Job Description – Chief Compliance Officer
Designation: Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Location: Mumbai
Reporting to: Managing Director & CEO
Functional Interface: Board / Board Committee, Senior Management & Regulators
Industry: Large NBFC / Financial Services
Role Overview:
The Chief Compliance Officer will lead the organisation’s independent Compliance Function and will be responsible for establishing and strengthening a robust compliance, regulatory governance and conduct framework across the NBFC.
The CCO will act as the principal compliance advisor to the MD & CEO, Senior Management and the Board/Board Committee and will serve as the key interface with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other regulatory/statutory authorities.
The role requires a senior financial – services professional with strong knowledge of RBI regulations, NBFC regulatory frameworks, compliance risk management, corporate governance and regulatory engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Regulatory Compliance & Governance:
- – Provide independent oversight of compliance with RBI regulations, applicable laws, rules, notifications, directions and regulatory guidelines.
- – Establish and continuously enhance the enterprise – wide Compliance Management Framework.
- – Ensure effective implementation of the Board – approved Compliance Policy.
- – Identify, assess, monitor and report material compliance risks across the organisation.
- – Ensure timely implementation and closure of RBI inspection observations, Risk Mitigation Plans and regulatory requirements.
- – Monitor regulatory developments and translate them into actionable requirements for business and support functions.
2. RBI & Regulatory Interface:
- – Act as the principal/nodal point of contact between the NBFC and RBI.
- – Lead regulatory interactions, inspections, reviews and correspondence relating to compliance.
- – Coordinate responses to RBI observations and ensure sustainable closure of regulatory findings.
- – Manage interactions with other applicable regulators, statutory authorities and supervisory bodies.
- – Ensure timely and accurate regulatory reporting.
3. Board & Senior Management Responsibilities:
- – Provide independent compliance advice to the MD & CEO and Senior Management.
- – Present periodic Compliance Risk Reports to the Board/Board Committee.
- – Highlight material or emerging compliance risks and significant regulatory breaches on a timely basis.
- – Conduct an annual enterprise – wide assessment of major compliance risks and develop mitigation plans.
- – Advise the Board and management on regulatory implications of strategic initiatives, business models and new products.
4. New Products, Business Initiatives & Change:
- – Review compliance implications of all new products, processes, technology initiatives and business models before implementation.
- – Participate in the New Product Approval Committee and provide independent compliance clearance.
- – Assess regulatory risks associated with digital lending, co – lending, fintech partnerships, outsourcing, securitisation, lending products and other emerging business models.
- – Ensure regulatory requirements are embedded into product and process design.
5. Compliance Testing & Monitoring:
- – Develop a comprehensive risk – based Compliance Monitoring and Testing Programme.
- – Undertake thematic reviews and compliance testing across business and functional areas.
- – Track compliance exceptions and ensure timely remediation.
- – Establish appropriate compliance dashboards, KRIs and early – warning indicators.
- – Ensure recurring compliance failures are analysed for root cause and corrective action.
6. Customer & Conduct Compliance:
- – Strengthen the framework for fair customer treatment and responsible lending.
- – Oversee compliance relating to customer protection, grievance redressal, recovery practices, outsourcing and customer communications.
- – Monitor conduct risk, conflict – of – interest issues and adherence to the organisation’s Code of Conduct.
- – Ensure compliance with applicable digital lending and customer – data requirements.
7. AML / KYC & Financial Crime Compliance:
- – Provide oversight of the organisation’s AML/KYC and financial – crime compliance framework.
- – Ensure appropriate compliance with PMLA, KYC and applicable RBI requirements.
- – Oversee monitoring of high – risk customers, transactions and business relationships.
- – Work closely with the MLRO/FIU interface and relevant control functions where applicable.
- – Strengthen controls relating to fraud, sanctions, suspicious transactions and financial crime risks.
8. Compliance Culture:
- – Build a strong “Compliance as a Culture” framework across the organisation.
- – Develop and implement compliance training and awareness programmes.
- – Ensure regulatory changes are effectively communicated to relevant stakeholders.
- – Promote accountability for compliance across business and support functions.
9. Compliance Technology & MIS:
- – Drive automation and digitisation of compliance monitoring and regulatory reporting.
- – Establish an enterprise – wide regulatory obligations inventory and compliance tracking mechanism.
- – Develop dashboards for senior management and Board reporting.
- – Leverage data analytics to identify emerging compliance risks and control weaknesses.
10. Independent Oversight:
- – Maintain complete independence from business functions and avoid conflicts of interest.
- – Have unrestricted access to relevant records, systems, employees and information necessary to discharge the role.
- – Escalate material compliance concerns directly to the MD & CEO and Board/Board Committee.
- – Work closely with Internal Audit, Risk, Legal, Vigilance, Information Security and other control functions while maintaining the independence of Compliance.
Candidate Profile:
Education:
- – Graduate/Postgraduate degree in Finance, Law, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline.
- – CA / CS / LLB / MBA or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
Experience:
- – 18 – 25+ years of overall experience, preferably in banking, NBFCs or financial services.
- – Significant experience in regulatory compliance, risk, audit, legal/regulatory affairs or financial – services governance.
- – Strong experience in dealing directly with RBI and senior regulatory stakeholders.
- – Experience in a large NBFC, bank or other highly regulated financial institution is strongly preferred.
- – Experience leading an enterprise – level Compliance Function with a sizeable team.
Desired Competencies:
- – Deep understanding of RBI/NBFC regulatory framework.
- – Strong knowledge of corporate governance and compliance risk management.
- – Excellent regulatory interpretation and advisory capability.
- – Strong understanding of lending, digital finance, securitisation/co – lending and financial – services products.
- – High degree of independence, integrity and professional judgement.
- – Excellent communication and Board – level presentation skills.
- – Ability to challenge business decisions constructively while enabling responsible growth.
- – Strong leadership and stakeholder – management capability.