Compliance: A Short Book

“Compliance” should describe a central function in every major organization. It often denotes a whole range of other things: some impossible to achieve, in other cases vital to the survival of institutions. It should be helping us all to achieve better results, more in line with what society or regulators want.

Some of the greats have worked either in or around compliance. These giants have imposed the highest standards on organizations unfamiliar with such ideas, managed extraordinary projects to ensure that millions receive compensation and negotiated the survival of jobs in the face of regulators entitled to close down their organizations.

Yet, Compliance often has a negative reputation.

Like most tasks, it can be done excellently and appallingly, with most things in between. It can ignore the bigger picture and focus on the petty. It can place itself in the proverbial “ivory tower” and fail to engage effectively with the organization. This book tries to understand Compliance, the standards and tasks involved and the type of people that should be doing it. The discussion draws heavily from financial services. However, charities, hospitals, public authorities and businesses generally should recognise how many of the same considerations apply to them.