Head Of Compliance Jobs in California
Head Of Compliance jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with demand concentrated in financial services, healthcare, biotechnology, and technology across a regulatory environment more complex than virtually any other state. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego anchor most of the hiring, with established employers such as Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, and Genentech maintaining significant compliance leadership teams in California. The most sought-after specializations include financial regulatory compliance, clinical and FDA compliance, and data privacy under the California Consumer Privacy Act. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About PayZen
PayZen is on a mission to bring financial health to healthcare. Our products improve both access and affordability for patients and cash flow & administrative complexity for medical providers. We are trusted by a rapidly growing number of health systems, hospitals, and physician groups and are backed by leading venture capital investors, including NEA, SignalFire, Viola Group, and 7Wire Ventures.
About The Role
We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Head of Compliance, to help build our Legal and Compliance team. We are looking for team members who are passionate about contributing to the growth of a company that’s improving access to healthcare for all Americans. If you are intellectually curious, fun, precise and thoughtful we’d love to have you join us. The successful candidate will be responsible for building a program and managing compliance risks from a strategic, risk-based perspective, and providing expert guidance to senior leaders. Well-reasoned, practical advice as we navigate rapidly evolving laws and regulations in healthcare, payments, insurance and government programs, data privacy, and AI is critical. In this role, you will report to the Chief Legal Officer on the Legal and Compliance team at our headquarters in San Francisco. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization poised for significant growth. You’ll have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects with an array of people from across the company as we build the team and the company.
Responsibilities
- Design and lead a comprehensive, risk-based compliance program that proactively addresses regulatory requirements across healthcare, fintech, payments, insurance, government programs, data privacy, AI, and cybersecurity.
- Develop and implement compliance policies and procedures in alignment with business objectives, collaborating closely with product, marketing, and operations teams to ensure regulatory requirements are met while enabling innovation.
- Provide strategic, practical compliance guidance to senior leadership, with a focus on navigating evolving regulations in areas such as HIPAA, financial regulation, and AI/data privacy frameworks.
- Build and scale a high-performing compliance team, fostering a culture of ethics, accountability, and continuous improvement, while promoting the use of compliance-related technologies and tools.
- Lead regulatory exam readiness and risk management efforts, including oversight of vendor and third-party compliance, cybersecurity controls, and engagement with regulators to ensure transparency and alignment.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in compliance roles, preferably within fintech, banking, financial services and/or health care sectors
- Strong foundation in product counseling, marketing, and technology applications
- Strong research and analytical skills, with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to identify and implement process enhancements.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently while balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across legal, compliance, and cross-functional teams and externally with clients and regulators.
- Local to the Bay Area - HQ in San Francisco, CA
Why PayZen
- An opportunity to positively affect the lives of thousands of patients
- A chance to join a high-growth company at an early stage
- Contribute to the development of a product that revolutionizes medical payments in ways never seen before
- Become a key member of a collaborative, high performing team, shaping its growth and success
- Competitive pay, benefits and stock options
Compensation Range: $228K - $268K
About PayZen
PayZen is on a mission to bring financial health to healthcare. Our products improve both access and affordability for patients and cash flow & administrative complexity for medical providers. We are trusted by a rapidly growing number of health systems, hospitals, and physician groups and are backed by leading venture capital investors, including NEA, SignalFire, Viola Group, and 7Wire Ventures.
About The Role
We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Head of Compliance, to help build our Legal and Compliance team. We are looking for team members who are passionate about contributing to the growth of a company that’s improving access to healthcare for all Americans. If you are intellectually curious, fun, precise and thoughtful we’d love to have you join us. The successful candidate will be responsible for building a program and managing compliance risks from a strategic, risk-based perspective, and providing expert guidance to senior leaders. Well-reasoned, practical advice as we navigate rapidly evolving laws and regulations in healthcare, payments, insurance and government programs, data privacy, and AI is critical. In this role, you will report to the Chief Legal Officer on the Legal and Compliance team at our headquarters in San Francisco. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization poised for significant growth. You’ll have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects with an array of people from across the company as we build the team and the company.
Responsibilities
- Design and lead a comprehensive, risk-based compliance program that proactively addresses regulatory requirements across healthcare, fintech, payments, insurance, government programs, data privacy, AI, and cybersecurity.
- Develop and implement compliance policies and procedures in alignment with business objectives, collaborating closely with product, marketing, and operations teams to ensure regulatory requirements are met while enabling innovation.
- Provide strategic, practical compliance guidance to senior leadership, with a focus on navigating evolving regulations in areas such as HIPAA, financial regulation, and AI/data privacy frameworks.
- Build and scale a high-performing compliance team, fostering a culture of ethics, accountability, and continuous improvement, while promoting the use of compliance-related technologies and tools.
- Lead regulatory exam readiness and risk management efforts, including oversight of vendor and third-party compliance, cybersecurity controls, and engagement with regulators to ensure transparency and alignment.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in compliance roles, preferably within fintech, banking, financial services and/or health care sectors
- Strong foundation in product counseling, marketing, and technology applications
- Strong research and analytical skills, with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to identify and implement process enhancements.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently while balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across legal, compliance, and cross-functional teams and externally with clients and regulators.
- Local to the Bay Area - HQ in San Francisco, CA
Why PayZen
- An opportunity to positively affect the lives of thousands of patients
- A chance to join a high-growth company at an early stage
- Contribute to the development of a product that revolutionizes medical payments in ways never seen before
- Become a key member of a collaborative, high performing team, shaping its growth and success
- Competitive pay, benefits and stock options
Compensation Range: $228K - $268K
See All 34 Head Of Compliance Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Of Compliance JobsHead Of Compliance Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of Compliance Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Block2
- Cardless2
- Nium2
- Revolution Medicines2
- Scale AI2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software17
- Banking & Financial Services8
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Electronics & Hardware2
- Science & Research2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of compliance jobs across California.
- Juris Doctor or bachelor's degree in business, finance, law, or a related field
- Relevant professional certification such as CCEP, CRCM, CHC, or CIPP/US
- Seven or more years of compliance experience in a regulated California industry
- Deep knowledge of California-specific regulations including CCPA, CMIA, and DFPI rules
- Experience managing compliance programs across multiple California business lines or entities
- Strong background presenting compliance risk assessments to executive leadership and boards
Head Of Compliance Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of compliance in California?
Most heads of compliance in California reach the role through a combination of a relevant degree in law, business, or a related field and years of progressively senior compliance experience in a regulated industry. California does not issue a state-specific compliance license, but employers strongly favor candidates holding recognized professional certifications such as the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional, Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager, or Certified in Healthcare Compliance designation. Hands-on experience navigating California-specific frameworks, including CCPA, Department of Financial Protection and Innovation rules, or FDA requirements, meaningfully strengthens a candidacy.
How much do head of compliances make in California?
Head of compliances in California earn a median of about $96,980 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $57,530 for the lowest 10% to over $158,280 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of compliances in California?
Employers hiring head of compliances in California right now include Block, Cardless, and Nium, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense concentration of regulated industries, from major bank branches and health systems to publicly traded biotechnology firms, means the employer base for this role is unusually broad and active compared with most states.
Which California cities have the most head of compliance jobs?
The cities with the most head of compliance openings in California are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Mountain View. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive the largest share of demand through their headquarters-heavy financial services, technology, and healthcare sectors, while San Diego's outsized biotechnology and life sciences cluster produces strong and consistent openings for compliance leaders with FDA and clinical research backgrounds.
Are there remote head of compliance jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most senior leadership roles. About 29% of head of compliance openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the desk-based and policy-driven nature of much of the work. The portions of the role most commonly performed remotely include policy development, regulatory monitoring, training program oversight, and reporting to executive leadership, while on-site presence is more often required for industries such as healthcare and manufacturing where floor-level compliance auditing is part of the job.
How can I get hired as a head of compliance in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a compliance analyst or compliance coordinator role inside a California-regulated industry, such as banking, health insurance, or life sciences, where you build direct exposure to the regulatory frameworks California employers care most about. Large California employers including Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America's California operations, and major biotechnology firms regularly hire into associate compliance roles that do not require prior compliance titles. Earning an entry-level certification such as the CCEP-I while working in a risk, legal, audit, or quality assurance role is the credential that most consistently opens the door to a compliance career track.
Where can I find and apply to head of compliance jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head of compliance jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, industry background, and preferred location or work arrangement, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 34 Head Of Compliance Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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