Vice President, Investigations

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.

With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.

Scope and Responsibilities

This position is principally accountable for all activities of the Global Security Department in Mexico and GNS partners in Central America and the Caribbean. These activities include the establishment and administration of investigations, security policies and procedures concerning the protection of our financial instruments and key executives travelling in the area. The position is responsible for leading a team of investigators and directing investigations of financial losses (Card, GNS, and etc.) and fraud prevention activities within the assigned region as well as overall administration of field investigations. The candidate will bring deep expertise in criminal investigations, crisis response, and protective intelligence, while demonstrating a commitment to excellence, ethical conduct, and collaborative leadership.

Partial list of job duties:

• Ensures the integrity and safeguard the Company name, assets, financial instruments and personnel by maintaining cognizance of political trends, criminal activities that can have an impact on the Business or employees.
• Directs, coordinates and conducts investigations of suspected cases of internal and external fraud against the company and partners within Mexico and GNS markets. Attempt the recovery of Company losses due to theft or fraud.
• Initiates liaison activities with local police agencies, Interpol and U.S. law enforcement agencies within the region regarding criminal activities against the Company. Secure access to criminal intelligence, as necessary, by overseeing the development of and closely supervising the use of confidential sources of information.
• Manages, and may personally conduct, significant and sensitive investigations, special project cases.
• Acts as liaison and provide assistance to our new franchises, independent operators, network and co-branded partners within the assigned region.
• Communicate with counterparts outside of own workgroup, to ensure that practices and policies are aligned and consistent.
• Work with internal groups to help American Express minimize risk and exposure to fraud (e.g., assess risk, identify security weaknesses, close gaps).
• Collaborate on fraud investigations with counterparts at other organizations.
• Work with law enforcement on fraud prevention initiatives (e.g., deliver fraud awareness training).
• Develop investigative policies and procedures.
• Direct and conduct fraud investigations, including highly complex and inter-related fraud cases involving organized criminal groups and online activity.
• Assist with forensic examination of plastic cards, paper documents, and equipment (e.g., computers, hard drives, skimming devices).
• Collect intelligence about criminal networks or organized groups that commit financial crimes.
• Study data to uncover patterns, trends and evidence of inter-related events or crimes.
• Work with local and national law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes.
• Oversee internal investigations, including claims of violence in the workplace, sexual harassment, theft, vandalism and injury.
• Supervise and mentor direct reports.
• Plan and monitor expenditures within a budget and required to be on call 24 hours a day.

Qualifications

• Candidates should have 5-10 years combined proven experience in one or more of the following: law enforcement, military, security management, investigations, and people leadership.
• Professional certification in security management or investigations is a plus.
• Bachelor’s or other 4-year degree may be required. Preferred fields of study include business, computer science, criminal justice, and social sciences.
• International staff must be able to converse, read, and write in English.

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• 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.