Sr. Manager - Global Financial Crimes Testing

Global Compliance and Ethics (GCE) is responsible for establishing and maintaining a robust compliance program that ensures American Express is adhering to laws, regulations, and internal policies while fostering a culture of integrity and effective second line independent Compliance oversight.

We are seeking an experienced and proactive professional to join our Compliance team as a Senior Manager in International Independent Compliance Testing (ICT). The successful candidate will take ownership of substantial review areas or workstreams, coordinate day-to-day testing delivery, quality-assure Analysts’ work, develop evidence-based conclusions, and manage working-level stakeholder engagement. This role requires strong technical and analytical capability, sound judgement, developing leadership skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, global regulatory environment.

This role is focused on Financial Crime Compliance and requires strong subject matter expertise in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Economic Sanctions, Know Your Customer/Customer Due Diligence (KYC/CDD), Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Financial Crimes Investigations, Transaction Monitoring, and Suspicious Activity Reporting.

The successful candidate will leverage this expertise to independently assess the design and effectiveness of financial crime controls, challenge management assumptions, identify emerging risks, and evaluate compliance with global regulatory requirements and internal standards across multiple jurisdictions.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Minimum 5+ years of experience in Financial Crime Compliance, Compliance Testing, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, or related assurance functions within financial services.
- Strong subject matter expertise in AML, Sanctions, KYC/CDD, ABC, Transaction Monitoring, Financial Crime Investigations, and Suspicious Activity Reporting.
- Experience designing, executing, or overseeing independent testing, compliance reviews, audits, or assurance activities covering financial crime compliance programs and controls.
- Strong understanding of global financial crime regulations and regulatory expectations, including familiarity with FinCEN, OFAC, FATF, FCA, EU AML Directives, and other applicable regulatory frameworks.
- Experience assessing control frameworks and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions and legal entities.
- Strong working knowledge of compliance testing methodologies, control assessment techniques, root cause analysis, issue management, and risk management principles.
- Ability to independently challenge management assumptions, evaluate risk-based decisions, and form evidence-based conclusions regarding the effectiveness of financial crime controls.
- Experience managing review workstreams and quality-assuring the work of others.
- Strong analytical, interviewing, stakeholder management, and report-writing skills.
- Experience coaching and developing team members while supporting high-quality review delivery.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed, global organization.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience using data analytics and technology-enabled testing techniques preferred.
- ACAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), ICA Financial Crime certification, Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS), or equivalent financial crime certification strongly preferred.

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