Director – U.S. Issuing Financial Crimes Center of Excellence - Transformation & Governance

The first line of Defense U.S. Issuing Financial Crimes Center of Excellence provides a holistic, enterprise-wide approach to our financial crimes risk management (FCRM) activities.

This team is responsible for establishing a robust control foundation for first line of defense FCRM activities across the company globally, including anti-money laundering, sanctions, payments controls, and anti-corruption. The team partners closely with Technology to develop and deploy next generation capabilities that address key gaps and strengthen the first line’s ability to detect and prevent financial crimes across our lines of business. The team works in coordination with the Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC) team within the Global Risk & Compliance organization.

The Director, U.S. Issuing Financial Crimes Center of Excellence Transformation is responsible for driving workstreams that enhance the Enterprise’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to financial crime (often through processes, technology, and governance improvements).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Prior experience in transformation and program management with strong understanding of governance, target operating models, and control frameworks.
• Experience in leading multi-year strategic programs that cut across multiple cross-functional/Business Unit teams to accelerate strategic alignment and drive business, customer, and regulatory outcomes.
• Proven ability to analyze complex processes to find and drive innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to self-start, carve opportunities out of white space, define a strategic vision, and drive results with a high degree of independence.
• Proven ability to think strategically and lead and oversee large-scale, cross functional strategic initiatives.
• History of high performance with demonstrated adaptability to excel in a fast-paced environment, adjust to shifting priorities, and manage others through change.
• Excellent communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenges.
• 8+ years of relevant work experience.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

• Support the creation and management of a multi-year roadmap across multiple workstreams to drive Financial Crimes transformation for individuals (e.g. Card members, supps, corporate card members etc.) with initial focus on USCS and US-GCS.
• Partner closely with GFCC, 1st Line Business Unit Teams, and other 2LOD Global Risk and Compliance groups to implement financial crime risk management frameworks for Individuals across all lines of business and products.
• Support the creation and maintenance of 1LOD financial crimes governance structures, control mapping, and facilitate the completion of relevant testing and training while partnering with business unit teams.
• Develop reporting to measure overall program health and proactive issue management; proactively drive recurring communications and executive materials creation to ensure transparency and collective understanding.
• Partner with 1st line of defense product & capabilities and data governance team to support building the future state financial tools and capabilities.
• Ensure robust change management around managing compliance with financial crime regulations by reviewing and challenging controls across the organization and building external perspective.
• This role is critical for AXP to remain compliant with evolving regulations and emerging threats and internal GFCC policy and building best in class financial crime controls and frameworks.

Salary Range: $123000 - $215250 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits