Job Description

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.


Global Commercial Services (GCS) is looking for a Vice President- Financial Crimes to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring risk and control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our organization. This first-line role will involve extensive collaboration with partners across business units, functional areas, and geographies.

The VP, Financial Crimes will:

Serve as a key thought partner to BU Senior Leadership and Control Management Lead, providing expertise in identifying, mitigating, and managing financial crime risks


Help shape and oversee the execution of initiatives to strengthen the BU's financial crime risk framework


Work with 2LOD Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC) and 1LOD Financial Crimes CoE to implement initiatives to address evolving financial crime risks in BU, as well as mitigate existing gaps in alignment with American Express risk appetite and regulatory requirements and ensure the BU financial crimes program is executed in a timely manner and ensure effective controls are built throughout the process.


Provide view of financial crimes risk across BU, ensures consistent and effective implementation of risk management practices, and challenge controls and risk mitigation strategies


Serve as an escalation point for all Risk and Control issues across financial crimes for GCS


Monitor trends, and regulatory changes related to financial crimes, and recommend uplift to tools, processes, and methodologies to manage risk proactively


Advise on integration of Financial Crimes risk types into Risk Management policies and programs


Share Financial Crimes risk topical knowledge with BU process owners to enable BU to strengthen and embed relevant ORM considerations into processes

Required Qualifications:

10+ Years experience in risk management with deep understanding of financial crimes and compliance risk, including AML, sanctions, fraud, and anti-bribery and corruption frameworks. Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities


Experience working with enterprise-wide systems, emerging technologies, and data analytics to enhance financial crime detection and prevention capabilities


Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts


Proven ability to think strategically and lead and oversee large-scale, cross functional strategic initiatives


Expertise in process governance, with a track record of establishing and overseeing robust decision-making processes that align with policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or operational standards


Experience within financial services industry


Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to analyze data, identify trends, and evaluate risk scenarios effectively


Demonstrated history and ability to manage teams, spread over geographies and with varying backgrounds

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business, Risk Mgmt., or related field; advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, MSc) or certifications are advantageous


Experience in financial crimes and compliance at the following:


Providing identification of financial crisis risks throughout business processes and systems


Facilitating risk assessment performance in addition to further assessments and testing programs to ensure regulatory and internal standards are met


Enhancing risk assessments and associated methodologies


Compiling thematic risk reporting to provide actionable insights on risk levels, emerging trends and root causes


Identifying areas of risk for intervention, including conducting independent quality assurance and process testing


Leading independent control monitoring, including identification of control improvements


Ensuring activities are in alignment with standards set by specialist risk-stripe teams


Advising on decentralized risk types into broader operational risk policies and programs


Proactive and adaptable in responding to shifting priorities and emerging risks


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 Support for financial-well-being and retirement Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location) Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location) 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
Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.