Director - ICS Control Management, Germany Market Legal Entity (m/f/d), Frankfurt am Main

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International Risk and Controls sits within International Card Services (ICS) which comprises of all the issuing functions across all 28 international markets excluding the US - colleagues operate across a variety of geographies and disciplines. ICS issues products to our Consumer and Commercial customers – the organization is an integral part of the global growth strategy for American Express; offering differentiated products and services is critical to our success and promises to drive significant growth and value through the delivery of innovative products, tailored to the needs of our customers. Our organization helps our international businesses manage risk, respond to new regulation, and develop new products while creating and nurturing effective partnerships across multiple key stakeholders across the organisation.  

The objective of the ICS Control Management Legal Entity Germany & Austria Market Team is to provide specialized and strategic operational risk advisory to the business on product and service areas to ensure an effective control environment exists that delivers on all operational risk obligations supporting the Legal Entity. The role will involve extensive collaboration with multiple partners across numerous business units, functional areas, and geographies.

ICS Control Management organization is looking for a Director of ICS Control Management Germany Market Legal Entity to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our business.

The Director, ICS Control Management Germany Market Legal Entity will:

• Develop and maintain robust relationships, becoming a trusted specialized 1stLOD OR Partner to facilitate cross-functional collaboration and progress towards maturity and enhancement of the control environment and risk governance 


• Serve as the go-to subject matter experts on risks specific to the local market


• Ensure risks and issues are effectively identified, assessed, prioritised, and managed across all operational risk programs to deliver on local business, regulatory and Legal Entity obligations


• Execute reporting and governance of forums/committees, controls, policies, issues management and measurements/OR metrics ensuring the appropriate awareness, oversight and management of operational risks


• Act as the central point for the business for consultation on all operational risk programs to enable BU to strengthen and embed relevant ORM considerations into processes


• Advise topical risk strategies and procedures to align with changes in the business environment and regulatory landscape, and frequently review


• Be a key leader for sharing insights, better practices, themes, etc. through engagement with the central program teams and other Legal Entity governance teams to support the operational risk programs and streamline processes


• Lead a high performing team, driving career talent progression through ongoing leadership engagement as well as a proactive and energised colleague engagement program


• Coordinate the AEESA Germany & Austria BGC (Branch Governance Committee) ensuring relevant Risks, Issues & Changes are properly risk assessed and get the right visibility, action and escalation across the broader AEESA legal entity governance framework    

Required Qualifications:

• 6+ Years experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk and/or Internal Audit function) and understands critical operational risk management lifecycle activities


• 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


• 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 within financial services industry

• Experience in at least one of the following:

o   Serving as the go-to subject matter expert pertaining to specific operational risk types

o   Ensuring activities are in alignment with standards set by specialist risk-stripe teams

o   Complying with enterprise policies and programs pertaining to specific risk types and supporting with design/enhancement of procedures/standards by providing topic-specific insight

o   Advising on decentralized risk types into broader operational risk policies and programs

 ORMCM