Compliance Officer
Also advertised as: AML Analyst, Compliance Analyst, Compliance Officer, Financial Crime Analyst, Quality and Compliance Officer, Regulatory Affairs Officer
Checks that an organisation follows the rules that apply to it, and fixes gaps.
What the job involves
Compliance officers monitor regulated activity. You test whether processes match the rules, investigate breaches, train staff, keep registers and report to regulators. Financial services, gambling, healthcare and housing all hire heavily.
Typical responsibilities
- Monitor and test compliance with regulations
- Investigate breaches and near misses
- Maintain policies, registers and records
- Train colleagues on regulatory duties
- Prepare regulatory returns and reports
Common employers
- Banks and insurers
- Gambling operators
- Care providers
- Housing associations
- Law firms
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£26,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£40,000 – £58,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours
Working environment
Office based with hybrid working
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Regulatory knowledge
- Investigation
- Report writing
- Attention to detail
- Influencing
Transferable skills you may already have
- Following procedures precisely
- Auditing or checking work
- Report writing
Requirements employers ask for
- Regulatory knowledge
- Investigation
- Report writing
- Attention to detail
- Influencing
- No formal qualification required
Useful but not essential
- Following procedures precisely
- Auditing or checking work
- Report writing
- ICA Certificate in Compliance
- CISI Risk and Compliance qualifications
Helpful qualifications
- ICA Certificate in Compliance
- CISI Risk and Compliance qualifications
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Compliance and Risk Officer (Level 3)
- Senior Compliance Professional (Level 6)
- Experience route — Build evidence in a related role, then move across using your recorded achievements.
- Study route — A relevant degree, college qualification or short course can speed up entry.
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Law
- Related subject: Business
- Related subject: Criminology
- Related subject: Finance
Where this career can lead
next
Compliance Manager
next
Head of Compliance
next
Risk Director
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Growing demand across regulated sectors
- Hybrid friendly
- Values careful, methodical people
What people find hard
- Can be unpopular internally
- Detail and documentation heavy
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a compliance officer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a compliance officer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £26,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £58,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Following procedures precisely, Auditing or checking work, Report writing.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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