Legal Compliance Analyst
Also advertised as: Compliance Analyst, Financial Crime Analyst, Legal Compliance Analyst, Regulatory Compliance Officer, Risk and Compliance Analyst
Monitors an organisation's activities against legal and regulatory requirements.
What the job involves
Legal compliance analysts review policies, monitor transactions and report on how well a business meets its regulatory obligations. You investigate breaches, prepare reports for regulators and help design controls to prevent recurrence. The role is common in financial services, insurance and other regulated industries.
Typical responsibilities
- Monitor activities against regulatory requirements
- Investigate and report on compliance breaches
- Review and update policies and procedures
- Prepare reports for regulators and senior management
- Deliver compliance training to staff
Common employers
- Banks and building societies
- Insurance firms
- Law firms
- Regulated corporates
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£26,000 – £33,000 a year
With experience
£40,000 – £60,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours
Working environment
Office based
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
- Analytical thinking
- Report writing
- Attention to detail
- Risk assessment
Transferable skills you may already have
- Auditing
- Policy interpretation
- Investigative research
Requirements employers ask for
- Regulatory knowledge
- Analytical thinking
- Report writing
- Attention to detail
- Risk assessment
Useful but not essential
- Auditing
- Policy interpretation
- Investigative research
- Degree in law, business or a related subject
- Compliance qualification from a professional body
Helpful qualifications
- Degree in law, business or a related subject
- Compliance qualification from a professional body
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 apprenticeship (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Law
- Related subject: Business
- Related subject: Finance
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Compliance Manager
next
Head of Compliance
next
Money Laundering Reporting Officer
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Strong demand across regulated sectors
- Clear specialist career path
- Good salary progression
What people find hard
- Regulation changes frequently and requires ongoing study
- Findings of non-compliance can be politically sensitive
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a legal compliance analyst?
- 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 legal compliance analyst earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £26,000 to £33,000 a year, rising towards £60,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Auditing, Policy interpretation, Investigative research.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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