Financial Crimes Compliance Director

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.

Global Financial Crime Compliance - Director, FCC Joint Ventures and Non-Proprietary Oversight (Region)

The Role

The American Express Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC) function provides second-line policy, framework, oversight and control solutions to meet the Company's legal, regulatory and risk management mandates in connection with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF), Sanctions and Anti-Bribery and Corruption. The GFCC portfolio comprises all aspects of the Company's first and second-line financial crime risk management (FCRM) activities, including all lines of businesses in the APAC region and both proprietary non-proprietary global markets.

Reporting to the Regional Head of Financial Crimes Compliance, the Director of Financial Crimes Compliance (FCC) Joint Ventures and Non-Proprietary Oversight will serve as the primary financial crimes compliance point of contact for any APAC Joint Ventures and non-proprietary markets and partnerships. This individual will work closely with Market Compliance Officers (MCOs) and Line of Business Compliance Officers (LOBCOs) and will assess both enterprise and local financial crimes risks and regulatory environment to effectively monitor compliance with the American Express FCRM policy and other related policies and standards. They will also submit regular reports and escalations to relevant governance committees and participate in oversight meetings with American Express partners where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for financial crimes compliance activities across the APAC region's non-proprietary markets and partnerships and joint ventures, ensuring a globally consistent, risk-based approach to FCRM that meets compliance requirements.
• Monitor and assess emerging risks within the region, identifying trends and developing mitigation strategies. Provide ongoing risk reporting to global and regional leadership.
• Lead strong engagement and working relationships with the relevant MCOs, LOBCOs, first line teams and Joint Venture/Non-Proprietary partners.
• Provide financial crimes compliance subject matter expertise support to key stakeholders including compliance colleagues and the first line teams.
• Responsible for ensuring that regulatory financial crimes compliance risks are adequately identified, assessed, monitored, and controlled.
• Support MCOs and LOBCOs in the effective challenge of partner customer due diligence responses, ongoing monitoring metrics as well as reviewing all relevant policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• Support the establishment of Referral request processes to ensure the effective ongoing facilitation of responses from our partners to enable the investigative SAR and sanctions processes handled by the Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit.
• Support the management of supervisory and regulatory examinations and audits.

In the delivery of the above, the role maintains active relationships and coordinates activities with several critical functions, including Global Compliance and Ethics colleagues, American Express Global Network Services Business, General Counsel, Control Management and Internal Audit Group.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of experience in financial crimes compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), in particular experience in investigations within the financial services, with significant exposure to the APAC region.
• Deep understanding of financial crimes regulatory requirements and trends across the APAC region.
• Strong knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulatory frameworks, with expertise in financial crimes program management and regulatory engagement.
• Experience managing and leading regional or multi-jurisdictional programs in a global or regional financial institution.
• Proven ability to work effectively across diverse markets, cultures, and regulatory environments and effectively engage and manage senior stakeholders as a trusted and independent advisor.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
• Both a strong written and verbal English language skills required.
• Chinese written and verbal language skills would be highly beneficial.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with a risk-based mindset.
• CAMS and/or ICA Certifications is a plus.
• External experience in governmental regulation in the FCC space is a plus.

Qualifications

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• 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.