Director-Compliance Quality Assurance

Job Description

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared 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.

Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

The Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit (GFCSU), part of Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC), provides end-to-end support and oversight of global financial crimes investigations. In conjunction with GFCC partners, the GFCSU develops and implements automated transaction monitoring rules, reports, and other processes designed to identify activity potentially indicative of criminal behavior. The GFCSU also investigates potentially suspicious financial activity and, when appropriate, files suspicious activity reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and/or refers matters to internal compliance partners for review and reporting globally. In addition, the GFCSU manages risk associated with politically exposed persons and persons and entities on core sanctions and risk lists through regular screening, and manages risk associated with improper payments that could be indicative of bribery, corruption, or other illicit activity by reviewing internal American Express payments and expenditures. The GFCSU performs a critical role in ensuring that American Express aligns with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and provides law enforcement with key information for the investigation and prosecution of money laundering and terrorist financing, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other criminal activity.

The GFCSU's Quality Assurance (QA) Team performs regular QA testing of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Screening, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and Anti-Corruption investigations performed by the Financial Intelligence Unit to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards as well as internal procedural requirements.

The Director GFCSU Regulatory Testing and Quality Program position will report to the Vice President of Global Financial Crime Surveillance Unit - Governance and Capacity Planning. Leading a team of Quality Assurance/Control Managers, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that an effective Compliance quality monitoring program exists across GFCSU and US Investigation Unit (USIU) processes. This role will interface regularly with GFCSU and USIU leadership and other Compliance colleagues.

• Effectively lead, coach and develop a team of Quality Managers to implement quality and control testing of AML, Screening, EDD, and Anti-Corruption processes managed by the GFSCU and USIU.
• Oversee execution and reporting of quality and control testing in conformance with professional and department standards.
• Collaborate with GFCC teams to develop and enhance the existing Quality Assurance program.
• Speak to trends in investigative quality and procedural adherence, working closely with GFCC Investigation leaders to help improve processes accordingly.
• Day to day leadership oversight and collaboration with Quality Assurance managers to assess and deliberate over ongoing efficiency and execution of program delivery.
• Present quality program objectives, scope, and results to senior leadership across GFCC and clearly articulate any noted control gaps
• Continually Assess the Design and implement initiatives which will expand and enhance Quality Assurance review processes and technology.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, Compliance, or a related risk function, including 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong leadership, project management, analytical and organizational skills
• Extensive experience in developing high performing teams that foster strong talent development.
• Ability to influence, gain support, and resolve conflict.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and drive transformational change across the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently, work well under pressure, meet deadlines and adapt easily to frequent change.
• Willingness to challenge the status quo and influencing without authority.
• Aptitude for working with data, interpreting results and analytic best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of compliance requirements, policies, and procedures as they relate to AML/BSA, financial crimes compliance, know-your-customer (KYC), enhanced due diligence, screening/sanctions risk management, and/or operational risk
• Experience presenting findings to senior leaders and cross-functional partners
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations and industry standards related to quality assurance in financial crime compliance.

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

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.