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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.

The objective of the GMNS Control Management Operational Risk (OR) Advisory team is to provide specialized and strategic risk advisory.

GMNS is looking for a Director of Operational Risk (OR) Advisory to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on providing risk advice to business process owners to ensure risk 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, with a focus on International markets.

How will you make an impact in this role?

The Director, GMNS Operational Risk Advisory will:

• Provide strategic risk advice to business process owners when process changes are triggered, or new regulations apply. Actively involved in change management initiatives to ensure adequate assessment of risks and compliance with existing policies & regulations.
• Compile best practices and learnings from historical processes changes and product launches, and leverage to support risk identification
• Assess the needs of BU and functional leaders to ensure sufficient understanding of Operational Risk Management (ORM) and controls and work closely with process owners & Risk Identification & Assessment team to assess risk & implement controls.
• Coordinate with Sales, Client management, Product and Marketing teams to embed ORM considerations into day-to-day decisions.
• Partner with Risk Identification & Process Reduction teams to ensure risks are mitigated through adequate controls.
• Facilitate risk awareness and education within business teams to enhance their ability to manage risks effectively

Minimum 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
• 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
• Based on the international market focus of this role, the Director will be expected to support market-specific responsibilities including:
  • Support the execution of risk assessments and analysis of market-level risks/controls in accordance with the Operational Risk Management framework, ensuring they are consistently performed, documented, and escalated in alignment with established policies and procedures and/or market-specific requirements.
  • Support GMS Front-line teams in navigating the operational risk framework, such as Third Party and outsourcing risk and Process Risk Self-assessment / Risk & Control Self-Assessment, in close collaboration with Control Management pillar teams.
  • Understand the implications of the Risk Performance Rating (RPR) scorecard (formerly the Control and Compliance (C&C) scorecard), including trends, aging, recurrency, and ensure that business teams have appropriate visibility on key operational risk messages, implications and actions to take.

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:
  • Assessing the needs of business unit leaders to ensure sufficient understanding of Operational Risk Management and controls
  • Compiling and sharing best practices and learnings from historical product launches and change management initiatives
  • Coordinating with product development and service delivery teams to embed operational risk considerations into the product lifecycle and service operations
  • Facilitating operational risk awareness and education within product and service teams to enhance their ability to manage risks effectively

ORMCM

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

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