Personnel Selection: Interview Questions: Regulatory Compliance

Proactive Monitoring and Assessment

Explain how you would implement regulatory compliance strategies.
Did you establish a governance body to monitor and guide the organization's activities?
Do you perform regular compliance audits?
Have you performed annual/monthly compliance audits?
Have you implemented internal control processes to detect misconduct or patterns of illegal transactions?
Do you perform audits regularly, or without notice, to ensure proper compliance with regulations?
How have you implemented regulatory changes in a timely manner?
In your previous job, have you had to conduct risk assessments? Explain.
Describe the steps you would take to coordinate internal and external audit procedures.
Give an example of how you implemented strategies to ensure regulatory compliance.
Have you periodically assessed the effectiveness of regulatory/compliance programs?

Responsive

How do you ensure appropriate follow-up for regulatory violations?
Describe how you established clear communication channels and lines of communication for compliance related issues.
Do you respond promptly to inquiries from regulatory bodies?
Do you use software tools to monitor compliance and track issues to help identify and respond to non-compliance?
Explain how you would create a standardized response protocol for responding to compliance related issues.
How would you maintain a state of readiness to address new and changing regulations and procedures?
Give examples of when you followed up on any unresolved compliance issues.
Explain how you would respond accurately and completely to questions from regulators.
Being response to issues is important. Give an example of when addressed issues quickly before they developed into major problems.

Develops/Implements Frameworks

How would you create necessary compliance policies and procedures?
How would you coordinate the execution of compliance strategies across departments?
Explain how you would develop regulatory compliance strategies.
Do you work quickly to implement changes in regulations? Give an example.
How do you formulate compliance policies and procedures?
How would you develop effective procedures for ensuring compliance?
Documentation in the form of training manuals is important. Have you had an opportunity to create a company compliance manual for distribution to the employees?
Have you developed appropriate incentives (or disincentives) for regulatory compliance?
How do you observe, monitor and coordinate compliance activities?
Risk mitigation often requires a strategy to be followed. Explain how you would investigate risk mitigation strategies.
Have you developed and implemented appropriate reporting channels?
Describe how you would develop strategies to comply with established regulations.

Develops Reporting System

Have you used operational compliance reports to evaluate the effectiveness of internal processes?
Sharing information with stakeholders is important. Have you developed compliance reports to share with stakeholders?
How would you develop compliance reports in accordance with federal and industry regulations?
Have you developed a confidential reporting system to enable employees to anonymously report safety violations?
Have you maintained a compliance data recordkeeping system?
Do you use compliance reports to evaluate the effectiveness of compliance initiatives identifying areas of risk?
Did you develop and implement a compliance data recordkeeping system?

Ensures Compliance

Describe how you would maintain compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
How do you ensure operations meet government and industry requirements/standards?
Describe how you would ensure the company is in compliance with all laws regarding the production and transportation of product.
How would you ensure regulations are followed as required?
Do you review operations and work flows to ensure compliance with standards? Describe how.
Give an example of how you ensured the company meets legal requirements/standards regarding commercial enterprises.
How do you ensure the company meets legal requirements/standards regarding employees?
Explain how you would determine if the company is in compliance with industry specifications, standards, and applicable laws.

Train and Educate

How would you track employee participation in development opportunities as required by industry regulations.
Have you had to explain regulations and procedures to others. Give an example.
Have you conducted in-house training sessions to promote awareness of regulations and compliance?
Explain how you would offer training to employees to ensure they comply with regulations.
Give an example of when you reviewed skill levels of employees in areas of policies and regulations to identify gaps where additional training is needed.
Do you offer training to employees to ensure they are complying with regulations?
Often times, employees are not aware of all of the regulations they need to be following. Have you offered training on various subjects to help ensure employees are aware of regulations?
Have you created and administered training initiatives on compliance and regulations?
Describe how you would create and implement training courses for new hires to ensure knowledge of regulations and policies.

Knowledgeable

Are you familiar with EEOC, FLSA, OSHA and ERISA acts/standards? Elaborate on how each impacts employment.
If you were training a new employee, how would you describe the minimum compliance standards?
Are you aware of federal and local laws affecting employees?
Are you aware of the documents and reports needed to maintain compliance with regulations?
Are you aware of the required compliance standards for this position?
Explain the applicable regulations and laws that impact our business.
How do you keep track of changes in legislation affecting regulatory compliance?

Continuous Improvement

How do you keep up-to-date with legislation affecting employees?
Do you attend industry tradeshows and conferences to keep up-to-date with changes and trends? What was the last show you attended?
How do you keep informed of various regulations and procedures?

Working Relationships

Explain how you would coordinate with legal counsel investigating any instances of misconduct.
Have you coordinated with legal counsel in conducting audits of legal compliance?
Do you have any experience acting as a liaison to regulatory agencies?
Do you have contacts at various regulatory agencies?
How do you coordinate the work of other Business Managers to ensure all are in compliance with established standards and guidelines?
Do you know who to contact at various regulatory agencies if needed?
Describe how you would interact with auditors and regulators.
Are you professional and courteous in interactions with auditors and regulators? Give examples of your interactions with these individuals.

Mitigate Risk

Do you review transactions for potential misconduct?
Have you previously performed regulatory risk management to manage the risks of compliance (or non-compliance)?
How would you identify and assess areas of regulatory or compliance risk?

Fosters Ethical Culture

How do you make sure that employees in your department understand and adhere to internal and external regulations?
In your former job, have you created and distributed a code of ethics and code of conduct?
How would you ensure compliance through actions and behaviors?
How do you effectively communicate the importance of meeting compliance standards?
Explain how you would strengthen employees' ability to appropriately handle compliance and ethics issues.

Creates/Maintains Documentation

Have you created and maintained necessary regulatory documentation?
Explain how you would maintain historical records and documents as needed/required.
Do you document the performance of compliance audits?

Reviews Documentation

Have you reviewed anti-retaliation policies to ensure compliance with government standards?
Explain how you would review documentation, processes and practices.
Give an example of how you reviewed the compliance program and recommended changes based on new industry trends.
Have you reviewed documentation and procedures manuals to ensure regulatory compliance?

Provides Documentation

Explain how you keep detailed records of compliance measures.
Do you prepare and present annual reports as required?
Describe the steps needed to creates documents and reports to maintain compliance with regulations.
Have you provided documents and reports as needed to maintain compliance with laws?
Have you had to submit complete applications for necessary certifications? Give examples.

Complies with Regulations

How would you comply with regulatory requirements for the state?
Do the employees on your production line follow all safety regulations and procedures?
How would you ensure employees act in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws?
Describe how you would comply with trade agreements affecting international companies.

Leadership

Explain how you would provide direction and oversight for the compliance department.
Are you effective in managing a department of compliance officers? Explain.
Describe how you would appoint a supervisory committee to ensure effective oversight of the organization.
Are you able to create an oversight panel to provide comprehensive supervision for the organization? How would you do it?