Vice President, International Global Merchant Services Compliance

This job is with American Express, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

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Global Risk & Compliance ("GRC") is an independent risk management function, with the objective of ensuring that American Express operates in a safe, sound and fully compliant manner within all applicable regulatory expectations. GRC builds and maintains the overall risk management framework, performs independent risk management assessment, and monitors risks.

The Vice President of Global Merchant Services International Compliance will play a critical leadership position within the Global Merchant Services (“GMS”) Line of Business Compliance team providing compliance oversight and credible challenge to the Global Merchant Services business at American Express.

As the Vice President- Global Merchant Services International Compliance, the role will support Global Merchant Services in International markets from a compliance perspective. This position will provide strategic compliance oversight to the business while providing credible challenge to ensure that GMS handles and mitigates the regulatory risk in all international jurisdictions in which it operates.

The role leads a diverse and dispersed team of Compliance professionals who oversee various aspects of the GMS business and requires strong collaboration with other stakeholder groups including the Global Financial Crimes Compliance team, Marketing Compliance Officers and the General Counsel’s Organization.

This role is a highly visible and strategic position that maintains regular interactions with senior International leaders and external regulatory examiners as appropriate.

This Vice President position will be based in Madrid, Spain with a hybrid working requirement.

The Key responsibilities for the VP Global Merchant Services International Compliance are as follows:

• Setting international regulatory requirements and compliance framework requirements for GMS, in the context of GMS’s business model (existing and evolving), strategic growth priorities and linking it to the AXP Compliance framework.
• Periodically assessing the state of compliance risk across GMS International leveraging the AXP Compliance program including testing/monitoring metrics and communicating the results effectively to International senior management and various committees in the 1st and 2nd line.
• Interact with regulatory agencies, internal auditors, and third-party partners representing the company’s compliance program for GMS International.
• Support response and remediation strategy of GMS Compliance-related audit reviews and regulatory examinations across International.
• Forge and maintain strong strategic relationships across Global Financial Crimes Compliance, Market Compliance Officers, Risk, Operational Risk Management, Privacy, Internal Audit, Technologies, and the General Counsel’s Organization in support of an aligned and effective control and compliance framework for GMS International.
• Lead a dispersed, cross-functional team of compliance professionals responsible for executing the GMS International Compliance program.

The VP Global Merchant Services International Compliance should possess the following leadership competencies:

• Set the agenda for GMS international in terms of regulatory expectation and risk mitigation priorities.
• Define what winning looks like in terms of the standards of regulatory risk management performance expected of GMS international.
• Knowledge of international regulatory landscape and regulatory agencies.
• Attracting and retaining talent and managing the sizeable team of Compliance professionals through setting and communicating goals, measuring accomplishments, holding team members accountable, delegating responsibilities as appropriate, and providing developmental feedback and coaching.
• Communicating effectively and appropriately to all relevant stakeholders including senior management and other employees, customers, third-party and affiliate service providers, and regulators, among others.
• Designing and implementing processes, workflows, and systems in pursuit of increased efficiency and effectiveness in overseeing and reporting compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.
• Understanding the organization including being well-organized, resourceful, capable of multitasking, and effective and efficient at marshalling multiple resources to get things done.
• Leading by example and embodying a culture of compliance consistent with the American Express Leadership Behaviors, including managing diverse relationships and acting with integrity.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of leadership experience, including prior regulatory experience.
• Knowledge of GMS business model.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to interact with all levels of management and external regulators.
• Ability to provide credible challenge and exercise good judgment in the development and pursuit of compliant solutions.
• Proof of successful cross-organizational coordination on large and complex projects.
• Ability to drive results across numerous stakeholders and influence effectively without direct authority.
• Strong demonstrated project management experience in a controlled and disciplined environment.
• Consistent track record of leading through organizational change and developing a high-performance culture.
• Highly collaborative and able to build and leverage relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Exhibits strong sense of urgency with demonstrated ability to effectively lead multiple and often conflicting priorities under tight timeframes.
• Maintains end-user and customer-centric mindset to drive solutions and execution.
• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree a plus or equivalent professional experience.
• Prior financial crimes compliance or legal experience a plus.

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:

• 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.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.