Compliance Officer
Ensures a company follows external regulations and its own internal guidelines.
Overview
A Compliance Officer's responsibility is to make sure the company he works for follows the external regulations and its own internal guidelines that apply to its work. He or she strives to eliminate unfair business practices.
Where they work
- Banks and Financial Institutions
- Financial and Investment Brokerages
- Multinational Companies
- Regulatory Organisations
Work environment
It is a desk job. Local travel may be a part of the job role. You are likely to work for 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours every day. This may vary from organisation to organisation.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are good at Maths
- You can make people work under your directions
- You are good at keeping records of your work
- You are a careful and organised person
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Law/Economics/Finance or related field
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Diploma in Quality Assurance and Compliance/Corporate Laws etc
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree in the same or related subject
- 2Follow it up with a certificate course such as Compliance Training Course/Advance Certification on Indian Regulatory Practice/Certificate and Foundation and Advanced Payroll and Compliance Management
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Law.
Government institutes
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- National Law University, New Delhi
- Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, Maharashtra
- National Law University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- National Law University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Maharashtra
- Army Institute of Law, Mohali, Punjab
- School of Law, Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
- Amity Law School, New Delhi
- Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, Haryana
- School of Law, University of Petroleum and University Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad, Telangana
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Junior Accountant → Accounts Executive (Statutory Compliance) → Assistant Manager → Manager → Senior Manager
- 2Compliance Analyst → Junior Compliance Officer → Senior Compliance Associate → Lead Compliance Officer → Regional Compliance Manager → Business Compliance Manager → Chief Compliance Officer → General Counsel
Expected income
₹48,000 – ₹1,60,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Company Secretary
In-house legal expert and compliance officer guiding company governance.
Contract Administrator
Oversees the creation, negotiation, signing and upholding of a company's contracts.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Commerce, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Pravin Bathe — Angel One, an Indian stockbroker firm, appointed Pravin Bathe as the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer in 2022. Earlier, Bathe worked with the Citi group as their Compliance Head for India. He has an L.L.B. from University of Mumbai, an M.A. in Economics from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Ph.D. in Banking and Finance from the same institute.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 207 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Compliance_Officer/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.