Compliance &Ethics - Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics

One explanation for the job securitymay be that management perceptions ofcompliance are generally seen as positive(see figure 3). More than half (56%) ofrespondents reported that their managementsees compliance as a somewhat or verypositive asset in helping the organizationthrough the current economic conditions. Bycontrast, just 17% report that their managementsees compliance as somewhat of or agreat hindrance. Interestingly, these numbershave remained largely unchanged overthe past few years, despite the increasingnumbers of corporate scandals.And fears of more scandals remain highamong compliance professionals. More thana third (36%) of respondents believe thatthe current economy “greatly” increases therisk of compliance failures, and another 52%believe that it “somewhat” increases the risk.These numbers are remarkably similar tothe previous year’s findings (37% and 53%respectively).In sum, the research suggests that theworst of the recession may be over, at least forcompliance budgets. More compliance professionalsare seeing their budgets rise, and theyanticipate that this trend will likely continuenext year.It’s troubling, though, that the rise inspending is not being accompanied by anincrease in staffing. With growing demandsupon compliance programs, both fromincreased regulation and enforcement,the demands on existing staff are increasing.Recent research has indicated that thecompliance community is already feelinggreat stress. The data indicates that a brighteningeconomic picture is not translatinginto more people to do the work, and torelieve the stress of those already workingin Compliance. ✵Adam Turteltaub is Vice President of Membership for SCCE. He can becontacted at adam.turteltaub@corporatecompliance.org.Figure 150%45%40%35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%Figure 240%35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%IncreaseDecrease26%24%Figure 370%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%27%Change in Budget32%14%38%43%11% 11%2009 2010 2011 2012 ProjectedIncreaseDecrease51%18%Change in Staffing31%10%33%9%34%2009 2010 2011 2012 Projected58%Management Perception of Compliance56%32%29%Positive or Very Positive Neither Positive nor Hindrance Somewhat or Great Hindrance27%17%13%7%20092010201117%Compliance & Ethics Professional May/June 2012+1 952 933 4977 or 888 277 4977 | www.corporatecompliance.org 49