Vice President, Global Financial Crimes Compliance, Independent Compliance Testing

Vice President, Global Financial Crimes Compliance International Compliance Testing

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With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.

How we serve our customers is constantly evolving and is a challenge we gladly accept. Whether you’re finding new ways to prevent identity fraud or enabling customers to start a new business, you can work with one of the most valuable data sets in the world to identify insights and actions that can have a meaningful impact on our customers and our business. And, with opportunities to learn from leaders who have defined the course of our industry, you can grow your career and define your own path.

Find your place in risk and analytics on #TeamAmex.

How will you make an impact in this role?

The Global Compliance & Ethics (GC&E) organization establishes the framework for American Express’ global compliance risk management program commensurate with the size, complexity and risk profile of the entity.  As an independent risk management function, GC&E is responsible for overseeing the organization’s compliance with regulatory expectations through a combination of monitoring and testing activities.

We are seeking a dynamic Vice President in the Deputy Compliance Office within the GC&E to lead the firm’s ongoing effort to address the global financial crimes independent compliance testing program within the second line of defense. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that testing activities effectively assess the design and operating effectiveness of financial crimes compliance controls across all business lines, including credit cards, banking, and payments services.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in finance, business, law, or related field. Professional certifications (CRCM, CAMS, CCEP) are a plus.
• Experience: 10+ years of Financial Crimes compliance, risk, or audit experience in financial services; demonstrated expertise in compliance risk.
• Deep understanding of the regulatory environment and industry best practices, especially as it pertains to consumer compliance (e.g., UDAP, AML, BSA, Fair Lending).
• Demonstrated experience in leading governance functions within the second line of defense within a financial services institution, preferably within a bank.
• Strong experience interacting with regulatory agencies and managing regulatory exams.
• Experience with data analytics and risk management practices.
• Be self-motivated, dependable, adaptable and detail oriented with a proven ability to work independently or within a team environment as required.
• Demonstrated experience and competency in the assessment of risks, control design and effectiveness and process assessment.
• Experience in analyzing data, interpreting results, identifying potential discrepancies and/or risk and experience with data analytics tools and data visualization.
• Demonstrated integrity, innovation, teamwork, and excellence. Extensive business process experience in the financial services industry, including an understanding of related products, services, features, economics, and key regulations.
• Skills and Competencies: Strong knowledge of compliance risk management frameworks, monitoring methodologies, and regulatory expectations.
• Strong leadership and organizational capabilities to manage a global monitoring program.
• Professional experience in handling policy governance objectives.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate with people at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance business objectives with regulatory requirements.
• Excellent project management and organizational skill, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to both work independently and collaboratively with team-members and to navigate a complex organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for preparing and delivering reports, presentations, and policy documents.
• Experience in delivering high quality work products, reflecting attention to detail.
• Must be a self-starter flexible, innovative, and adaptive.
• Advanced analytics, PowerPoint and excel skills with an ability to learn new tools quickly.
• Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage the global financial crimes compliance testing strategy, methodology, and annual plan to ensure adequate coverage of high-risk regulatory areas.
• Oversee execution of testing engagements, ensuring timely, high-quality, and well-documented work papers and reports.
• Prioritize testing based on regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and emerging compliance issues (e.g., AML, UDAP, Fair Lending, BSA, Privacy and Complaints).
• Identify control gaps, root causes, and provide actionable recommendations. Monitor remediation activities to confirm timely closure.
• Support interactions with regulators and internal audit during reviews and exams, presenting testing results and methodologies with confidence.
• Deliver regular updates and comprehensive reports on testing outcomes to senior management, governance committees, and the Board.
• Lead a team of compliance testing professionals; provide coaching, feedback, and career development opportunities. Foster a culture of accountability, independence, and excellence.