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What Are the Different Compliance Officer Jobs?

Geri Terzo
Geri Terzo

Some of the highest-level executives at corporations are compliance officers or other top executives who once filled compliance officer jobs. This is an area where policies and standards are set and regulations are adhered to. The requirements for compliance vary depending on the industry. Compliance officer jobs could be filled in many different arenas, ranging from health care to finance to technology. These senior-level positions are often filled by professionals with a significant amount of career experience and who have potentially achieved formal certification.

Health care is an industry where compliance standards are pervasive. Keeping standards pertaining to record keeping, medical billing, and patient care are all essential for hospitals and other facilities to run smoothly and in accordance with regional laws. To obtain compliance officer jobs in the health care industry, some formal certification is likely to be required. This may entail passing a written exam. Also, given that a compliance officer is a senior position, some industry experience in the area of compliance may be needed.

Compliance officer jobs can include preparing disaster recovery processes in the event that computer servers are destroyed or impaired.
Compliance officer jobs can include preparing disaster recovery processes in the event that computer servers are destroyed or impaired.

Compliance officer jobs in the health care industry entail making sure that government standards in a region are enforced and that proper coding and billing requirements are used throughout an organization. Other responsibilities tied to compliance include protecting patient confidentiality and protecting an organization from fraudulent behavior as much as possible. Issuing periodic audits by a third-party firm might be the responsibility of a compliance officer.

Hospital compliance officers insure that record keeping, medical billing, and patient care all meet required standards.
Hospital compliance officers insure that record keeping, medical billing, and patient care all meet required standards.

Internet security is a vital component of most businesses as sensitive data is typically stored electronically. Technology compliance officer jobs may similarly be senior positions, but these professionals may report to the chief information technology officer at a firm. Compliance jobs may include preparing disaster recovery processes in the event that computer servers are impaired or destroyed. Professionals in these positions are expected to reduce an organization's vulnerability to any online viruses and may perform security audits to keep systems protected from current Internet threats.

Compliance officers are among the high-level executives in many corporations.
Compliance officers are among the high-level executives in many corporations.

Regulation in the financial industry creates the need for compliance officer jobs throughout the industry. Compliance officers in financial firms must not only interpret and analyze regulations but establish internal policies that are compliant with those laws. The most senior position may be a chief compliance officer, and this individual may be responsible for communicating the regional and industry standards to investment professionals at a firm. Entry-level positions in financial compliance also exist, and these individuals may help to support the daily issues that may arise with clients or other investment professionals.

Discussion Comments

miriam98

@hamje32 - Internet security is really the most important domain for compliance in the age in which we live. We have hackers who can crash our systems from overseas and we have other rogue nations that are attempting to crack into our secure government facilities.

Ensuring that adequate firewalls and security are in place is a 24/7 job in my opinion. Security jobs are in demand constantly. Businesses cannot afford to lose their vital data, which is really the lifeblood of their business operations.

We have redundant backup networks at our company and a very thorough disaster recovery plan in place too.

hamje32

@MrMoody - Finance jobs are more important in my opinion, at least in terms of compliance. Had we had proper compliance and enforcement of regulations in the financial sector, we would never have had the financial debacle of 2008 with the housing crisis and the mortgage meltdown.

Someone didn’t do their homework. I suppose you could argue that there were no regulations in place, but I think there were enough laws on the books that it should have raised some red flags somewhere.

MrMoody

I think healthcare compliance is one of the most important specialties in recent years. After the passage of HIPPA legislation, hospitals and doctors have been more conscientious than ever about protecting a patient’s privacy and informing them about their rights.

That’s why when you go to the doctor you get all that paperwork they ask you to sign before they even let you see the doctor. They inform you about your medical records and your privacy protections.

Before HIPPA I never had to fill out so much stuff, but afterwards, it seems that everyone is out to protect themselves so that they don’t get sued for breach of confidentiality.

That’s why the HIPPA compliance officer is so important. The HIPPA compliance officer job description requires that the individual become informed about HIPPA healthcare legislation and then put together programs and procedures that will ensure the hospital will remain compliant.

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    • Compliance officer jobs can include preparing disaster recovery processes in the event that computer servers are destroyed or impaired.
      By: kubais
      Compliance officer jobs can include preparing disaster recovery processes in the event that computer servers are destroyed or impaired.
    • Hospital compliance officers insure that record keeping, medical billing, and patient care all meet required standards.
      By: Sam Spiro
      Hospital compliance officers insure that record keeping, medical billing, and patient care all meet required standards.
    • Compliance officers are among the high-level executives in many corporations.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Compliance officers are among the high-level executives in many corporations.