Senior Compliance Analyst
How would you describe the current stage or most recent stage of your career as a Senior Compliance Analyst?
Currently, I am a Senior Compliance Analyst at the Canadian Tire Corporation in Toronto. As a Senior Compliance Analyst I research and track regulatory changes that impact the retail industry and work with business teams to implement compliance. I also serve as a key stakeholder to review and assess new initiatives and advise teams on how best to move a project forward while minimizing compliance risk. Some of my typical duties include conducting privacy impact assessments and compliance risk assessments, investigating and responding to regulators and customers on compliance concerns, completing and submitting required compliance reports to various ministries/regulatory bodies, creating internal reports to track key compliance metrics, writing internal policies and process documents, and working with business teams to create and implement action plans to close open compliance risks.
Compliance work is something that I love as it is a line of work where you are continuously learning, problem solving and using critical thinking skills – all of which I enjoy. The role is also a great balance between an art and a science; it involves a lot of reading, writing and researching but also includes working with data and figuring out how a tool or a process works. The role also provides opportunities to work both independently and collaboratively. As a graduate of both economics and political science, I get to apply a wide spectrum of skills and experience an overall sense of balance in my work.
What was your first ‘real’ job after graduating?
My first ‘real’ job was as a Category Business Analyst at the same company that I currently work at. As a Category Business Analyst I worked alongside a Buyer and a team of other specialized analysts to create national assortments for stores and drive overall business growth. I first came across the role when I worked alongside a Category Business Analyst through a student-initiated internship in an adjacent role. The role required a lot of cross-functional interaction which enabled me to explore different areas of the business and connect with different teams. It was also a great foundational role which let me build a lot of transitional skills around research and problem solving in business which I was able to apply to secure a role on the Compliance team.
What’s the most valuable or impactful piece of career advice you’ve received that you’d like to pass on?
“Regardless of your role, blossom where you’re planted” – I learned that advice at a recent women’s business leadership conference that I attended, and I think it applies to everyone at every stage of their career. Whether you are just starting your career or you are well established in your field, it is important to approach your work with a growth mindset and an appetite to learn and continuously improve. If you approach your career in this way, you will get the most out of your current experience while also finding new opportunities to explore along the way.
Which degree(s) did you complete during your education, either at McMaster, or at another institution? Please add any degree program details you think are relevant to understand your academic path (e.g. specializations, minors, post-graduate certificates, etc.)
- BA (Hons.) Economics & Political Science – McMaster University
- Minor in Business – McMaster University