Director-Compliance

American Express; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Bonus incentives

Competitive base salary

Job summary

American Express in London is seeking a Director to lead GMS International Compliance for LACC. The role drives second-line oversight of regulatory compliance across multiple Latin America, Canada and Caribbean markets, coordinating cross-regional initiatives and governance with Legal, Internal Audit and business teams.

The role demands strategic leadership, strong communication, and fluency in English, with additional regional language skills preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a Compliance Risk Management program across multiple markets.
• Strong understanding of AML, sanctions, data privacy, and related regulations.
• Fluency in English; other languages an asset for LACC region.

Responsibilities

• Lead second-line compliance program for GMS in LACC across markets.
• Develop framework for risk assessment and oversight of GMS International.
• Provide challenge and oversight of risk reduction activities.
• Coordinate cross-regional initiatives and governance enhancements.
• Communicate program status to senior leadership and governance forums.
• Collaborate with Legal, Internal Audit, and Control partners for aligned execution.
• Support policy development and standardized controls across GMS International.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable laws and company policies.

Skills

Regulatory compliance leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Cross-market coordination

English fluency

Education

University degree

Compliance/Legal qualification preferred

Job description

Job Description

Director, GMS International Compliance – Latin America, Canada and Caribbean (LACC)

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.

Job Description

Director, GMS International Compliance – Latin America, Canada and Caribbean (LACC)

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.

This full-time position is based in London and follows a hybrid working model, currently requiring three days per week in the office. The role is responsible for leading the management and oversight of an effective second-line regulatory compliance program for American Express Global Merchant Services (GMS) across the Latin America, Canada and Caribbean region (LACC),while also supporting and, where appropriate, leading selected GMS International Compliance initiatives that require cross regional coordination, consistency and governance.. It will provide strategic Compliance oversight, effective challenge and practical guidance to support the business in identifying, assessing, managing and mitigating compliance risks across multiple markets.

The Global Compliance & Ethics team plays a critical role in protecting American Express, our brand and colleagues through practical, solution-focused guidance on regulatory and ethics-related matters. Within Global Merchant Services Compliance, the GMS International Compliance team performs second-line oversight of merchant acquiring activities outside the United States, ensuring a robust and sustainable compliance risk management framework.

Reporting to the Vice President, Compliance GMS International, the Compliance Director will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive and sustainable Compliance program for GMS in LACC, providing oversight of regional risk management activities, and partnering with business, legal and control stakeholders to support compliance with applicable laws, regulations, enterprise policies and internal standards. The role will also contribute to the design, coordination and execution of broader GMS International Compliance priorities, including cross market risk assessments, governance, oversight and issue management activities.

Responsibilities

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Lead the second-line Compliance program for GMS in LACC, ensuring regulatory compliance risks are identified, assessed, monitored, controlled and escalated appropriately.
• Develop and implement a strategic risk assessment, monitoring and oversight framework for GMS International, with particular focus on the LACC region, and help drive consistency in approach across international markets where common standards, methodologies or governance are required.
• Provide effective challenge and oversight of GMS risk reduction and mitigation activities, as required under the Compliance Risk Management Program and the broader Operational Risk Program.
• Act as a point of escalation for GMS Line of Business Compliance regional teams, GMS and Compliance stakeholders, ensuring timely and appropriate resolution of risks and issues.
• Lead or coordinate selected GMS International Compliance initiatives, where appropriate, including cross-regional programmes such as Compliance Risk Assessments, Risk and Control Self Assessments, governance enhancements and other international risk management priorities.
• Communicate the status of the GMS International Compliance program, including strategic initiatives, risks, issues and key metrics, to senior leadership and relevant governance forums, ensuring clear visibility of both LACC-specific matters and broader international initiatives led or supported on by the role.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders including the General Counsel Office, Legal Entity Compliance Officers, Global Financial Crimes Compliance, Global Privacy Office, GMS Control Management, Internal Audit, broader GMS business teams and regional GMS International Compliance teams to support joined up execution of cross market priorities.
• Provide Compliance input on the development and evolution of centrally managed GMS policies, products, capabilities, processes and controls to enable the business to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise, and strengthen compliance risk management practices across GMS International, working with regional compliance leads and key control partners to support consistent execution.
• Maintain working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and Company policies, with guidance from the General Counsel Organization, to support understanding of the Company’s legal and regulatory obligations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading a Compliance Risk Management and oversight program across multiple markets in large, complex, matrixed organisations.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to merchant acquiring and payments, including Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions, Anti-Corruption, Data Privacy, Business Conduct and Payments Regulations.
• Demonstrated Compliance expertise in risk assessment, risk identification and articulation, issue resolution, and escalation to senior management and relevant company risk management forums.
• Proven ability to set the agenda on complex, evolving legal and regulatory requirements, provide effective challenge, question assumptions and critically assess information.
• Strong leadership, relationship management and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels across a matrixed international organisation.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and effectively to senior leaders and governance forums.
• Knowledge of merchant acquiring, alternative and emerging payment models, and associated regulatory compliance risks.
• Experienced people leader with the ability to drive results in changing and ambiguous situations.
• University degree required; Compliance, Legal or related professional qualification preferred.
• Fluency in English required; Spanish, Portuguese or French language skills preferred for the LACC region.

Non-considerations For Sponsorship

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

About Us

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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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.

About The Team

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.