Obtain an internship or part-time job in the compliance department of a financial institution, health care organization, or a government agency to gain insights into the field. Learn more about compliance by joining a professional association such as the National Society of Compliance Professionals or the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, among others. Search these associations Web sites for lists of upcoming workshops and events, and attend those that offer opportunities to meet compliance professionals and find out how they got started in their careers. Perhaps you could arrange a formal information interview with a compliance manager. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology change the field? Finally, read trade publications such as Compliance Week (https://www.complianceweek.com) to keep up with news and developments in the compliance industry.

Compliance managers work at federal, state, and local agencies; financial institutions; health care organizations; and in other industries, making sure that companies comply with laws and standards. They review practices to make sure they align with internal standards as well as external regulations. They are responsible for knowing the current laws and changes to those laws that affect the companies. They are also responsible for sharing knowledge about corporate laws and standards with their companys employees, executives, and board of directors.

Compliance management tasks include recording and maintaining documentation of all activities related to compliance, such as complaints about compliance issues and investigation findings. Compliance managers conduct and/or oversee internal investigations concerning issues of compliance. They review the outcomes of these investigations, share this information with their companys upper management, and file compliance reports with regulatory agencies. When they identify compliance violations, they report them to the appropriate enforcement agencies. The job requires keen attention to detail, strong knowledge of government and industry laws and regulations, and the ability to communicate complex information in ways people will understand.

Compliance managers spend a great deal of time on computers, studying data, creating reports, and e-mailing with compliance team members and other company employees. The work requires knowledge of analytic/scientific, compliance, and project management software.