How to hire a finance compliance officer

How to hire a finance compliance officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step finance compliance officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a finance compliance officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new finance compliance officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a finance compliance officer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The finance compliance officer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A finance compliance officer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, finance compliance officers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents finance compliance officer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Finance Compliance Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Finance Compliance Officer		$23-56
   Compliance Analyst	A compliance analyst is in charge of ensuring that every operation and aspect in a company or facility adheres to the laws and regulations. They are also responsible for conducting regular inspections and assessments, producing reports and presentations, disseminating necessary information and reminders, researching existing policies and laws related to the industry, and remaining updated with new regulations... Show more	$18-41
   Compliance Investigator	A compliance investigator is primarily responsible for ensuring all aspects of a facility or company complies with its policies and regulations, including government laws and standards. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting regular inspections, gathering and assessing documentation, and conducting interviews and assessments... Show more	$20-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • AML
   • BSA
   • Transaction Monitoring
   • OFAC
   • Financial Services
   • Risk Management
   • Anti-Money Laundering
   • KYC
   • Compliance Issues
   • Compliance Policies
   • Law Enforcement
   • Internal Procedures
   • SAR
   • Compliance Risk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in OCC exam preparation and review including research and presentation of documentation to achieve compliance with federal examiner requests.
   • Enforce and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial transactions.
   • Review and approve financial and non-financial disclosures to ensure compliance with federal securities regulations and FINRA rules and regulations.
   • Develop oversight programs for enhance supervisory scenarios, engage others to act responsibly and minimize operational risks and internal controls issues.
   • Prepare bi-weekly update of subcontract reports and update closeout status in SharePoint.
   • Document data for alert investigation and review in an internal SharePoint system.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your finance compliance officer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A finance compliance officer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, finance compliance officers' average salary in arkansas is 48% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level finance compliance officers earn 58% less than senior-level finance compliance officers.
   • Certifications. A finance compliance officer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a finance compliance officer's salary.

   Average finance compliance officer salary

   $76,275yearly

   $36.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level finance compliance officer salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a finance compliance officer job description

   A finance compliance officer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a finance compliance officer job description:

   Finance compliance officer job description example

   In this role you will:
   - Contribute to the planning, data gathering, quality control, and development of Compliance Program effectiveness assessments
   - Provide oversight and monitoring of business group risk-based compliance programs
   - Maintain risk expertise and consulting for projects and initiatives with moderate to high risk, over multiple business lines
   - Maintain risk standards and programs to drive compliance with federal, state, agency, legal and regulatory and Corporate Policy requirements
   - Develop, oversee, and provide independent credible challenge in accordance to standards
   - Report findings and make recommendations to management and appropriate committees
   - Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvement and risk control development
   - Receive direction from leaders and exercise independent judgment while developing the knowledge to understand function, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
   - Monitor the reporting, escalation, and timely remediation of issues, deficiencies or regulatory matters regarding compliance risk management
   - Make decisions and resolve issues to meet business objectives
   - Interpret policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
   - Collaborate and consult with peers, colleagues and managers to resolve issues and achieve goals
   - Lead support calls to clarify guidance for assessors
   - Interface with Audit, Legal, external agencies, and regulatory bodies on risk related topics
   
   Requirements Required Qualification(s):
   - 5+ years of Compliance experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
   
   Desired Qualification(s):
   - 4+ years of audit, risk, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, or independent testing experience
   - Knowledge and understanding of process controls, to include control design and execution
   - Knowledge and understanding of Regulatory Risk and Compliance policies and programs
   - Advanced Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, LiveMeeting and SharePoint) skills
   - Excellent oral and written communication skills
   - Strong attention to detail, including accuracy in grammar and a sharp focus on eliminating errors
   - Strong analytical skills
   - Excellent interpersonal skills, including those related to conflict resolution
   - Experience providing business results and high-quality work products
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right finance compliance officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your finance compliance officer job on Zippia to find and recruit finance compliance officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit finance compliance officers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new finance compliance officer

   Once you've selected the best finance compliance officer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new finance compliance officer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a finance compliance officer?