| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Human Resources |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | HR Head |
| Direct reports | Statutory Compliance Executive |
| Experience | 8 to 12 years in statutory compliance or labour law practice, covering several states |
Statutory Compliance Manager job description template
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Job title: Statutory Compliance Manager
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: HR Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Statutory Compliance Manager makes sure the company meets its labour law obligations in every state where it employs people. The role owns registrations, PF, ESI, professional tax and labour welfare fund payments and returns, statutory registers, contractor compliance and inspections, and tracks legal changes such as the Labour Codes and their state rules. It reports to the HR Head or finance head. A good compliance manager keeps a calendar that is never missed and a record trail that answers any inspector's question.
Key responsibilities
- Maintain a compliance calendar for every entity and state, covering payments, returns, renewals and register updates.
- Oversee monthly PF and ESI contributions and returns, professional tax and labour welfare fund payments, and match every challan to payroll.
- Hold registrations for every establishment, such as shops and establishments, PF, ESI and PT, and update them when offices open, close or move.
- Maintain registers and records required under the Labour Codes and state rules in formats inspectors accept.
- Audit contractors each month for wage payment, PF, ESI and licence compliance, and hold bills where proof is missing.
- Handle inspections, notices and assessments from labour, PF and ESI authorities, and draft written replies with supporting records.
- Track legal changes, including the Central Rules notified on 8 May 2026 and each state's rules, and brief HR and payroll on what changes in practice.
- Run internal compliance audits of branches and plants, and follow up until every gap is closed.
- Manage compliance consultants and legal advisers, and review the quality of their filings and advice.
- Report compliance status monthly to the HR Head and finance, with overdue items and risks highlighted.
Requirements
- Graduate in commerce or law; an MBA in HR or an LLB is an advantage
- Diploma in labour laws or labour welfare
- Hands-on experience with EPFO, ESIC and state labour portals
- 8 to 12 years in statutory compliance or labour law practice, covering several states
KRAs and KPIs for a Statutory Compliance Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| On-time payments | Every PF, ESI, PT and LWF payment made by its due date, with zero interest or damages |
| Returns and renewals | All returns filed and licences renewed before their due dates |
| Contractor compliance | Compliance proof received from every contractor before their monthly bill is paid |
| Inspection outcomes | Every notice answered by its deadline, with no penalty orders in the year |
| Internal audits | Every location audited yearly, with 90 percent of gaps closed within 60 days |
| Legal change readiness | Each notified change assessed and briefed to HR and payroll within 30 days |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: EPFO unified portal, ESIC portal, State PT and LWF portals, Shram Suvidha portal, Excel compliance tracker, Document management system.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: HR Operations Manager, Head of People Operations, General Manager HR
Interview questions for a Statutory Compliance Manager
- We are opening offices in five new states next quarter. Which registrations do you plan for?
- An ESI notice claims contributions were short paid three years ago. How do you respond?
- How do you check that a contractor's PF challan actually covers the workers at our site?
- What changed in the definition of wages under the Code on Wages, and what does it mean for PF?
- Walk us through your monthly compliance calendar.
- How do you keep registers for 40 branches inspection-ready without visiting each one?
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What does a statutory compliance manager do?
A statutory compliance manager makes sure the company meets labour law obligations: registrations, PF, ESI, professional tax and labour welfare fund payments and returns, statutory registers, contractor compliance, inspections and notices. The role also tracks legal changes and runs internal compliance audits across locations.
What are the main labour law compliances for a company in India?
Depending on size, state and industry, common ones are PF and ESI registration, monthly contributions and returns, state professional tax, labour welfare fund, shops and establishments or factory registration, contract labour compliance, POSH Internal Committee for workplaces with 10 or more employees, appointment letters for every employee and payment of wages by the 7th of the following month.
How have the Labour Codes changed compliance work?
The four Labour Codes came into force on 21 November 2025, and the Central Rules were notified on 8 May 2026, with states notifying their own rules. Compliance teams are updating registers, returns and wage calculations, especially for the new wage definition, where basic pay and DA must be at least half of total remuneration.