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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.
As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.
How will you make an impact in this role?
Don’t just work for a market leading global company. Help grow one.
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 the International Compliance organisation, the Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS) International Compliance team performs second-line oversight of the merchant acquiring and network businesses in International, ensuring a robust and sustainable compliance risk management framework. The team is responsible for providing Compliance guidance and support on the management of strategic multi-country compliance risks and performing execution of core components of the American Express Compliance Program.
Reporting into the GMS International Compliance Director for Strategic Risk Management and LACC based in the UK, this role will provide compliance oversight, support and direction to 1st line teams that have responsibility for delivery against international strategic compliance objectives whilst also supporting the development and ongoing maintenance of a comprehensive and sustainable compliance program for the GMS business in LACC. You will collaborate with a broad group of stakeholders including GCO, Market Compliance, Global Financial Crimes Compliance, Privacy, Control Management and broader GMS business teams, to ensure compliance with Enterprise-wide policies and procedures and local regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Risk Management:
- Provide compliance support to first line teams as they develop strategic roadmaps/programs, coordinating across key compliance stakeholders as required to ensure clear guidance is provided as needed
- Supporting and monitoring ongoing Issues and Events within the Issue Management Framework
- Supporting the execution and ongoing enhancement of the Compliance Risk Assessment (CRA), ensuring risks are consistently identified, assessed and documented, and partnering with key stakeholders to validate and challenge risk ratings and mitigation activities as needed
- Supporting oversight and execution of Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) activities, providing guidance and effective challenge to ensure appropriate control design, documentation and effectiveness testing aligned to enterprise standards
- Supporting the execution of BUCA (Business Unit Compliance Assessment) processes, including preparation, evidence coordination, documentation, and activities to ensure accurate assessment of control design and operating effectiveness
LACC Compliance:
- Providing compliance input on the development and evolution of centrally managed GMS policies, products, capabilities, processes and controls to enable the business to comply with all applicable laws and regulations
- Execution of ongoing activities related to compliance risk assessment and issue management, assessing and monitoring activities to mitigate compliance risk
- Supporting regulatory examinations, internal audit reviews, risk assessments, and related efforts
- Leading or supporting Issue Management oversight activities, including evaluation of root cause analyses, challenge of proposed corrective actions, and ongoing monitoring of remediation plans to ensure timely and sustainable resolutions, providing support on the effective challenge where required
- Supporting the development and integration of Conduct-related activities, including forward-looking preparation for enhanced Conduct requirements anticipated in 2026, and partnering with stakeholders to embed Conduct risk considerations into relevant business processes
- Reporting on and supporting with market specific BUCA items across LACC
Minimum Qualifications:
- Experience working in regulatory compliance preferred including knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions, Anti-Corruption, Data Privacy and Payments Regulation:
- Knowledge of the merchant acquiring business and external payments landscape
- Proven ability to create a plan and approach from inception for new areas including regulatory requirements, payment models and business models
- Ability to understand and explain complex legal and regulatory requirements to enable development of practical business solutions
- Self-motivated, energetic team player with proven ability to drive results in changing and ambiguous situations in a complex matrixed organization
- Strong relationship and collaboration skills with the ability to influence a broad group of stakeholders across International, at all levels
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to communicate complex topics in a clear and effective manner, adapting communications based on the audience
- Experience establishing metrics, analysing data and using a data driven approach to track progress against key program deliverables
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the UK
is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
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.