OPT Compliance Specialist Jobs
Compliance Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in law, finance, business, or risk management. Many employers in regulated industries actively hire OPT workers, and roles often qualify for STEM OPT extension if your degree is in a qualifying field like data analytics or information systems.
Find OPT Compliance Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 549+ Compliance Specialist jobs










See all 549+ Compliance Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Compliance Specialist roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
Job Description:
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is seeking a Senior Auditor, Operational and Compliance, to support a broad portfolio of assurance and advisory activities focused on operational, financial, compliance, and enterprise risk. In this role, you will lead complex operational audits, use data and business insight to identify meaningful risk themes, and partner with teams across A&F to strengthen governance, processes, and controls. The Senior Auditor will report to the Senior Manager, Internal Audit, and gain valuable exposure to senior leaders across the organization. We are looking for a naturally curious, collaborative self-starter with strong critical thinking, communication, data visualization, and project management skills who can demonstrate flexibility and agility in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
This is a hybrid role based at our Global Home Office in New Albany, Ohio, with in-office Team Up Days Tuesday through Thursday and Work From Anywhere flexibility generally available on Mondays and Fridays, subject to role needs and manager alignment.
This role is based at our Global Home Office in Columbus, OH.
What Will You Be Doing?
- Support Internal Audit’s annual risk assessment and agile risk identification processes by helping assess emerging operational, financial, compliance, and strategic risks across the business.
- Lead project work within the Operational and Compliance audit portfolio, including developing audit scope, objectives, audit programs, testing procedures, and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of processes and controls.
- Identify and evaluate exposures to the Company, including potential impact and root cause analysis, and partner with the business to develop cost-effective action plans that sufficiently mitigate risk.
- Support SOX efforts, including walkthroughs, testing, and deficiency evaluation, while collaborating effectively with the Internal Controls team, external auditor, and Controller’s organization.
- Embed with business teams on key transformation initiatives, ad-hoc advisory projects, policy development, and significant corporate initiatives to provide a risk, governance, and controls perspective that supports effective decision-making and sustainable process design.
- Use data, visualization techniques, and clear written communication to summarize audit insights, support conclusions, and communicate results to Internal Audit leadership and business stakeholders.
What Do You Need to Bring?
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, information systems, or a related professional field; professional certification such as CIA, CPA, CISA, or CFE preferred.
- Minimum 4 years of progressive experience, preferably in operational audit, internal audit, compliance, finance, risk, consulting, or relevant business process roles; retail, eCommerce, supply chain, or manufacturing experience will also be considered.
- Demonstrated experience scoping audits or advisory projects, developing work programs, identifying risks and controls, documenting results, and supporting practical business recommendations.
- Experience applying audit, risk, compliance, finance, consulting, or business process knowledge to operational environments, with the ability to quickly learn new business processes and translate observations into practical recommendations.
- Strong planning, project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including comfort working with data and tools such as Excel, Power BI, or other analytics and visualization platforms.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across Internal Audit, external auditors, and business stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain a positive attitude, embrace change, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Benefits & Perks
As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you’ll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F Co. is committed to providing competitive and comprehensive benefits that align with our company’s culture and values, but most importantly – with you! We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward:
- Incentive bonus program
- 401(K) savings plan with company match
- Annual companywide review process
- Flexible spending accounts
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Life and disability insurance
- Associate assistance program
- Paid parental and adoption leave
- Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
- Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
- Paid Caregiver Leave
- Mobile Stipend
- Paid time off and one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
- Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles and six work from anywhere weeks per year)
- Seven associate wellness half days per year
- Merchandise discount on all of our brands
- Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
- Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
- Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!
Company Description
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global, digitally led omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.
The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie brands and Hollister brands, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com and hollisterco.com.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
See all 549+ OPT Compliance Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Compliance Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Compliance Specialist
Target regulated industries first
Financial services, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals have dedicated compliance teams and hire internationally trained professionals regularly. These industries are accustomed to OPT work authorization and are more likely to engage candidates without requiring immediate H-1B visa sponsorship.
Know your OPT timeline before applying
Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization. If your degree qualifies for STEM OPT, you can extend by 24 months. Knowing your exact end date helps you frame your availability clearly and confidently during recruiter conversations.
Lead with your compliance credentials
Certifications like CAMS, CCEP, or relevant coursework in regulatory frameworks signal seriousness to hiring managers. Many compliance roles require specific knowledge bases, so front-loading credentials reduces hesitation about your visa status during the screening process.
Address OPT proactively in cover letters
State your authorization type, expiration date, and STEM extension eligibility in your cover letter. Compliance hiring managers value precision and transparency, so presenting your work authorization details clearly aligns with the professional standards they expect from candidates.
Prioritize employers already filing H-1B petitions
Companies with a history of H-1B sponsorship in compliance or legal functions are more likely to support your transition after OPT. Check public H-1B disclosure data to identify which employers have sponsored similar roles before targeting your applications.
Highlight cross-border regulatory knowledge
International students often bring familiarity with foreign regulatory environments, which is genuinely valuable in global compliance functions. Frame your background as an asset in roles involving AML, sanctions screening, or multinational policy adherence to stand out from domestic candidates.
Compliance Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Compliance Specialist on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Compliance Specialist roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. Common qualifying majors include finance, accounting, business administration, law, and information systems. If your degree is in a STEM-designated program, you may also be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization.
Does a Compliance Specialist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you earned a STEM-designated degree, such as in data analytics, information systems, or computer science, and your compliance role involves applying that technical knowledge, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility, since the extension is tied to the degree field, not the employer or job function.
What types of employers hire Compliance Specialists on OPT?
Banks, insurance companies, healthcare systems, pharmaceutical firms, and fintech companies are among the most active employers of compliance professionals. These industries operate under heavy regulatory oversight and maintain in-house compliance teams that hire year-round. You can browse compliance roles at OPT-friendly employers directly on Migrate Mate, which filters for companies open to F-1 work authorization.
Will employers sponsor H-1B after my OPT ends for a compliance role?
Many do, particularly in financial services and healthcare where compliance expertise is difficult to find and retain. Employers who have previously sponsored H-1B petitions for legal, risk, or compliance professionals are the strongest targets. Focusing your search on companies with an established sponsorship track record significantly improves your odds of transitioning from OPT to H-1B status.
What should I disclose about my OPT status when applying for Compliance Specialist jobs?
Be upfront about your work authorization type, your OPT end date, and whether you qualify for a STEM extension. Compliance hiring managers expect precision, so vague answers about your status can raise concerns. Clearly stating that you are authorized to work for 12 months, with a potential 24-month STEM extension, frames your situation as structured and plannable rather than uncertain.