across the business to turn requirements into clear processes, training, monitoring, and reporting.

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Key Responsibilities

Build and maintain a risk and compliance program
Identify and assess business risks
Create and update policies and standards
Design and improve internal controls
Plan and run compliance testing
Lead risk and compliance reporting for leadership
Manage regulatory and audit requests
Investigate compliance issues and coordinate fixes
Deliver compliance training and awareness
Track issues and ensure corrective actions are completed
Support third party risk reviews for vendors
Partner with Legal, Finance, Security, and Operations teams

Top Skills for Success

Risk Assessment

Policy Development

Control Design

Audit Readiness

Regulatory Research

Issue Management

Stakeholder Management

Clear Writing

Data Analysis

Project Management

Incident Response Coordination

Vendor Risk Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Risk and Compliance Manager

Director of Risk and Compliance

Head of Compliance

Chief Compliance Officer

Enterprise Risk Manager

Internal Audit Manager

Governance Risk and Compliance Lead

Transition Opportunities

Operational Risk Manager

Information Security Risk Manager

Privacy Manager

Financial Crime Compliance Manager

Quality and Regulatory Manager

Business Continuity Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Control TestingRegulatory MappingMetrics ReportingRoot Cause AnalysisProcess DocumentationChange ManagementRisk Appetite Definition

Development SuggestionsPractice turning requirements into simple controls and test plans. Build a monthly dashboard with a small set of meaningful indicators. Strengthen investigation skills by using structured root cause analysis and documenting actions from discovery to closure.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$75,000–$100,000

Mid Level$100,000–$140,000

Senior Level$140,000–$190,000

Growth Trend

Steady growth. Hiring is supported by tighter regulations, increased data privacy needs, stronger expectations from customers, and greater focus on operational resilience.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthPfizerJohnson and JohnsonAmazonMicrosoftDeloitteAccentureKPMG

Industry Sectors

BankingInsurancePaymentsHealthcarePharmaceuticalsMedical devicesTechnologyRetailManufacturingEnergyTelecommunicationsConsulting

Recommended Next Steps

Review job postings in your target industry and list the top 10 repeated requirements

Build a portfolio example that includes a policy, a risk register, and a control test plan

Strengthen reporting by creating a simple risk and compliance dashboard with clear metrics

Take a recognized compliance or risk certification aligned to your industry

Practice stakeholder communication by writing short executive updates that focus on impact and next actions

Gain hands on exposure by supporting an internal audit, vendor review, or regulatory exam response