Director - Control Management

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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.

Control Management Risk Pillar Copy (Testing and Reporting): The objective of the GMNS Control Management Testing and Reporting team is to identify, assess, mitigate, and report on Operational Risk within BU processes for GMNS to ensure adherence to regulatory standards, Amex policy and enhance the BU's resilience through managing a clear methodology of inherent and residual risk.

GMNS is looking for a Director of Risk ID, Assessment, Testing & Reporting 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 Testing & Reporting will:

• Provide additional identification of risks throughout business processes and systems (along with business process owners)
• Lead control monitoring (supplemental to BU process owners testing) and proactively communicate key OR trends, activities, and events to senior management, to facilitate informed decision-making
• Proactively identify areas of high-risk for intervention (e.g., automated alerts generated for high-risk areas signal need for intervention and focus), including conducting independent quality assurance and vertical process testing
• Compile thematic risk reporting (levels, trends, causes) to provide actionable insights to BU on current risk levels, emerging trends and root causes
• Categorize controls and map against risks and processes (e.g., cross-BU process-control mapping)
• Champion risk management practices within the business
• Develop risk dashboards and key risk indicators (KRIs) for ongoing monitoring
• Develop risk profiles and maintain an updated risk register(s)
• Be a key leader for sharing insights, better practices, themes, etc. across the enterprise

Required Qualifications: 

• 6+ Years experience in operational risk management (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 in at least one of the following: 

oProviding identification of operational risks throughout business processes and systems

oFacilitating risk assessment performance in addition to further assessments and testing programs to ensure regulatory and internal standards are met

oEnhancing risk assessments and associated methodologies

oLeading independent control monitoring, including identification of control improvements

oIdentifying areas of risk for intervention, including conducting independent quality assurance and process testing

oCompiling thematic risk reporting to provide actionable insights on risk levels, emerging trends and root causes

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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

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law.  

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.