Get off the starting blocks!

Congratulation! You got a job and just starting as a new Compliance Manager.

Staring a new job is always, both, exciting and challenging. Don’t let the new environment overwhelm you. Take your time and use first month to gain as much knowledge on the new company as you can.

3 times LEARN!

Read and Learn!

Take your time and review Intranet, check if a Code of Conduct exists, check out for the shape of documented policies, procedures, finance manuals, chart of controls, etc. Create you initial “compliance check list”, i.e. a very simple list of what is missing or outdated. Make your initial comments to documents, especially if you don’t understand something.

This whole exercise may does not sound like an exciting thing to do, but trust me, it is worth your time and effort. You will gain an absolute overview and will know where to go and check for information.

Greet and Learn!

Make sure you have a chance to introduce yourself, don’t let HR to only send short and dull note or post it on intranet. Use stand-up meetings, dinners, unofficial after work drinks. Keep professional but don’t let yourself to stay disconnected. Your colleagues need to trust you and feel that you are part of the team.

Spend some time on organization chart to have a good overview of who does what and what interactions comes in place. Make relations. Don’t wait for invitations, just go around the office, shake hands, ask what the person is doing. Send invitations to different managers for an 1 hour meetings (try to invite for breakfast, lunch if possible). Ask every individual about the role, key projects, challenges and issue. Ask what you can do for them. Listen to them. Make notes (you will use them next months!).

Meet and Learn!

Your boss just grabs you to join different meeting. You feel lost? Don’t be, it’s great! Take as much as you can from these opportunities. Listen carefully and put down all key topics discussed, issues raised and useful references to teams, documents, projects, etc.

Remember that you don’t need to play active role yet. Rather be an astute observer! This is the very time you have during your career which is a given time. Simply as that, everybody understands that you are new to the company, and obviously you don’t have actions and deadlines at your plate yet.

This is the moment to ask questions, all questions that comes to your mind! Use first month to learn as much as you can. Asking questions is always good and valuable, however some questions are not appreciated after some time in the company, like.. “so what is our finance system”, or “who is our external auditor”.

Good luck!