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.

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

We are seeking a strategic and driven Director within the First Line of Defense (1LOD) Compliance function to lead critical elements of the enterprise compliance framework. This leader will be responsible for executing compliance program requirements across business functions in partnership with internal stakeholders.

As part of the 1LOD Compliance function, this role executes day-to-day compliance risk management activities aligned to AEMP39, ensuring the First Line meets its regulatory obligations and internal policy expectations. The ideal candidate brings strong regulatory expertise, exceptional collaboration skills, and a passion for embedding compliance into operational practices.

Scope of Responsibilities

Leading compliance execution for program elements such as :

• Compliance Risk Assessments (CRAs)
• Monitoring and Testing
• Training and Awareness
• Policies and Procedures
• Business Advisory and Risk Reviews
• Serving as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to business partners
• Promoting a strong compliance culture and supporting training across 1LOD stakeholders
• Supporting exam and audit readiness in collaboration with Issue Management leads

Key Responsibilities

• Execute enterprise-wide Compliance Risk Assessments to identify and assess inherent and residual risks across business activities.
• Implement and manage monitoring activities and controls validation processes to evaluate compliance with laws and internal policies.
• Develop and update first-line compliance procedures, manuals, and guidance to reflect evolving regulatory expectations and AEMP39 standards.
• Deliver targeted compliance training to 1LOD personnel, enhancing frontline awareness and execution capability.
• Partner with 2LOD Compliance and Legal teams to ensure program alignment and coordinate input to second line risk assessments and oversight reviews.
• Provide compliance advice on business initiatives, product changes, and control enhancements.
• Support data-driven compliance metrics and reporting for senior leadership, helping inform risk prioritization and remediation strategies.
• Strategic Context: AEMP39 & 1LOD Evolution
• This role is central to the implementation of the AEMP39 Target Operating Model, which establishes clearer delineation of responsibilities between 1LOD and 2LOD. This Director will:
• Operate within a centralized 1LOD Compliance structure executing risk management responsibilities across programs.
• Partner with Risk, Data, Product, and Ops teams to operationalize compliance controls and prevent regulatory breaches.
• Support uplifted governance expectations, including enterprise monitoring standards and role clarity for the 1LOD.
• Align team practices with the Guardian and CMS milestones outlined by enterprise risk programs.

Qualifications Required:

• 8-12+ years of experience in compliance, risk, or control roles within financial services
• Proven ability to manage or execute compliance programs across multiple regulatory domains (e.g., Fair Lending, Privacy, Financial Crimes, Market Conduct)
• Strong understanding of OCC Heightened Standards, CFPB expectations, and federal banking regulations
• Experience in a centralized compliance, control, or 1LOD function

Key Competencies:

• Regulatory interpretation and risk assessment
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Project and program management skills
• Stakeholder influence and cross-functional collaboration
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, legal, or risk; advanced degree or certifications (CRCM, CAMS, PMP) a plus
• Familiarity with compliance monitoring/testing practices and tools (e.g., automated controls, dashboards)
• Experience working with cross-functional control teams or global regulatory environments

Guardian

Salary Range: $170,000.00 to $255,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

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
• 6% Company Match on retirement savings plan
• Free financial coaching and financial well-being support
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender, offered for pregnancy, adoption or surrogacy
• 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

For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site .

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. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions