Vice President, Governance And Risk Management – Compliance Risk Management Program

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We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President of Governance to lead and manage governance activities within the second line of defense for the Compliance Risk Management framework at American Express, a leading financial services institution. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that our governance framework is robust, aligned with regulatory requirements, and effectively manages compliance risks across our firm, including credit cards and deposit services.
As a key leader in the compliance organization, the Vice President will work closely with senior management, business units, and other risk functions to provide oversight, challenge, and guidance, ensuring that regulatory compliance and risk management processes are embedded in the organization's operations.
Key Responsibilities:
• Governance Leadership: Develop and maintain a comprehensive governance framework for compliance risk management within the second line of defense. Ensure that governance structures, policies, and procedures are aligned with regulatory requirements, best practices, and company objectives.
• Policy and Procedure Management: Oversee the development, review, and approval of compliance-related policies and procedures, ensuring they meet regulatory expectations and are effectively communicated and implemented across the organization.
• Compliance Risk Oversight: Lead and establish the governance standards of oversight and monitoring of compliance risk management activities, including the implementation of the Compliance Risk Management Framework, quality assurance, risk appetite statements, and regulatory requirements (e.g., UDAP, AML, Fair Lending).
• Effective Challenge and Accountability: Serve as an effective challenge to the second and first line of defense by reviewing, assessing, and challenging their risk management practices. Hold business units and 2nd line risk officers accountable for compliance with internal standards, policies, procedures and regulatory obligations to meet the compliance risk management program standards.
• Regulatory Readiness and Risk Mitigation: Coordinate with internal stakeholders during regulatory exams, audits, and inquiries, ensuring that the governance framework and compliance controls are presented effectively. Manage relationships with key regulatory bodies including demonstrative excellent communication skills to deliver said messages.
• Compliance Risk Reporting: Ensure accurate and timely reporting of compliance risks, control effectiveness, and governance activities to senior management, the Board, and relevant committees. Provide insights and analysis on trends and emerging risks.
• Learning and Development: Collaborate with other compliance and risk teams to design and implement training and staffing programs that enhance governance, compliance, and risk management awareness across the organization
• Team Leadership: Manage and develop a team of governance professionals, providing strategic direction, performance management, and professional development opportunities. Promote a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in finance, law, business, or a related field. Master's degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CAMS, CRCM) are a plus.
Experience:
• Minimum +12 years of experience in compliance, governance, or risk management within a financial services institution, preferably within a bank.
• Deep understanding of the regulatory environment and industry best practices, especially as it pertains to consumer compliance (e.g., UDAP, AML, BSA, Fair Lending).
• Demonstrated experience in leading governance functions within the second line of defense within a financial services institution, preferably within a bank.
• Strong experience interacting with regulatory agencies and managing regulatory exams.
• Experience with data analytics and risk management practices.
Skills and Competencies:
• Excellent understanding of compliance risk management frameworks and the three lines of defense model.
• Professional experience in handling policy governance objectives.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate with people at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance business objectives with regulatory requirements.
• Excellent project management and organizational skill, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to both work independently and collaboratively with team-members and to navigate a complex organization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for preparing and delivering reports, presentations, and policy documents.
• Experience in delivering high quality work products, reflecting attention to detail.
• Must be a self-starter flexible, innovative, and adaptive
• Advanced analytics, PowerPoint and excel skills with an ability to learn new tools quickly.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions
Salary Range: $200,000.00 to $275,000.00 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 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 
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 ourColleague 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.
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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