Director Compliance

The Global Risk & Compliance (GRC) organization serves as American Express’ independent risk management function. GRC maintains the enterprise risk framework, provides oversight and challenge, and monitors key risks. By embedding risk discipline into strategy and operations, GRC enables responsible growth, innovation, and long-term value creation while protecting customers and shareholders.

American Express’s Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit (GFCSU) is part of the broader Global Risk & Compliance organization, operating within Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC). GFCSU plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with key regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They also support law enforcement by providing critical information to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes.

The International Special Case and Insider Investigations Director will lead a team of specialized managers and analysts responsible for conducting complex investigations involving Human Trafficking, Arms Proliferation, Trade Based Money laundering, Wildlife Trafficking, Terrorist Financing, and Public Corruption.  In addition, they will oversee the financial crime investigations related to American Express colleagues. The Director will partner closely with the MLROs across each International market as well as with the Special Investigation and Insider teams for the US. The successful candidate must have excellent investigative, communication, and time management skills, the ability to effectively manage change and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors/University degree.
• 8+ years of work experience as an AML Compliance Manager/Director in a financial services institution with expertise in any of the following areas: BSA-AML compliance, law enforcement, complex AML/CTF/ABC investigations.
• Strong knowledge of global AML/CTF/ABC Regulations (BSA, US PATRIOT Act)
• Experience with direct people leadership and developing top talent
• Extensive experience in conducting financial crime investigations
• Deep understanding of criminal typologies associated with a wide array of financial products and services
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to contribute suggestions to enhance systems, methodologies, and process simplification
• Must display strong analytical and thought leadership by being able to transform ideas to actionable plans
• Ability to challenge the status quo by removing organizational barriers and influencing without authority
• Demonstrated success building and scaling investigative teams
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to assess, manage, and drive change
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to influence, gain support, and resolve conflict
• Strong collaboration and relationship development skills
• Ability to strategically plan with thought leadership
• Must be a deadline-driven team player
• Proven ability to take complex technical information and translate it into clear communications (presentations/memos) for a variety of audiences
• Experience in building and leading large diverse teams
• Master's or other advanced degree preferred
• CAMS and/or CFCS Certifications a plus

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in Spain is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.  

Job Responsibilities:

• To develop and maintain an adequate knowledge of complex International financial crime environments
• Serve as a subject matter expert, and point of contact for globally dispersed GFCC colleagues, on global financial crime, sector, geopolitical or regulatory issues
• Coordinate the investigation into insider-related cases
• Responsibility to enable the right training and the proper awareness of financial crime environments for all the team members
• Manage a team of leaders and Investigative Analysts responsible for reviewing complex investigations
• Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards as well as internal quality requirements
• Liaise with MLROs and the US Special Investigations and Insider teams as appropriate