Moving Abroad with your Compliance Career

 

Moving abroad means gaining fresh perspectives, making new contacts, sharing ideas, improving language skills, and immersing yourself in a totally different culture, which means working overseas isn’t just exciting, it makes you more employable too. This career boost applies universally and compliance is no exception.

If you’re an established compliance professional or aspire to work in this field, you might already be considering what kind of opportunities there are to work in different countries and whether moving abroad with your compliance career is a realistic prospect. Skilled professionals are in demand all over the world, but the best location for your move will depend on your technical skills and area of expertise.

 

Financial Services

If you have a financial services background, then your overseas compliance job search should focus on the world’s major financial centres where you’ll find the best opportunities thanks to the concentration of banks, financial institutions and regulatory bodies.

 

New York

Many people dream of working in the United States, especially New York. The city is home to many global financial institutions, including investment banks, asset managers, and insurance companies, which offer plenty of opportunities for compliance professionals.

What makes it even more attractive is the fact that many regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), have offices in New York City, offering roles in regulatory compliance as well.

And in a city of this size, there are plenty of opportunities for networking and personal development. However, the cost of living is high, and competition for jobs is fierce. The same is true of the other cities listed here.

 

London

As the financial centre of Europe, London is also an excellent place to further your compliance career for similar reasons. Firms based here have a strong need for compliance staff to navigate the complex regulatory landscape in the UK and Europe.

Like New York, the city is home to several regulatory bodies, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which offers similar opportunities to work in regulatory compliance.

If you’re interested in working in mainland Europe, then the financial hubs of Zurich and Frankfurt also offer plentiful opportunities for compliance professionals. Both cities are extremely livable with excellent infrastructure and offer great quality of life.

 

Tokyo

Tokyo is the financial centre of Asia, making it another great place to move to in order to further your compliance career. Here firms have a strong need for compliance staff to steer them through increasingly complex regulations. Moreover, Tokyo is a vibrant and exciting city with a rich cultural heritage, and is a great place to live and work.

Looking at the region more broadly, Singapore, Shanghai, and Beijing are also worth considering if you're looking to move your compliance career abroad.

 

Non-Financial Services

If you would rather not work in a big city and your background is in healthcare or another regulated industry, you’ll find your overseas job search extends to smaller towns and cities that offer a more laid back and affordable way of life.

 

Summary

Moving abroad with your compliance career is certainly possible. Not only do you get to experience a totally different culture, but you get a career boost too because overseas experience is highly valued by employers.