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With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you'll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that's unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.
At American Express, you'll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company's success. Together, we'll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world's best customer experience every day. And we'll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.
Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.
Function Description:
American Express' Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is responsible for the end-to-end suspicious activity reporting process, which entails monitoring for, investigating, and, when appropriate, reporting suspicious activity. As part of this process, the FIU relies on Global Financial Crime Compliance (GFCC) partners to develop and implement automated transaction monitoring rules, reports, and other processes designed to identify activity potentially indicative of criminal behavior. The FIU then investigates the potentially suspicious financial activity for reporting and/or files suspicious activity reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The FIU also, when appropriate, refers matters to U.S., EMEA, LACC and APAC compliance partners (Market Compliance Officers - MCOs) for review and reporting and/or files suspicious transaction reports (STRs) or equivalent to the appropriate regulatory authorities. In addition, the FIU 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 FIU performs a meaningful role in ensuring that American Express aligns with all applicable local and international 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.
This position will report to the Vice President of Financial Intelligence Unit – Investigations. The collection of responsibilities will require outstanding skill in managing multiple high priority task simultaneously, the ability to deliver and ensure outstanding performance standards, demonstrated organizational leadership skills to lead a team of Compliance Managers and Investigative Analysts, and strong thought leadership.
Job Responsibilities:
To develop and maintain an adequate knowledge of the U.S., LACC, EMEA and APAC financial crime environments.
Serve as a subject matter expert, and point of contact for globally dispersed FIU colleagues, on global financial crime, sector, geopolitical or regulatory issues.
Coordinate and analyze the filing of SARs or STRs internationally.
Responsibility to enable the right training and the accurate awareness of financial crime environments for all the team members.
Support the SAR/STR filing process globally.
Manage a team of leaders and Investigative Analysts responsible for reviewing, editing, and filing SARs/STRs.
Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards as well as internal quality requirements for SAR/STR filings.
Provide mentorship on how to conduct and detail SAR and STR-related investigations.
Identify and analyze SAR/STR patterns and trends.
Collect and report on SAR/STR metrics for various lines of business.
Preferred Skills:
Bachelors/University degree or equivalent experience
8+ years of work experience as an AML Compliance Senior Manager/Director in a financial services institution with expertise in any of the following areas: BSA-AML compliance, law enforcement, complex AML/CTF/ABC investigations.
Excellent knowledge of global AML/CTF/ABC Regulations.
Experience with direct people leadership and developing top talent.
Extensive experience in conducting financial crime investigations required.
Deep understanding of criminal typologies associated with a wide array of financial products and services.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English.
Contribute to suggestions to improve systems, methodologies, and process simplification.
Must display strong analytical and thought leadership by being able to transform ideas to actionable plans.
Ability to challenge the status quo by removing organizational barriers and influencing without authority.
Extensive background developing and leading hard-working teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to assess, manage, and inspire change.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to influence, gain support, and resolve conflict.
Strong collaboration and relationship development skills.
Ability to strategically plan with thought leadership.
Must be a deadline-driven team player.
Proven ability to take complex technical information and translate it into clear communications (presentations/memos) for a variety of audiences.
Experience in building and leading large diverse teams.
Master's degree preferred.
CAMS and/or CFCS Certifications a plus.
Both a strong written and verbal English language skills required
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
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.