How to hire a head of ethics and compliance

How to hire a head of ethics and compliance, step by step

Here's a step-by-step head of ethics and compliance hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The head of ethics and compliance 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 head of ethics and compliance's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, heads of ethics and compliance 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 head of ethics and compliance salaries for various positions.

   Type of Head Of Ethics And Compliance	Description	Hourly rate
   Head Of Ethics And Compliance		$42-95
   Compliance Program Manager	A compliance program manager is in charge of devising strategies to ensure a company's overall compliance with policies and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments and officers to gather data, conducting inspections and observations, and assessing the efficiency of quality control programs... Show more	$33-65
   Compliance Vice President	Compliance Vice Presidents are executives who lead the compliance department of the company. They set goals and provide strategic direction to the department, oversee all the company's initiatives related to compliance, and ensure that all policies and guidelines are updated to reflect industry standards and the rules set by governing bodies... Show more	$32-74

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Risk Management
   • Oversight
   • Compliance Risk
   • Compliance Program
   • Compliance Issues
   • Regulatory Risk
   • Internal Audit
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Securities
   • Operational Risk
   • Global Head
   • Regulatory Agencies
   • Compliance Policies
   • Anti-Money Laundering

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop, manage and implement program governance and structure to ensure major programs are strategically align with organizational objectives.
   • Receive, file, monitor and safekept actionable loan documents, titles and loan securities.
   • Provide oversight for the financial and technical aspects of contract procurement, management, and administration.
   • Provide AML operational oversight and compliance solutions for stakeholders.
   • Provide multifunctional support relate to two FDA inspection preparation initiatives (e.g.
   • Investigate suspicious exchange relate transactions, AML and market abuse relate issues, and escalate appropriate remedial action for effective resolutions.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your head of ethics and compliance job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A head of ethics and compliance can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, heads of ethics and compliance' average salary in hawaii is 50% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level heads of ethics and compliance 56% less than senior-level heads of ethics and compliance.
   • Certifications. A head of ethics and compliance with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a head of ethics and compliance's salary.

   Average head of ethics and compliance salary

   $132,706yearly

   $63.80 hourly rate

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   Entry-level head of ethics and compliance salary

   $88,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a head of ethics and compliance job description

   A head of ethics and compliance 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 head of ethics and compliance job description:

   Head of ethics and compliance job description example

   Square's Product Compliance team oversees three main areas: advisory and strategy to enable the launches of Square products globally, strategic partnerships which include our bank partners from a Compliance standpoint, and representation of product controls and intricacies during audit and examinations. This team consists of experts in industry best practices, regulatory requirements and analysis, controls implementation and in Square's product offerings.
   
   You will oversee a team of professionals that help lead product development alongside the Square Product and Business teams as we continue to scale. Our product leaders are customer-focused, and always make decisions with an eye towards Square's business as a whole. You will ensure that we assess compliance needs, design and implement applicable policies and overarching programs, collaborate with Product and Regulatory Counsel on the controls environment and with Product & Program Managers, build the internal infrastructure to support Square. You will also help develop our organizational growth strategy alongside other Square and Block Compliance senior leaders to innovate, evolve, and scale. You will report to Square's Global Head of Compliance.
   You Will:
   
   Oversee the vision and execution of a team of Compliance Product Leads & Managers who advise partners and create Compliance programs to help grow Square's business across all products lines and markets
   
   Develop the Product Compliance team's strategy and vision to keep the team evolving to meet the needs of the company and support broader Compliance projects and manage the progress of team goals against roadmaps
   
   Partner with senior leadership across the Square Business, Product, and Counsel teams to in pursuit of Square's mission, bearing in mind our obligation to the company and our shareholders
   
   Partner with your team to understand our regulatory requirements and develop creative, risk-weighted solutions, policies, and programs
   
   Manage global strategic partner relationships from the Compliance side, from negotiation to ongoing management including supporting audits and inquiries
   
   Remain up-to-date on regulatory changes and landscapes, best practices and developments in the industry and ensure our implementation is both compliant and future focused
   
   Partner with the broader Counsel team to address emerging trends, regulations and business objectives; share information about developments in Square''s product and Compliance programs to organize efficient and transparent support across the department
   
   Advocate for Compliance's mission and manage relationships across the company to ensure that the team is well positioned from concept to execution

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find heads of ethics and compliance for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any heads of ethics and compliance they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level heads of ethics and compliance with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit heads of ethics and compliance, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 head of ethics and compliance

   Once you've decided on a perfect head of ethics and compliance candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new head of ethics and compliance. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

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