Director-Compliance

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

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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.

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.

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.

Compliance Language (for external posting)
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)

• Full-time, hybrid working model based in London, currently requiring three days per week in the office

• 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.