Senior Manager - Compliance Advisory & Challenge

American Express; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial services company in Toronto seeks a Sr Manager of Compliance to oversee compliance functions and risk assessments. This role requires at least 10 years of experience in compliance within a financial institution and strong knowledge of regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include leading compliance initiatives, performing risk assessments, and developing training programs. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Bonuses

Retirement support

Comprehensive health coverage

Flexible work arrangements

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of compliance, risk management, or legal experience within a financial institution.
• Strong knowledge of financial products, services, and applicable compliance regulations.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing business challenge activities and compliance meetings.
• Performing compliance, conduct, and security risk assessments for new products.
• Developing training on new regulations and emerging risks.

Skills

Compliance risk assessment

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Team leadership

Education

University degree in a related field

Postgraduate degrees or professional certifications

Tools

Risk assessment tools

Job description

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

Your voice and ideas matter here, your work makes an impact, and together, we define the future of American Express.

How will you make an impact in this role?

Reporting to the Director of Compliance Advisory & Challenge, the Sr Manager of Compliance will oversee critical compliance functions within Amex Bank of Canada’s Compliance Advisory & Challenge team. The role includes four strategic components:

1. Leading compliance across all business lines to ensure compliance by design and providing ongoing challenge and oversight of initiatives and product launches.
2. Conducting compliance, conduct, integrity, and security risk assessments.
3. Assessing compliance risks and challenging first-line RCSA processes to enhance the control environment.
4. Supporting the migration of the Bank’s legal inventory to a new enterprise compliance solution with advice and challenge.

This position requires a solid understanding of regulatory requirements, internal standards, and processes to effectively manage and mitigate risks. It involves developing and maintaining a strong compliance culture aligned with legal and regulatory standards, internal policies, and best practices.

The role also leads a team of two Compliance Analysts and requires strong collaboration with business leaders and risk functions to foster a compliance-oriented culture.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing business challenge activities, including leading weekly compliance meetings and participating in governance forums and product approval processes.
• Performing compliance, conduct, and security risk assessments for new products, initiatives, and outsourcing vendors.
• Providing compliance guidance during the legal inventory migration and ensuring controls are appropriately mapped and implemented.
• Leading compliance challenges across departments’ RCSA frameworks and testing.
• Contributing to the strategic development of the compliance program, including policy creation, training, and regulatory relationship management.
• Reporting on compliance risks and trends to senior management through the Compliance Regulatory Compliance Forum.
• Developing and delivering training on new regulations and emerging risks.
• Monitoring and reporting on compliance program goals, identifying gaps, and implementing improvements.
• Maintaining relationships with legal, audit, risk, security, and global compliance teams at various levels.
• Ensuring ongoing knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements, utilizing internal and external resources as needed.
• Leading talent development, including recruiting, coaching, and performance reviews for compliance staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 10 years of compliance, risk management, or legal experience within a financial institution.
• University degree in a related field; postgraduate degrees or professional certifications (JD, LLM, MBA, CFA, CIPP, CAMS) are a plus.
• Strong knowledge of financial products, services, and applicable compliance regulations (e.g., Bank Act, PIPEDA, CASL, ACA, AODA).
• Experience with RCSA programs, including risk assessment, control testing, and familiarity with tools and methodologies.
• Experience working with multiple business units and leading enterprise-wide programs, especially involving technology.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to handle multiple priorities under pressure.
• Understanding of card operations and their control environments is advantageous.
• Strategic thinking, stakeholder influence, decision-making independence, and adaptability are essential.

We support your well-being with benefits such as competitive salaries, bonuses, retirement and financial wellness support, comprehensive health coverage, flexible work arrangements, parental leave, wellness centers, counseling, and career development opportunities.

American Express is committed to diversity and inclusion, providing a respectful and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations due to a disability, please contact our recruiter.

Employment is contingent upon successful background verification, in accordance with applicable laws.