American Express - Manager - Financial Crimes - Global Merchant & Network Services

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.
GMNS is looking for an experienced Manager- Financial Crimes to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring risk and control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our organization. This first-line role will involve extensive collaboration with partners across business units, functional areas, and geographies. This role will lead the execution of financial crime risk management within the business unit and is accountable for ensuring the business maintains a strong control environment to prevent, detect, and respond to financial crimes-including anti-money laundering (AML), sanctions, fraud, and anti-bribery and corruption (ABC). The ideal candidate brings deep subject matter expertise and a pragmatic, partnership-driven approach to risk management.
Responsibilities :

The Manager-Financial Crimes will :
- Support the executive of financial crimes-related regulatory initiatives, including both internal and externally driven programs ensuring high quality deliverables, timely delivery, and alignment with enterprise compliance objectives.
- Support the completion of financial crimes risk assessments and controls aligned with enterprise policy and regulatory expectations.
- Partner with business to embed financial crime risk management into day-to-day operations, new product development, and client onboarding.
- Support investigations of suspicious activity, coordinating with AML and fraud investigation teams.
- Monitor and report on financial crimes risk indicators, emerging threats, and control effectiveness to business and risk leadership.
- Escalate and remediate control issues or potential violations in partnership with compliance, legal, and audit functions.
- Support internal and regulatory exams, audits, and inquiries related to financial crimes and contribute to any remediation activities.

- Coordinate financial crimes training and awareness programs for front-line staff.

- Maintain detailed documentation and records to demonstrate compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
- Consult on the design and implementation of controls tailored to specialized risk areas including Financial Crime and Compliance, with input in broader areas of operational risk
- Ensure all activities & guidance provided to BU are in alignment with standards set by centralized specialist risk-stripe teams
- Comply with enterprise policies and programs pertaining to specific risk types (e.g., Conduct Risk Management policy), and support with design/ enhancement of BU procedures /standards
- Maintain awareness and understanding of emerging trends, best practices, and regulatory updates relevant to operational risks and share this with BU process owners
- Support with the design and dissemination of targeted training and awareness programs to increase understanding and management of specific risk topics within GMNS
Qualifications :
Minimum Qualifications :
- 5+ years of experience in AML, financial crimes compliance, fraud risk, or business risk roles within a financial institution.
- Strong understanding of BSA/AML, OFAC, and anti-bribery and corruption regulations.

- Proven ability to assess risk, implement controls, and collaborate across functions.
Preferred Qualifications :
- Bachelor's degree in finance, criminal justice, business administration, or a related field.
- CAMS, CFE, or similar professional certification.
- Experience working in a first line of defense or business control function.
- Familiarity with customer risk rating, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting processes.
Skills & Competencies :
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Sound judgment and decision-making under pressure.
- Ability to influence and educate business partners on risk concepts.
- Skilled in project management and working in a matrixed organization.