HR Compliance and Risk Manager

Hancock Whitney; Gulfport (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Hancock Whitney is seeking an HR Compliance and Risk Manager to serve as the subject matter expert for HR compliance, policy governance, and risk management across the associate lifecycle.

You will partner with Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, and HR leadership to mitigate risk, lead audits, and drive improvements in controls and processes while ensuring regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in HR, Business, Legal Studies or related field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR compliance expert for policy interpretation and employee relations matters with Legal, Compliance, and business leaders.
• Lead HR compliance programs by monitoring laws and updating policies, communications, and procedures.
• Develop and administer HR risk controls with cross-functional input and documentation.
• Partner with Internal Audit, Legal and Risk Management on HR audits, SOX reviews, and remediation tasks.
• Oversee HR control testing, ensuring documentation and issue resolution.
• Research evolving laws/regulations and recommend actions to maintain compliance readiness.
• Provide topic expertise on HR policies, procedures, and risk controls and audit responses.
• Track and report key compliance metrics and provide leadership dashboards.

Skills

HR compliance

Regulatory knowledge

Policy interpretation

Risk management

SOX familiarity

Internal audit

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Law

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

SOX testing

Job description

JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY:

The HR Compliance and Risk Manager serves as the subject matter expert for HR compliance, policy governance, and risk management, ensuring adherence to employment laws, regulatory requirements, and internal controls across the associate lifecycle. This role partners with HR, Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit, and business leaders to mitigate company risk, lead audits and examinations, and drive process improvements that enhance compliance and operational effectiveness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary HR subject matter expert for employment-related litigation matters, policy interpretation, and complex employee relations issues, partnering with Associate Relations, Legal, Compliance, HR Business Partners, and business leaders to ensure consistent policy application, regulatory compliance, and effective risk mitigation.
• Lead HR compliance programs by monitoring federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, assessing impacts, and implement required updates to policies, procedures, practices and organization communications.
• Develop and administer the HR Risk control process, coordinating input from control owners across key HR functions ensuring risks and controls are appropriately documented and managed.
• Serve as the primary HR partner for Internal Audit, Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management related to HR audits, SOX reviews, regulatory examinations, risk assessments, and remediation activities.
• Oversee execution of SOX and HR-related internal control testing, ensuring effective documentation, issue resolution, and remediation of identified control gaps.
• Research and ensure compliance with emerging legal, regulatory, and industry developments and recommend actions to implement to maintain compliance readiness and reduce organizational risk.
• Serves as subject matter expert for HR policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, handbooks, risks, controls, and audit responses.
• Track, analyze, and report key compliance, audit, risk, and control metrics, providing dashboards and recommendations to HR and executive leadership.
• Partner with HR Technology, Information Security, and business stakeholders to evaluate and mitigate compliance risks associated with data access, reporting, retention, privacy, and recordkeeping practices.
• Support HR integration efforts during M&A events, including HR due diligence, controls mapping, risk assessments and compliance alignment.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying compliance, governance, and control gaps and implementing solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen controls, and mitigate risk.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Legal Studies, Risk Management or equivalent related experience required.
• 6 years of experience in HR compliance, internal audit, or HR risk management roles required, preferably in a highly regulated industry.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, CCEP, CRMA, or CIA preferred.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and HR risk frameworks.
• Familiarity with SOX or equivalent internal control environments.
• Strong verbal and written communications, documentation, analytical, and risk reporting skills.
• Experience working with HRIS and data privacy regulations.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and manage sensitive information.
• Ability to use all Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines.
• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an "undue hardship" then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws.