If you’re hiring for risk and compliance, technical expertise is a given. But in our experience recruiting for financial services teams across Australia, it’s the soft skills that often separate good candidates from truly great ones.
And we’re not the only ones saying it—a recent study found that 84% of employees and managers insist job candidates must demonstrate soft skills. In a space shaped by uncertainty, regulation, and human behaviour, communication, influence, and adaptability are what set top performers apart.
Whether you’re building out your team or developing your own capabilities, here are 7 soft skills that are absolutely essential in today’s risk and compliance environment.
1. Communication: A Top Soft Skill for Risk Professionals
Clear communication is one of the most important soft skills in the workplace, especially when explaining complex risks or compliance changes to non-technical stakeholders. We’ve seen high-performing candidates tailor their language depending on who’s in the room, which helps them build trust and buy-in more effectively.
Whether it’s writing a policy, presenting to the board, or educating frontline teams, communication is also a soft skill for your resume that hiring managers actively look for. Without it, even the best advice can get ignored or misunderstood.
2. Critical Thinking: The Skill Behind Strong Judgement
Soft skills training often includes problem-solving, but in risk and compliance, it’s critical thinking that drives sound decision-making. It helps professionals look beyond surface issues and anticipate how decisions may impact the business, clients, or regulatory obligations. We regularly help clients identify candidates who ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and bring a structured, thoughtful approach to problem-solving.
3. Influence: A Core Part of Leadership Soft Skills
In many risk and compliance roles, you’re advising others rather than making the final call. The ability to build relationships, offer constructive feedback, and help others understand the “why” behind your advice is essential. Influence is also a skill that can be strengthened with training, and it’s often a key focus in leadership soft skills programs that our clients invest in to support internal talent development.
4. Adaptability: A Focus Area in Soft Skills Courses
Regulations shift, stakeholders change, and risk profiles evolve. This is why adaptability is one of the most important soft skills for risk and compliance professionals at every level. People who stay curious, open-minded, and responsive to new information tend to thrive in this space. If you’re hiring, look for examples of candidates who’ve successfully handled change. If you’re growing in your role, consider soft skills courses that focus on adaptability and resilience.
5. Collaboration: Risk Management is a Team Effort
In our work with financial services employers, we consistently see that risk and compliance professionals who collaborate across departments tend to drive stronger outcomes. They don’t just audit from the sidelines; they embed themselves in day-to-day decision-making. When leaders demonstrate inclusive, cross-functional collaboration, it builds trust and influence across the business.
6. Integrity: The Foundation of Trusted Advice
It should go without saying, but integrity is a non-negotiable in risk and compliance. Stakeholders need confidence that your advice is independent, balanced, and aligned with both regulatory obligations and commercial realities. Integrity shows up in how you handle competing interests, escalate concerns, and document decisions.
It’s also one of the soft skills hiring managers should intentionally assess during interviews. At Godfrey Group, we work with our clients to design targeted questions and scenarios that help uncover integrity early in the recruitment process, reducing the risk of misalignment later on.
7. Attention to Detail: Not Just a Technical Skill
Yes, detail matters in compliance, but it’s about more than just spotting technical mistakes. The best candidates pay close attention to patterns in audit findings, emerging regulatory risks, or inconsistencies in client documentation. We often recommend professionals who can confidently shift between the fine print and broader business implications, especially in roles like compliance managers, risk business partners, or heads of assurance, where strategic and technical thinking go hand in hand.
Support Soft Skills Through Training, Not Just Hiring
While hiring for soft skills is important, developing them internally is just as critical. Investing in soft skills training for employees helps improve performance, engagement, and retention across the board. For risk and compliance professionals, this can include structured training in communication, stakeholder management, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving in high-pressure settings.
For those in leadership roles, targeted soft skills training for managers can focus on coaching techniques, leading through change, handling difficult conversations, and creating psychologically safe team environments. In governance-heavy industries like financial services, this kind of development supports long-term business continuity and risk mitigation.
Build a More Capable Risk and Compliance Team with Godfrey Group
At Godfrey Group, we help employers look beyond the job description to find the right balance between soft skills and technical ability. From investing in soft skills training for managers to refining your interview process to better evaluate candidates, we support your success at every stage. Connect with us on 02 8004 9350 or enquire online to learn more.
