Director - Control Management

American Express; London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

American Express is seeking a Director of Specialized Operational Risk to lead a team ensuring control management is integrated into daily operations. The role involves collaboration across business units to manage and mitigate operational risks effectively, focusing on areas like Financial Crime and Compliance. The ideal candidate will have over 6 years of experience in operational risk or financial services and possess strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills.

Benefits

Competitive base salaries

Bonus incentives

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

Flexible working model

Generous paid parental leave

Free access to wellness centers

Confidential counseling support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 6+ years experience in operational risk management or Financial Crime.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large teams.

Responsibilities

• Consult on design and implementation of controls for Financial Crime and Compliance.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise policies related to risk.
• Support the design of targeted training programs for risk management.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

MBA

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 Merchant & Network Services (GMNS) brings together American Express' merchant-and network related businesses to enable a sharp focus on using the power of our network to provide unique value to all our mutual customers. The organization manages the relationships with the millions of merchants around the world that accepts American Express and runs the company’s payment network and manages bank partnerships globally.

The objective of the GMNS Control Management Specialized Operational Risk (OR) team is to provide subject matter expertise on specific Operational Risk topics to ensure the BU is equipped with in-depth knowledge of risk-stripes to manage and mitigate these risks effectively; supports the BU with expert guidance for topical Operational Risk intelligence.

GMNS is looking for a Director of Specialized OR to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our organization. It will involve extensive collaboration with multiple partners across numerous business units, functional areas, and geographies.

The Director, GMNS Specialized OR will:

• Consult on the design and implementation of controls tailored to specialized risk areas including Financial Crime and Compliance, with input in broader areas of operational risk
• Ensure all activities & guidance provided to BU are in alignment with standards set by centralized specialist risk-stripe teams
• Comply with enterprise policies and programs pertaining to specific risk types (e.g., Conduct Risk Management policy), and support with design/ enhancement of BU procedures /standards
• Maintain awareness and understanding of emerging trends, best practices, and regulatory updates relevant to operational risks and share this with BU process owners
• Support with the design and dissemination of targeted training and awareness programs to increase understanding and management of specific risk topics within GMNS

Required Qualifications:

• 6+ Years experience in operational risk management, Financial Crime or Compliance (e.g., within Risk and/or Internal Audit function)
• Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities.
• Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts
• 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 large 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 with the management or oversight of Joint Ventures.
• Experience in at least one of the following:
  • Serving as the go-to subject matter expert pertaining to specific operational risk types
  • Ensuring activities are in alignment with standards set by specialist risk-stripe teams
  • Complying with enterprise policies and programs pertaining to specific risk types and supporting with design/enhancement of procedures/standards by providing topic-specific insight
  • Advising on decentralized risk types into broader operational risk policies and programs

ORMCM

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.