VP, Enterprise Risk & Compliance

Career Guide

A VP, Enterprise Risk & Compliance is a senior leader responsible for identifying major business risks, setting the organization’s risk appetite (how much risk is acceptable), and ensuring the company follows laws, regulations, and internal policies. The role partners closely with executives, legal, audit, security, finance, and business leaders to reduce risk while enabling growth.

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Key Responsibilities

Set and maintain the enterprise risk management framework (how risks are identified, measured, tracked, and reported).
Oversee compliance programs to meet regulatory and contractual requirements (e.g., privacy, financial crime, industry standards).
Build a risk-based approach to prioritizing controls (focus effort on the highest-impact risks).
Lead risk assessments for new products, vendors, mergers/acquisitions, and major operational changes.
Own executive and board reporting on top risks, trends, incidents, and remediation progress.
Partner with Internal Audit to align testing plans and address audit findings efficiently.
Manage regulatory exams and inquiries; ensure timely, accurate responses and follow-through.
Design and monitor policies, training, and attestations (e.g., code of conduct, conflicts of interest).
Oversee incident management and root-cause analysis for compliance breaches or control failures.
Hire, develop, and lead risk/compliance teams; manage budget, tools, and third-party support.

Top Skills for Success

Executive communication and influencing (clear, actionable risk narratives for leaders and boards)

Strategic thinking and prioritization (focus on the few risks that matter most)

Cross-functional leadership (align legal, audit, security, finance, and product teams)

Regulatory and compliance expertise (understanding applicable laws and expectations)

Enterprise risk management (risk appetite, risk register, scenario analysis, KRIs/metrics)

Operational risk and controls design (policies, processes, control testing, remediation)

Data-driven risk reporting (dashboards, trend analysis, leading indicators)

Cybersecurity and privacy risk literacy (partnering effectively with security/privacy teams)

Third-party/vendor risk management (due diligence, ongoing monitoring, contract controls)

Crisis and incident management (rapid response, investigation, and corrective actions)

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Chief Risk Officer (CRO)

Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

SVP/Head of Enterprise Risk

SVP/Head of Compliance

Chief Audit Executive (in some organizations)

Transition Opportunities

General Counsel or Deputy GC (for leaders with strong legal background)

Chief Operating Officer (COO) (for leaders who broaden into enterprise operations)

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) (less common; usually with deep security experience)

Board/Advisory roles (risk committee, audit committee support)

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Board-level storytelling (linking risk to strategy and financial outcomes)Measurable risk metrics (moving from qualitative ratings to leading indicators)Modern privacy and cybersecurity risk fluency (enough to challenge and partner effectively)Automation/tooling knowledge (GRC platforms, workflow, evidence collection)Change management (driving adoption of controls without slowing the business)

Development SuggestionsBuild a portfolio of outcomes: before/after metrics (reduced losses, faster remediation, fewer repeat findings), a board-ready risk dashboard, and two to three case studies (e.g., regulatory exam, incident response, product launch risk review). Pair this with targeted learning in privacy/cyber basics and GRC tooling, plus practice presenting risk recommendations to senior leaders.

Market Intelligence Report

VP, Enterprise Risk & Compliance is part of the Risk Management category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$180k–$250k base (VP level varies by company size; total comp often higher with bonus/equity)

Mid Level$250k–$350k base (common range for established VPs in regulated industries)

Senior Level$350k–$500k+ base (largest firms; total compensation can exceed $600k–$1M+ with incentives)

Growth Trend

Strong and steady demand, driven by tighter regulation, increased cyber/privacy exposure, third-party/vendor risk, and higher expectations from boards and regulators for measurable risk oversight.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyHSBCAmerican ExpressVisaMastercardUnitedHealth GroupCVS Health (Aetna)PfizerAmazon (regulated programs and risk functions)GoogleMicrosoft

Industry Sectors

Banking and capital marketsInsuranceFintech and paymentsHealthcare and life sciencesTechnology and cloud servicesEnergy and utilitiesTelecommunicationsGovernment contractors and defenseRetail and e-commerce (privacy, fraud, and third-party risk)

Recommended Next Steps

Clarify your target industry (banking, healthcare, tech, etc.) and map the top regulations/risks that dominate hiring in that space.

Create a one-page “Top Risks & Controls” sample: risk appetite statement, top 10 risks, key metrics, and remediation cadence.

Quantify impact on your resume and LinkedIn (e.g., reduced audit issues by X%, improved exam outcomes, shortened remediation time).

Strengthen partnerships with Legal, Internal Audit, Security, and Finance; ask to co-lead a high-visibility risk initiative.

Get hands-on with a GRC platform or workflow automation (even a pilot) to show you can scale compliance efficiently.

Prepare for interviews with 3–5 deep stories: regulatory exam, incident, third-party failure, product launch, and culture/training improvement.

Network with risk leaders and recruiters in regulated industries; request informational interviews focused on current exam and enforcement trends.