CCO Job Post That Tells It Like It Is

A round of applause to FFF Enterprises, a distributor of healthcare products that crafted a great job post looking for a chief compliance officer at its North Carolina offices.

First, the job itself sounds as reasonable as any CCO posting we might see. The compliance officer reports directly to the CEO and oversees the functioning of the compliance program. The duties range from overseeing policy management, to updating the Standards of Conduct, to monitoring the hotline, to working with business units on implementing the compliance program. Salary of $120,000 to $180,000. No surprises so far.

In a roundabout way, FFF also seems to suggest that it wants to place the onus of compliance on the business units—which, of course, is exactly where the onus belongs. You see lines like, “Collaborates with other departments to direct compliance issues to appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution” and “As necessary, coordinates compliance activities of other departments to remain abreast of the status of all compliance activities and to identify trends.” That’s the way a compliance program should be.

CCOs should always be so lucky to find a job description like this.

Then come the refreshingly honest parts of the job description.

Personnel you get to supervise: zero. Supervisory responsibilities: none. The company makes $1.1 billion in annual sales, but it has only a $3.1 million operating budget, so I’m guessing you get a passcode to the photocopy machine and a desk, not much more. (“Develop and implement cost-saving measures” is another listed responsibility for the role.)

In other words, the CCO is on his own at this company. But then, on a certain metaphysical level, don’t all compliance professionals walk alone?

Then come the other fun descriptives:

Typical office environment: no unusual exposures. (The anti-harassment training must be effective.)

Equipment used: Ability to operate telephone, personal computer, and standard office equipment for extended periods of time. (We’ve all been on conference calls like that.)

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to regularly use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, controls and equipment.  The employee must be able to walk, sit and stand.  The employee occasionally lifts up to 20 lbs and occasionally kneels and bends.

Sure, these disclosures are probably just boilerplate HR puts in every listing. Yet somehow they make this posting come that much more alive; candor and can-do spirit blended together! We should all be so lucky to find a job where they just tell you up front you have to do everything with no staff.

Amen, FFF. It really is a complete, accurate picture of what you want the CCO to do. Let us know how the recruitment goes.