Compliance Manager Resume: Templates, Examples & Top Tips

Siobhan Brier
Written by
Siobhan Brier
Updated on August 25, 2025

Precision, rules, ethics, and regulation are your passion. You’re analytical, creative and able to design systems to keep everything in order and up to standard. As a compliance manager, you will develop and oversee control systems to ensure they meet legal policies and guidelines, preventing internal infractions. 

Show you’re an adept professional at your job and a great fit for any position by crafting a compliance manager resume that covers a hiring team’s policies. 

This guide will show you how to write the best resume that suits your qualifications and highlights your skills. Here is a breakdown of what we’ll cover:

  • A thorough compliance manager resume example to use as a guide.
  • Tips for writing a resume objective or summary.
  • Ideas for listing relevant skills.
  • Descriptions that will showcase your work experience in an interesting and engaging way.
  • Additional sections that can help your resume stand out.

An Example of a Compliance Manager Resume

Let’s set the stage with an example.

You can find more resume examples to inspire you on our professional templates and modern resume template pages.

Resume Example
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[Justin Cartwright]
[Compliance Manager]

[145 Decker St., Denver, CO 07051| 123-456-7890 | jcartwright@gmail.com]

>> Summary <<
Efficient and professional Compliance Officer with six years of experience helping companies operate in full compliance with national and local safety and regulatory standards. Possesses proven skills in communication, project management, and client relationship management. Proficient in Jira and SQL. Looking to fill the position of Compliance Manager at Luna Industries, LLC.

>> Experience <<

Compliance Manager

Genesis Agency | Denver, CO

January 2020 – November 2022

  • Collaborated with relevant departments to efficiently gather and analyze data for law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and risk reporting.
  • Provided relevant departments with updates explaining new changes to regulatory policies, thereby ensuring faster adjustments.
  • Monitored training requirements, licensing, and registrations for employees and new hires.

Compliance Manager

Robinson & Partners, LLC | Denver, CO

October 2017 – December 2020

  • Worked closely with the Legal and Fraud, Internal Audit, and Data Analytics teams in handling internal inquiries, positioning controls, monitoring, and reporting.
  • Communicated with and handled regulatory inquiries from CFTC, SEC, and foreign regulators.
  • Developed corrective action plans in response to audit findings, mitigating compliance risks.

>> Education <<
B.Sc Business Analytics
Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO
2013 – 2017

  • President, Debate Club – 2016
  • General Secretary, Entrepreneurship Club – 2015

>> Skills <<

  • Soft Skills: Decision-making, Communication, Analytical Skills
  • Hard Skills: SQL, Jira, Excel, Policy Interpretation

>> Certifications <<

  • Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM)

>> Volunteering <<

  • Compliance Officer, Jericho Community Soup Kitchen

How to Best Format a Compliance Manager Resume

The best resume format for your application depends on your experience level. 

There are three common types: functional, reverse-chronological, and hybrid.  

  • Recent graduates and people without experience in the field tend to benefit the most from a skill-based, functional resume
  • Experienced compliance managers, on the other hand, are better off with a reverse-chronological format that highlights their most recent and strongest experiences first
  • All and any type of applicant can use the hybrid format, including those who are switching to the industry. It combines elements of a skill-based resume and an experience-based resume.

💡TOP tip

Save and send your compliance manager resume as a PDF file to avoid any formatting issues. Different word processor applications sometimes have different formats, and your resume might not look the same if the hiring manager has a different application to you.

Regardless of which type of format you decide on, remember to type with a readable font size (11 or 12 point is ideal) and 1-inch margins

In addition to keeping things readable, make sure your resume can be skimmed in just a minute or two: keep the length to one page unless you have significant amounts of relevant experience to share.

Now it’s time to put the pieces together! 

Begin with your compliance manager resume headline, which should include:

  • Your name
  • Your general job title (as a subheading)
  • Contact information and location
  • Optional: a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile

Before you start writing, ensure you’ve read the job description thoroughly and do some research on the company. It’ll help you understand what they’re looking for and to spot and avoid job scams.

Does your Resume Need a Summary or Objective?

Your summary or objective is where you provide a brief glimpse into the contents of your resume. 

No matter which one you write, this section should state the highlights of your career, provide information about your skills, and connect you to the job you’re applying for

But which one do you add to your resume? Once again, it depends on your level of experience.

  • A resume summary is more suited to compliance managers with extensive experience who can share specific details about their achievements and professional goals. For example, this would be perfect if you are a certified regulatory compliance manager.
  • A resume objective is perfect for those switching fields. It’s also great for those with no experience, For example on a college freshman’s resume. Objectives focus on the skills you have and what you can offer to an employer.

Need a Resume Objective Example?

How do you summarize your experience and describe your career goal in a few sentences? It’s certainly easier said than done. 

Below are some examples of how to write a career objective (and how not to!) for your resume:

Wrong ❌

New and eager compliance manager with project management and asset reviews skills. Would appreciate a chance to show more of what I can do at your establishment.

This objective is too vague, furthermore it lacks adequate examples and summaries of relevant experiences.

Right ✅

Recently-graduated young professional with educational and professional business experience. Familiar with processes like reviewing assets, titles, appraisals and credit for policy and regulatory adherence. Interested in refining my skills and entering the field as a Compliance Management Intern at QXW Company.

In complete contrast, the second example does a far better job of providing a summary of this applicant’s experience so far. They list their skills, connect to the job they’re after, and express what they can offer to an employer.

Describing Your Experience in Compliance Management

So, what comes after the resume objective or summary?  Work experience, which is probably the second trickiest section to write

Following some basic steps can make it a lot easier, though.

First, follow this format for each position you have held:

  • Job title
  • Name of organization
  • Month and year employment began and ended. Replace the end date with “present” if you’re still working there. 
  • A description of your achievements and responsibilities.

Aside from ensuring you have the proper format, you need to include keywords along your resume from the compliance management job description you’re interested in, while describing your past work experience. 

Make the descriptions exciting with action words like achieved, conducted, audited, and communicated

Employers want to see not only that you get the job done, but you do it well, and in a way that is beneficial to the whole team. 

💡TOP tip

Replace bland, boring, vague phrases and words with powerful, active, and specific ones. It’ll make your work experience description come alive. Not sure where to start? Take a look at the job description for the role you want to find vocabulary that’s frequently used, especially in connection to key responsibilities.

Examples: The Experience Section on a Resume

Taking in our advice from the previous section and making it fit in with your experience section can be a bit of a challenge.

But with care and revision, you should have your experience section looking like you belong in that new office, whether you have no experience or if you’ve been in the field for decades. 

First, let’s give you a pointer on what not to write! Look and see if you know what’s wrong with this sample:

Wrong ❌

Control and Compliance Manager

Model Innovations

2012-2014

  • Responsible for assessing risk
  • Conducted compliance reviews
  • Prepared “Chart of Authority”

For starters, it only presents imprecise descriptions of what the writer did at Model Innovations. There isn’t any detail, nor is there anything that really makes this applicant appear to stand out.

Right

Control and Compliance Manager

Model Innovations

2012-2014

  • Conducted a risk survey for risk assessment following insurance policies and conditions, and suggested strategies for mitigating risk, resulting in a 10% improvement in operations.
  • Reviewed compliance using the company procedures and policies for 15 departments, including Manufacturing and Logistics.
  • Reviewed the “Chart of Authority” of the company and made recommendations to the board based on compliance requirements.

That’s better! In this second example the applicant paints a colorful picture of what they did, as well as the measurable impact of those actions. 

What’s more, it provides information on where they made recommendations on strategies and chart of authority reviews to the relevant authority. That shows that this applicant is concerned about the growth of the company. 

An excellent addition to point out is the specific department example provided in the second bullet point. Stating the  departments you deal with can help you get positions working with those very same in the future.

How about the Education Section for a Compliance Manager’s Resume?

The education section is, for many, the most straightforward part. However, some compliance managers still miss the mark when it comes to making their education stand out.

Generally, the education section of a resume includes:

  • Your degree or course title and designation
  • Your university/college and its location
  • The course beginning and end date

You could also mention other achievements and activities you participated in to further connect to the job.

For example, you might want to include details about:

  • Your GPA, but only if you’ve graduated in the past few years and received a 3.5 or higher.
  • Club memberships and leadership experience.
  • Awards: Dean’s List, scholarships, special recognitions, etc.

💡TOP tip

Not everything should make it into your education section. Try to pick two or three points to mention if you have the space. For professionals with experience, it’s best to dedicate more space to your past roles. But, for recent graduates or those just entering the field, your education can be the best source of productive examples of your skills and achievements.

Education Section: Rights and Wrongs

Here are two quick examples of how to write a better compliance manager’s education section:

Wrong ❌

B.Sc Behavioral Science and Industrial Psychology

Rutgers University, Graduated June 2008

Right ✅

B.Sc Behavioral Science and Industrial Psychology

Rutgers University | New Brunswick, NJ

September 2006 – June 2008 

  • Graduated magna cum laude with a 3.78 GPA
  • President of Rutgers Debate Club (2007-2008)

The first example lists the education concisely, but the second goes further by stating their graduation degree result and relevant extracurricular activities.

The key thing to note here is that both pieces of information listed are relevant to the compliance management application. 

Can you think of other activities from your university days that could be relevant to your resume?

What Skills Should be Included in a Compliance Manager’s  Resume?

Every project, responsibility, and task needs a compliance manager who pays attention to detail, communicates clearly, delegates where necessary, exercises patience, and has strong analytical skills

Compliance management also requires technical skills that make you more effective and efficient at your job. You’ll need to be proficient in project management and use project management software that’s suited to the organization’s needs. 

💡TOP tip

Go through each job listing you apply to and match your skills with those required. Not only does this show you’ve taken the time to pay attention to what an employer is after, it also paints a picture of you as the best fit for the job – better than 99% of other applicants!

It’s important that you list both soft skills and hard skills to show that your expertise is well-rounded.

  • Soft skills are more general, transferable skills that you learn through a variety of experiences, not just on the job.
  • Hard skills, in contrast, are generally more technical, specific skills that you pick up through working in a given industry.

Here’s an example of how to list your compliance manager skills on your resume to help you stand out from the crowd of job applicants:

Soft Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Effective communication
  • Delegation
  • Leadership
  • Analytical skills
  • Self-motivation
  • Decisiveness 
  • Time-management
  • Collaboration
  • Creative problem-solving

Hard Skills

  • Familiarity with local, national and international standards
  • Project management
  • Google Analytics
  • Jira
  • Salesforce
  • Tableau
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
  • SQL

Do You Need Other Sections?

Your compliance manager resume can either meet the basic requirements of every standard resume out there, or it can stand out and go beyond an employer’s expectations. 

One way to do that is by including extra sections in your resume. 

Keep in mind that whatever extra sections you choose to include must align with the application itself and the job you’re applying to. 

Extra sections relevant to a job application might include compliance manager certifications such as:

  • SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals
  • ABA CRCM: Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager Exam
  • SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity
  • Certified Compliance Manager (CCM)

Another section to consider is awards you might have earned from organizations, associations, and societies, such as:

  • Excellence in Compliance 
  • Women in Compliance Awards
  • Chief Compliance Officer of the Year

Lastly, you may also consider including your volunteering experience. These should be activities where you were able to combine your skills in a non-work environment to achieve lofty and admirable goals in society.

Examples of Extra Sections

Write the section title and list your achievements in bullet points, much like the way you list your experience section. 

Let’s see some more good and bad examples:

Wrong ❌

Certifications

American Culinary Certification (2016)

Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) (2018)

Awards

Lakewood talent show – Semifinalist (2010)

Volunteering

Summer Camp Counselor

The problem with this first example is that it only states one relevant piece of information: the Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) certification. The others are presented in a way that makes them seem irrelevant.

Here’s an example of better related content:

Right

Certifications

  • Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) (2018)
  • SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity (2018)

Awards

  • Compliance Officer International Award (2021)

Volunteering

  • Compliance Team Lead, Red Cross Society, New Jersey

Compared to the previous example, this one stays true to the role of Compliance Manager. The certifications, awards, and volunteering experience are all related to it. 

When it comes down to the decision, hiring managers prefer someone who’s certified, awarded for their good work, and contributes their skills to worthy causes during their spare time. 

Important things to remember

Being a detail-oriented and knowledgeable compliance manager is something that shines through in a well-written resume. Here are a few things we’ve discussed that you should keep in mind as you write yours:

  • Use keywords from the job description to connect to the role and show you’re the best fit.
  • Include extra sections to stand out from the crowd, but keep them relevant!
  • Be creative and colorful with your compliance manager resume objective or summary, experience section, and education section.
  • Ensure you add soft and hard skills to demonstrate your expertise and ability to adapt.
  • Choose a resume format that aligns with your work experience, and always download your resume as a PDF before passing it on to a hiring team.

Take a look back at our compliance manager resume sample above for inspiration and guidance. 

And, to save yourself the time and hassle of managing a template, writing, and organization all at once, check out our resume builder tool to create a finished product that will wow any employer.

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