Ethics & Compliance Specialist

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

2d•$87,633 - $109,543

About The Position

Support the operation and continuous improvement of AEP's enterprise Ethics & Compliance program, including its Concerns Line and investigations, conflicts-of-interest program, ethics and compliance training, employee outreach and communications, policy guidance, program monitoring, data analysis and reporting. Serve as a trusted resource to employees and leaders by providing timely guidance, escalating potential misconduct or compliance concerns, and reinforcing AEP's Principles of Business Conduct and a culture where employees are empowered to speak up and do the right thing. Partner with Legal, Human Resources/Employee Relations, Security, Internal Audit and business leaders to investigate concerns, identify and mitigate compliance risks, and promote consistent and fair application of company policies and standards. The role requires sound judgment, exceptional discretion and confidentiality, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to independently manage sensitive matters and competing priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, psychology, social sciences, sociology or a related field.
Four years of business or government experience emphasizing law, human resources, regulatory, auditing, compliance or relevant areas.
Strong writing, presentation and facilitation skills.
Strong analytical skills and ability to use program data to identify trends and support decision-making.
Sound judgment, independence and discretion in handling sensitive matters involving employees or senior leaders.
Ability to build trusted relationships across Legal, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Security and business functions while maintaining independence and confidentiality.
Strong organizational and project-management skills, including ability to manage multiple investigations, projects and deadlines concurrently with limited supervision.
Comfort working with technology and identifying opportunities to improve Ethics & Compliance processes, case management, reporting and employee engagement through technology and automation.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting or supporting workplace, ethics, compliance, employee relations, audit or similar fact-finding investigations.
Experience interviewing witnesses, analyzing documents and other evidence, documenting findings, and handling confidential or sensitive information.
Experience with ethics or compliance reporting systems, case-management systems or hotline/Concerns Line administration; experience with NAVEX or a comparable platform is preferred.
Working knowledge of corporate ethics and compliance topics, including conflicts of interest, gifts and entertainment, anti-retaliation, fraud, appropriate use of company assets and codes of conduct.
Demonstrated ability to interpret policies and translate complex requirements into practical guidance for employees and leaders.
Experience developing or delivering employee training and communications.
Professional certification such as CCEP, CCEP-I, CFE, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR or an investigation-related credential.

Responsibilities

Monitor assigned matters for timely completion, consistency and quality; identify recurring issues, trends, control weaknesses and opportunities for corrective action, training or prevention.
Assist in creating, implementing, maintaining and monitoring policies and procedures that support AEP and governmental, regulatory, legal and legislative initiatives.
Administer and support conflicts-of-interest and related ethics processes, including reviewing disclosures, gathering information, assessing potential conflicts, documenting resolutions and mitigation measures, and escalating complex or sensitive matters.
Respond to employee and leader questions about the Principles of Business Conduct, conflicts of interest, gifts and entertainment, company assets, Speak Up expectations and other ethics-related policies; provide practical guidance and coordinate with Legal or subject-matter experts when appropriate.
Develop, coordinate and deliver enterprise and targeted Ethics & Compliance training and communications, including Principles of Business Conduct, Speak Up and non-retaliation, conflicts of interest, manager education and risk-based programming.
Partner with business subject-matter experts and Corporate Communications to develop relevant training content and employee resources; maintain training and participation records and improve programming using feedback, case trends and engagement data.
Work with business unit leaders to increase awareness of AEP's Ethics & Compliance program and participate in corporate and business unit initiatives as needed.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, legal and compliance issues affecting the company and support implementation of related requirements.
Communicate matters that may be illegal, unethical or otherwise improper to Ethics & Compliance leadership and, as appropriate, Legal or other responsible functions.
Assist and coordinate preparation of reports for the Chief Compliance Officer for presentation to AEP executive leadership and the AEP Board of Directors.