Director-Compliance, U.S. Independent Compliance Testing - job 1 of 2

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.

Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

The U.S. Independent Compliance Testing (ICT) team performs 2nd line of defense testing across American Express products and processes in the U.S. market. ICT conducts risk-based Compliance Reviews to assess compliance with laws, regulations, and associated policies.

This role is responsible for managing the day-to-day execution of Compliance Monitoring & Testing (M&T) reviews, preparing work papers, and drafting reports. A successful candidate will have audit or compliance testing experience within a large bank and experience conducting control design and control effectiveness testing. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Execute Compliance risk procedures on M&T projects in conformance with department standards, methodology, budgets, and deadlines (inclusive of planning, fieldwork, reporting, and wrap-up activities) while utilizing departmental and company tools proficiently. 
• Communicate objectives, scope, risks, and findings articulately and with impact to individuals at various levels of business management. 
• Work with unstructured tasks to provide a structured output. 
• Interview relevant stakeholders to document, understand, and assess relevant Compliance risks and controls. 
• Execute testing of control design and control operating effectiveness in global M&Ts of first and second line of defense business functions specific to Compliance risk. 
• Efficiently manage routine client status meetings, M&T requests, and other administrative tasks.
• Assist in the documentation and risk-based evaluation of M&T observations and findings.
• Coordinate with client management to capture relevant action plans and execute subsequent validation of such activities. 
• Work on simultaneous integrated M&T projects of all sizes and complexity across multiple business areas for different M&T leaders.
• Develop and document ideas for analytical control testing to continually expand the breadth and depth of M&T coverage and enhance M&T efficiency.
• Develop familiarity with Compliance risk across all lines of businesses, globally.
• Effectively coach/mentor and develop managers and analysts in all aspects of the M&T methodology. 
• Maintain internal M&T competency through ongoing professional development.
• Staying abreast of applicable Regulatory and legislative changes

Minimum Qualifications 

• Seven (7) or more years of experience in M&T, risk management, audit or other relevant role in the financial services, banking, or card products industries.
• Bachelor of Art/Science or equivalent degree. 
• Experience or familiarity with Compliance risk including working knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations governing American Express businesses.
• Proficiency in Fair Lending, Financial Crimes, marketing offer fulfillment and UDAP/UDAAP requirements, Privacy, Compliance Risk Assessment, general regulatory knowledge, issue management, and risk system management. Influence continuous Innovation with a view to driving organizational improvements and impacts.
• Be self-motivated, dependable, adaptable and detail oriented with a proven ability to work independently or within a team environment as required.
• Ability to multi-task effortlessly and manage competing priorities under demanding deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience and competency in the assessment of risks, control design and effectiveness and process assessment.
• Data-driven mindset and experience in the manipulation, assessment, interpretation, documentation and presentation of data to support a conclusion.
• Experience in analyzing data, interpreting results, identifying potential discrepancies and/or risk and experience with data analytics tools and data visualization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate, influence, and communicate efficiently across M&T teams. 
• Ability to ask the “right” questions without having extensive knowledge in a particular business area.
• Demonstrated ability to manage people in a way that inspires, develops, and delivers results.
• 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.
• The ability to break down a complex problem into components, solve them by potentially using data analysis, process knowledge and risk/control knowledge, and communicate data analysis, issues and control recommendations with transparency and integrity.
• Excellent storytelling and visualization skills.
• Strong presentation and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant audit and compliance professional certifications are preferred (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) etc.).
• Demonstrative experience with databases, SQL, and data manipulation. 
• Experience with MS Excel, MIS, business intelligence tools or other data presentation experience. 
• Familiarity with python or other scripting languages.

Salary Range: $130,000.00 to $205,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• Competitive base salaries 
• Bonus incentives 
• 6% Company Match on retirement savings plan 
• Free financial coaching and financial well-being support 
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits 
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need 
• 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender, offered for pregnancy, adoption or surrogacy 
• Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location) 
• Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program 
• Career development and training opportunities

For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site.

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

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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