Dir-Compliance

The Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit (GFCSU), within Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC), is responsible for the strategic oversight and execution of American Express's financial crime surveillance program. Leveraging risk-based monitoring, advanced analytics, and innovative detection capabilities, GFCSU identifies, assesses, and mitigates financial crime risk across the enterprise. In close partnership with the US Investigations Unit (USIU) and other GFCC teams, GFCSU strengthens the Company's financial crime risk management framework, supports regulatory reporting obligations, and helps ensure compliance with global anti-money laundering (AML),sanctions, and other applicable financial crime regulations. Strategic Leadership & Organizational Oversight Provide strategic leadership for the Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit, establishing the vision, operating model, and long-term roadmap for enterprise financial crime surveillance and investigative operations. Shape and execute strategies that strengthen the Company's ability to detect, assess, and mitigate evolving financial crime risks while aligning with enterprise priorities, regulatory expectations, and risk appetite. Lead through leaders by building and developing a high-performing leadership team, fostering an inclusive, accountable, and high-performing culture. Champion organizational transformation by modernizing surveillance capabilities, operating models, and processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and customer outcomes. Enterprise Risk Management & Regulatory Excellence Own oversight of the Company's financial crime surveillance program, ensuring robust governance, effective controls, and consistent execution across AML, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Sanctions Screening, and Anti-Corruption activities. Serve as the senior escalation point for significant financial crime risks, emerging threats, regulatory matters, and complex investigative issues. Ensure compliance with applicable global regulatory requirements while maintaining a strong control environment and promoting effective risk management practices. Partner with Compliance, Legal, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit, and Regulatory Affairs to support regulatory examinations, audits, and enterprise governance activities. Enterprise Partnership & Strategic Influence Influence enterprise financial crime strategy through collaboration with senior leaders across GFCC, Global Sanctions, Technologies, Product, Control Management, Enterprise Risk Management, and Lines of Business. Represent GFCSU in executive governance forums, providing strategic insights on financial crime risk, emerging trends, program performance, and regulatory developments. Shape enterprise policies, risk frameworks, and surveillance standards to strengthen American Express's financial crime compliance program globally. Transformation, Innovation & Operational Excellence Establish the strategic roadmap for operational excellence through process optimization, automation, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies. Sponsor enterprise transformation initiatives that enhance surveillance capabilities, improve investigative outcomes, and increase operational scalability. Drive innovation by evaluating and implementing new technologies, including AI-enabled capabilities and advanced analytics, to strengthen financial crime detection and operational effectiveness. Define and monitor key performance indicators and governance metrics to ensure sustainable operational excellence and continuous improvement. Data, Insights & Executive Reporting Champion a data-driven organization by leveraging advanced analytics and management information to identify emerging risks, operational trends, and strategic opportunities. Deliver executive-level reporting and actionable insights to senior leadership, governance committees, regulators, and other key stakeholders. Influence enterprise decision-making through meaningful performance reporting, risk intelligence, and strategic recommendations that strengthen the Company's financial crime program. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required. 8+ years of Strong Operations, People and progressive leadership experience in financial services, 8, financial crime compliance, risk management, or a related field, including significant experience leading leaders and managing large, geographically dispersed teams. Extensive experience in financial crime surveillance, transaction monitoring, AML investigations, KYC, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Sanctions Screening, Anti-Corruption, and applicable global regulatory frameworks. Demonstrated success developing and executing organizational strategy while balancing regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and business objectives. Proven ability to lead large-scale, enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, including operating model redesign, process optimization, automation, or technology implementations. Strong executive presence with exceptional communication and influencing skills, including experience presenting to senior executives, governance committees, regulators, and external stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to build and influence strategic partnerships across Compliance, Risk, Legal, Technology, Product, and business organizations to drive enterprise outcomes. Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage data and emerging trends to inform executive decision-making. Experience establishing governance frameworks, performance metrics, and risk reporting to ensure effective oversight and regulatory compliance. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint. Preferred Qualifications: CAMS, CFE, CRCM, or equivalent financial crime or compliance certification. Experience leading global financial crime surveillance or investigative operations within a large, multinational financial institution. Experience overseeing regulatory examinations, internal audits, or remediation programs, including engagement with regulators and external stakeholders. Experience sponsoring enterprise transformation initiatives involving advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation technologies. Knowledge of data visualization and business intelligence tools such as Power BI or Tableau. Lean Six Sigma, Agile, PMP, or other continuous improvement/project management certifications. Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Criminal Justice, Risk Management, or a related field. Compliance Language: 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 or onsite 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.