Manager - Audit Governance

American Express; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial services company is seeking an Audit Governance Manager to coordinate audits and regulatory exams while ensuring transparency and risk awareness across all stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and a background in operational risk management, thriving in a dynamic environment. This role offers a competitive salary, bonus incentives, and benefits, along with flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive base salaries

Bonus incentives

Comprehensive medical and dental benefits

Flexible working model

Career development and training opportunities

Access to wellness centres

Free counselling support

Qualifications

• Experience in operational risk management within Risk or Internal Audit.
• Strong project management skills are essential.
• Understanding of governance processes aligned with regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate between Internal Audit, external examiners, and GMNS.
• Facilitate end-to-end audit engagements, including scheduling and tracking.
• Monitor progress of open actions and escalate risks appropriately.

Skills

Operational risk management

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

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 based 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 accept American Express and runs the company's payment network and manages bank partnerships globally.

The objective of the GMNS Control Management Governance team is to establish the Operational Risk and Controls strategy for GMNS, set up a foundational governance structure that ensures operational risks are identified, assessed, and managed in compliance with enterprise Operational Risk Management programs and reporting.

We are seeking a highly organised and collaborative Audit Governance Manager to serve as the key liaison between the auditors and the GMNS business partners across the business. This role is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment where strong communication, sound judgement, and an ability to navigate complex audit demands are essential. The Audit Governance Manager will ensure that audits and regulatory exams are executed smoothly, with clear visibility, timely responses, and appropriate risk awareness across all stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring a proactive mindset, exceptional coordination skills, and a strong understanding of regulatory expectations within financial services.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of coordination between Internal Audit, external examiners, and the GMNS business unit—ensuring transparency, alignment, and readiness throughout the audit lifecycle.
• Facilitate end‑to‑end audit and exam engagements, including scheduling, documentation management, request tracking, and follow‑up activities.
• Partner with business leaders to prepare accurate, timely responses to audit requests and to ensure controls, processes, and evidence meet audit and regulatory standards.
• Monitor progress of open actions and issues, escalating risks or delays as appropriate and helping drive timely remediation.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen governance processes, improve audit preparedness, and enhance cross‑functional communication.
• Provide reporting and insights to senior leadership regarding audit status, emerging themes, and areas of operational or control risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk and/or Internal Audit function). Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities
• Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in process governance, with an understanding of processes that align with policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or operational standards
• Proficient analytical and problem‑solving skills, with an ability to analyse data, identify trends, and evaluate risk scenarios effectively

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 at least one of the following:
  • Translating operational risk strategy and appetite into execution guidelines
  • Tracking and identifying issues with Key Risk Indicator (KRI) limits and risk appetite to ensure operational risks are managed within agreed thresholds
  • Overseeing the implementation of the operational risk governance frameworks
  • Communicating and ensuring understanding and adherence to operational risk procedures and standards
  • Facilitating the operational risk exam management processes
• Experience in financial services industry

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

Qualifications

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 centres staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location)
• Free and confidential counselling support through our Healthy Minds programme
• 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.