VP Risk and Compliance Operations

Career Guide
A VP of Risk and Compliance Operations leads the day-to-day execution of risk management and compliance programs across an organization. The role ensures policies are implemented consistently, controls are operating effectively, regulatory obligations are met, and issues are identified and resolved quickly. This leader partners closely with Legal, Finance, Security, Product, and Operations to reduce exposure while enabling responsible growth.

Key Responsibilities

  • Set the operating model for risk and compliance programs across teams and regions
  • Translate regulatory requirements into practical policies, procedures, and controls
  • Oversee compliance operations such as monitoring, testing, and quality assurance
  • Lead risk assessments and maintain a clear view of enterprise risk priorities
  • Own issue management, including investigation, remediation tracking, and closure validation
  • Manage regulatory exams, audits, and internal reviews end to end
  • Establish reporting for leadership and the board, including key risk indicators
  • Build and lead teams covering compliance operations, risk operations, and control testing
  • Drive process improvement and automation to reduce manual effort and errors
  • Coordinate incident response for compliance related events and control failures
  • Manage third party risk operations, including due diligence and ongoing monitoring
  • Ensure training, communications, and accountability for policy adherence

Top Skills for Success

Leadership
Stakeholder Management
Executive Communication
Program Management
Process Improvement
Risk Assessment
Control Design
Control Testing
Issue Management
Regulatory Knowledge
Audit Management
Policy Development
Data Analysis
Operational Metrics
Vendor Risk Management
Compliance Monitoring
Training Program Development
Change Management
Governance
Operational Resilience

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Chief Risk Officer
Chief Compliance Officer
Head of Risk
Head of Compliance
VP Governance Risk and Compliance
VP Internal Audit
VP Operational Risk
SVP Risk and Compliance
Transition Opportunities
Chief Operating Officer
Head of Business Operations
Head of Trust and Safety
Head of Security Governance
Head of Enterprise Risk Management

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Automation StrategyControl Testing DesignRegulatory Exam ManagementRisk Data ManagementBoard ReportingThird Party Risk OversightOperational Resilience PlanningPolicy GovernancePeople Management at Scale
Development SuggestionsBuild a clear portfolio of outcomes such as reduced audit findings, faster remediation cycles, and improved control coverage. Strengthen data driven reporting, formalize a testing approach, and document a repeatable exam playbook. Seek stretch ownership of a multi region program and a measurable automation initiative.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$170,000 to $230,000 base pay
Mid Level$230,000 to $320,000 base pay
Senior Level$320,000 to $450,000 base pay
Growth Trend
Strong demand in regulated industries and high growth companies due to increased regulatory scrutiny, expansion into new markets, and heightened expectations for operational resilience.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyVisaMastercardPayPalBlockStripeCoinbaseUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthAnthemAetnaPfizerJohnson and JohnsonAmazonGoogleMicrosoftSalesforce
Industry Sectors
BankingCapital MarketsInsurancePaymentsFinancial TechnologyHealthcarePharmaceuticalsEnergyTelecommunicationsTechnologyEcommerceManufacturing

Recommended Next Steps

1
Create a one page operating model that defines governance, controls, testing cadence, and escalation paths
2
Build a metrics dashboard plan with key risk indicators, remediation aging, and control coverage
3
Draft a regulatory exam and audit playbook covering evidence standards, owners, and timelines
4
Inventory top enterprise risks and map them to controls and monitoring routines
5
Identify two manual compliance workflows to automate and propose a phased delivery plan
6
Strengthen executive communication with a quarterly board ready risk narrative
7
Benchmark compensation and role scope against peers in the same industry and company size
8
Update your resume with measurable results such as audit outcomes, exam outcomes, and cycle time improvements