Compliance Specialist
SAS · Cary, NC
- On site
- Full-time
- $95,000 / year
- Cary, NC
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Job highlights
- Support company-wide ethics and compliance programs.
- Manage the Speak-Up line and investigations.
- Conduct due diligence and risk assessments.
- Analyze data and report findings to leadership.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams.
About the role
About The Job
As an Ethics & Compliance Legal Specialist, you’ll be a key member of our Legal / Ethics & Compliance team, supporting company‑wide ethics and compliance programs. In this role, you’ll help ensure we meet regulatory and policy obligations, support due diligence, investigations and reviews, and promote a strong culture of ethical decision‑making across the organization. This role is well‑suited for an experienced compliance professional (typically 5–7 years of experience) who brings sound judgment, strong communication skills, and a practical approach to ethics and compliance in a complex, global business environment.As An Ethics & Compliance Legal Specialist You Will
- Support ethics and compliance programs, policies, and processes that promote ethical conduct and regulatory compliance
- Act as a team administrator for the Speak-Up line, including intake, documentation, coordination with stakeholders, and tracking outcomes
- Conduct various due diligence and other review processes, including but not limited to anti-corruption due diligence, gifting reviews, restricted party reviews, and conflicts of interest.
- Serve as a team lead for data and reporting and, in particular, prepare clear, well‑structured reports and presentations analyzing data and summarizing findings, risk and recommended outcomes for the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer, leadership and key stakeholders
- Conduct and support compliance‑related risk assessments, including data collection and analysis to evaluate ethical, regulatory, and business risks
- Partner with Legal and cross‑functional teams to document findings and inform recommendations
- Help monitor adherence to policies and applicable regulatory requirements
- Support internal and external audits by gathering documentation, responding to inquiries, and tracking remediation efforts
- Contribute to ethics and compliance training, communications, and awareness initiatives for employees and leaders
- Stay current on evolving ethics and compliance best practices and help assess their impact on business operations
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in legal studies, business, compliance, risk management, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5–7 years of progressive experience in ethics, compliance, legal operations, investigations, audit, or a related corporate function
- Strong technical and organizational skills
- Strong critical thinking, writing and documentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex or sensitive topics
- High integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion
- Proven ability to collaborate across functions and build trusted relationships
- An equivalent combination of related education, training and experience may be considered in place of the above qualifications.
Additional Competencies, Knowledge And Skills
- Collaborating:Working cooperatively with others to help a team or work group achieve its goals.
- Technical and Professional Knowledge and Skills:Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical, functional, and/or professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise; leveraging expert knowledge to accomplish results.
- Planning and Organizing: Establishing an action plan for self and others to complete work efficiently and on time by setting priorities, establishing timelines, and leveraging resources.
- Exposure to in-house investigation work, due diligence, risk assessment, and/or auditing
- Experience with Excel and/or PowerPoint
- Experience working closely with highly sensitive information
- Independent thinker who can manage projects with little supervision and wants to grow in, and expand, the role
- Professional certifications (e.g., compliance, ethics, or legal‑related), a plus
World-class Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental and vision plans.
- Medical plan options include: PPO with low annual deductible and copays.
- HDHP combined with a health savings account with a contribution from SAS (no access to on-site health care center).
- Onsite Health Care Center (HQ) that’s free to employees and family members enrolled in the PPO plan. There's a pharmacy too! Not local to HQ? The pharmacy will ship prescriptions for no additional charge!
- An industry-leading 401k plan.
- Tuition Assistance Program and programs and resources to support your development
- Generous time away including vacation time, a variety of paid holidays, and our much-loved U.S. Winter Wellness Break between December 25 and January 1.
- Volunteer Time Off, parental leave and unlimited paid sick days.
- Generous childcare benefits for all full-time employees.
Key skills/competency
- Ethics and Compliance Programs
- Regulatory Compliance
- Due Diligence
- Risk Assessment
- Investigations
- Reporting and Analysis
- Policy Management
- Auditing
- Training and Development
- Legal Operations
Skills & topics
- Compliance Specialist
- Ethics
- Compliance
- Legal
- Risk Management
- Due Diligence
- Audit
- Investigations
- Regulatory Compliance
- Corporate Governance
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5-7 years of experience in ethics, compliance, and risk management, aligning with SAS's focus on data and AI.
- Showcase relevant skills: Emphasize your critical thinking, writing, collaboration, and experience with due diligence, investigations, and risk assessments.
- Understand SAS's values: Demonstrate how your curiosity, passion, authenticity, and accountability align with their inclusive culture.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with sensitive information, handling confidential matters, and promoting ethical decision-making.
- Highlight technical proficiency: Mention your experience with Excel, PowerPoint, and any relevant compliance software.
Technical preparation
Review legal and compliance frameworks.,Practice risk assessment methodologies.,Prepare examples of due diligence work.,Familiarize with Excel and PowerPoint.
Behavioral questions
Describe handling sensitive information.,Explain a complex ethical dilemma.,How do you collaborate with diverse teams?,Share an example of promoting ethics.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical experience required for an Ethics & Compliance Legal Specialist at SAS?
- SAS typically looks for professionals with 5-7 years of progressive experience in ethics, compliance, legal operations, investigations, audit, or a similar corporate function for this role. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may also be considered.
- What are the main responsibilities of the Compliance Specialist at SAS?
- The Compliance Specialist at SAS is responsible for supporting ethics and compliance programs, managing the Speak-Up line, conducting due diligence and risk assessments, preparing reports and presentations for leadership, and contributing to training and awareness initiatives.
- What kind of due diligence processes will a Compliance Specialist be involved in at SAS?
- A Compliance Specialist at SAS will be involved in various due diligence processes, including anti-corruption due diligence, gifting reviews, restricted party reviews, and conflicts of interest assessments.
- Does SAS offer professional development opportunities for compliance professionals?
- Yes, SAS offers a Tuition Assistance Program and other resources to support employee development, which can be beneficial for compliance professionals looking to expand their skills and certifications.
- How does SAS foster an ethical culture?
- SAS promotes an ethical culture through company-wide ethics and compliance programs, policies, and processes, including supporting a Speak-Up line for employees to report concerns and promoting ethical decision-making across the organization.
- What are the benefits of working as a Compliance Specialist at SAS?
- SAS offers world-class benefits, including comprehensive health plans, an industry-leading 401k, generous time off, parental leave, childcare benefits, and opportunities for professional development.
- Is this a remote or hybrid role?
- This is a hybrid role, with the primary location being Cary, North Carolina. Specifics about remote work days would typically be discussed during the hiring process.