Hiring for Legal, Risk & Compliance in Japan.
Throughout 2023, Compliance and Audit have exhibited a consistent flow of replacement roles. In contrast, Risk has witnessed lower activity, yet foreign and Japanese institutions have advertised multiple financial risk positions.
While regulatory factors persist in influencing hiring, with CROs and Heads of Compliance needing to fortify the second line due to heightened regulatory scrutiny, softening global markets compelled institutions to explore alternative solutions, deferring incremental hiring in 2023.
The result? Both hiring managers and candidates are adopting a more cautious approach, necessitating refined negotiations and a lengthening of the hiring process.
Looking ahead, increased regulatory scrutiny targeted at financial institutions will likely increase investment in risk management and compliance. Non-traditional financial institutions will also look to develop their risk management and compliance governance to stay abreast of demands from regulators.
The top 3 things Legal, Risk & Compliance talent look for when moving jobs:
- 1
Job satisfaction
- 2
High salary offers
- 3
Career progression opportunities
In demand roles
- Senior Counsel
- Associate Counsel
- Paralegal
- Legal Manager
- Market Risk
- Quantitative/model Risk
- Enterprise Risk
- IT Risk
- Risk and Control (1st line)
- Advisory Compliance
- Compliance Manager
- Financial Crime Compliance
- Core/Central Compliance
Valuable skill sets
- Japan Qualified
- Capital Markets / IB Experience
- IT skills with Financial Skills
- Bilingual
- Bilingual Skills
- Financial Risk Management
- Extensive Product Knowledge
- Regulator Experience (FSA)
- AML Experience 3 years+
- Bilingual Skills
- IT system Skills
Up, down or flat? The state of salaries.
Compared to last year, salaries have been flat. Salaries tend to show little volatility, however, some organisations are ready to pay premiums for highly qualified candidates who can contribute to growth and success.
In 2024, with more regulatory scrutiny, there will be a resurgence in hiring in Risk Management and Compliance and subsequent upward pressure on salaries.
of Legal, Risk & Compliance hiring managers expect salary offers to increase for certain roles in the next year.
Legal, Risk & Compliance salaries in Japan
| Job Title | Sector | Sub Sector | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Sector | Sub Sector | Location | Low | Median | High |
Head of Risk Senior Management Senior Management |
Risk | Senior Management | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥35,000,000 |
CRO / Chief Risk Officer Senior Management Senior Management |
Risk | Senior Management | Tokyo | ¥30,000,000 | ¥35,000,000 | ¥40,000,000+ |
Analyst Operational Risk Operational Risk |
Risk | Operational Risk | Tokyo | ¥5,500,000 | ¥6,500,000 | ¥7,500,000 |
Associate - AVP Operational Risk Operational Risk |
Risk | Operational Risk | Tokyo | ¥7,000,000 | ¥9,500,000 | ¥12,000,000 |
VP Operational Risk Operational Risk |
Risk | Operational Risk | Tokyo | ¥12,000,000 | ¥15,000,000 | ¥18,000,000 |
Director Operational Risk Operational Risk |
Risk | Operational Risk | Tokyo | ¥19,000,000 | ¥23,000,000 | ¥27,000,000 |
Managing Director Operational Risk Operational Risk |
Risk | Operational Risk | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥30,000,000+ |
Analyst Credit Risk Credit Risk |
Risk | Credit Risk | Tokyo | ¥6,000,000 | ¥7,500,000 | ¥8,500,000 |
Associate - AVP Credit Risk Credit Risk |
Risk | Credit Risk | Tokyo | ¥7,500,000 | ¥10,000,000 | ¥12,500,000 |
VP Credit Risk Credit Risk |
Risk | Credit Risk | Tokyo | ¥14,000,000 | ¥16,500,000 | ¥21,000,000 |
Director Credit Risk Credit Risk |
Risk | Credit Risk | Tokyo | ¥19,000,000 | ¥25,000,000 | ¥28,000,000 |
Managing Director Credit Risk Credit Risk |
Risk | Credit Risk | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥30,000,000+ |
Analyst Market Risk Market Risk |
Risk | Market Risk | Tokyo | ¥6,500,000 | ¥7,500,000 | ¥8,500,000 |
Associate - AVP Market Risk Market Risk |
Risk | Market Risk | Tokyo | ¥9,000,000 | ¥11,000,000 | ¥13,000,000 |
VP Market Risk Market Risk |
Risk | Market Risk | Tokyo | ¥13,000,000 | ¥16,000,000 | ¥19,000,000 |
Director Market Risk Market Risk |
Risk | Market Risk | Tokyo | ¥19,000,000 | ¥24,000,000 | ¥28,000,000 |
Managing Director Market Risk Market Risk |
Risk | Market Risk | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥30,000,000+ |
Analyst Liquidity Risk Liquidity Risk |
Risk | Liquidity Risk | Tokyo | ¥6,500,000 | ¥7,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 |
Associate - AVP Liquidity Risk Liquidity Risk |
Risk | Liquidity Risk | Tokyo | ¥9,000,000 | ¥10,000,000 | ¥13,000,000 |
VP Liquidity Risk Liquidity Risk |
Risk | Liquidity Risk | Tokyo | ¥12,000,000 | ¥15,000,000 | ¥18,000,000 |
Director Liquidity Risk Liquidity Risk |
Risk | Liquidity Risk | Tokyo | ¥17,000,000 | ¥22,000,000 | ¥28,000,000 |
Managing Director Liquidity Risk Liquidity Risk |
Risk | Liquidity Risk | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥30,000,000+ |
Head Of Compliance Senior Management Senior Management |
Compliance | Senior Management | Tokyo | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥40,000,000+ |
Analyst Core / Central Compliance Core / Central Compliance |
Compliance | Core / Central Compliance | Tokyo | ¥6,000,000 | ¥7,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 |
Associate Core / Central Compliance Core / Central Compliance |
Compliance | Core / Central Compliance | Tokyo | ¥8,000,000 | ¥10,000,000 | ¥12,000,000 |
VP Core / Central Compliance Core / Central Compliance |
Compliance | Core / Central Compliance | Tokyo | ¥11,000,000 | ¥15,000,000 | ¥19,000,000 |
Director Core / Central Compliance Core / Central Compliance |
Compliance | Core / Central Compliance | Tokyo | ¥18,000,000 | ¥24,000,000 | ¥28,000,000 |
Analyst Surveillance / Monitoring Surveillance / Monitoring |
Compliance | Surveillance / Monitoring | Tokyo | ¥6,000,000 | ¥7,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 |
Associate Surveillance / Monitoring Surveillance / Monitoring |
Compliance | Surveillance / Monitoring | Tokyo | ¥8,000,000 | ¥10,000,000 | ¥12,000,000 |
VP Surveillance / Monitoring Surveillance / Monitoring |
Compliance | Surveillance / Monitoring | Tokyo | ¥11,000,000 | ¥14,500,000 | ¥18,000,000 |
Director Surveillance / Monitoring Surveillance / Monitoring |
Compliance | Surveillance / Monitoring | Tokyo | ¥17,000,000 | ¥21,000,000 | ¥26,000,000 |
Analyst Control Room Control Room |
Compliance | Control Room | Tokyo | ¥6,500,000 | ¥7,500,000 | ¥8,500,000 |
Associate Control Room Control Room |
Compliance | Control Room | Tokyo | ¥8,000,000 | ¥10,000,000 | ¥13,000,000 |
VP Control Room Control Room |
Compliance | Control Room | Tokyo | ¥12,000,000 | ¥15,000,000 | ¥19,000,000 |
Director Control Room Control Room |
Compliance | Control Room | Tokyo | ¥17,000,000 | ¥22,000,000 | ¥28,000,000 |
Analyst Advisory Advisory |
Compliance | Advisory | Tokyo | ¥7,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 | ¥9,000,000 |
Associate Advisory Advisory |
Compliance | Advisory | Tokyo | ¥9,000,000 | ¥11,000,000 | ¥13,000,000 |
VP Advisory Advisory |
Compliance | Advisory | Tokyo | ¥13,000,000 | ¥17,000,000 | ¥21,000,000 |
Director Advisory Advisory |
Compliance | Advisory | Tokyo | ¥20,000,000 | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 |
Junior Legal Assistant Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥4,000,000 | ¥6,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 |
Senior Legal Assistant Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥7,000,000 | ¥9,500,000 | ¥12,000,000 |
Legal Counsel Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥9,000,000 | ¥14,000,000 | ¥19,000,000 |
Senior Counsel Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥15,000,000 | ¥21,000,000 | ¥27,000,000 |
General Counsel Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥24,000,000 | ¥25,000,000 | ¥30,000,000+ |
Head of Legal Legal (In House) Legal (In House) |
Legal | Legal (In House) | Tokyo | ¥30,000,000 | ¥35,000,000 | ¥40,000,000+ |
Download Your 2024 Legal, Risk & Compliance Salary Guide for Japan.
Permanent, temporary and contract salary data for a range of Legal, Risk & Compliance roles, as well as insights and advice to guide your talent strategies.
