Director - Control Management - Risk Assessments (RCSA)

American Express•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express. Global Commercial Services (GCS) is the global leader in payment solutions for Small, Medium (SME) and Global and Large (G&L) enterprises. The Global Commercial Services team enables businesses globally to pay for and finance what they need to grow their businesses through a suite of payment and lending products, solutions for travel and everyday business spending, cross border payments, global currency solutions, and business financing. The objective of the Global Commercial Services Control Management Risk ID, Assessment, Testing and Reporting team is to identify, assess, mitigate, and report on Operational Risk (OR) within Business Unit (BU) processes for GCS to ensure adherence to regulatory standards, Amex policy and enhance the BU's resilience through managing a clear methodology of inherent and residual risk. How will you make an impact in this role? Global Commercial Services is looking for a Director of Control Management - Risk Assessment to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our organization. It will involve extensive collaboration with multiple partners across numerous business units, functional areas, and geographies. The Director Control Management - Risk Assessment will: Provide additional identification of risks throughout business processes and systems (along with business process owners) Lead and develop a team of Control/Risk Management professionals across various markets/office locations Facilitate Business Units in their risk assessments performance (e.g., Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA)) in addition to further assessments and testing / QA programs to ensure regulatory and internal standards are met (e.g., periodic RCSA reviews and update assessment criteria to align with regulatory updates) Lead control monitoring (supplemental to BU process owners testing) and proactively communicate key Operational Risk (OR) trends, activities, and events to senior management, to facilitate informed decision-making Proactively identify areas of high-risk for intervention (e.g., automated alerts generated for high-risk areas signal need for intervention and focus), including conducting independent quality assurance and vertical process testing Compile thematic risk reporting (levels, trends, causes) to provide actionable insights to BU on current risk levels, emerging trends and root causes Categorize controls and map against risks and processes (e.g., cross-BU process-control mapping) Support BU with identification of risks and spotting areas where product changes or improved controls may be required within New Product Governance (NPG) Champion risk management practices within the business Be a key thought leader for sharing insights, better practices, themes, etc. across the enterprise

Requirements

6+ Years experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk and/or Internal Audit function) Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities
Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts
Expertise in process governance, with a track record of establishing and overseeing robust decision-making processes that align with policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or operational standards
Experience within financial services industry
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to analyze data, identify trends, and evaluate risk scenarios effectively
Demonstrated history and ability to manage large teams, spread over geographies and with varying backgrounds

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business, Risk Management, or related field; advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, MSc) or certifications are advantageous
Experience in at least one of the following: Providing identification of operational risks throughout business processes and systems
Facilitating risk assessment performance in addition to further assessments and testing programs to ensure regulatory and internal standards are met
Enhancing risk assessments and associated methodologies
Leading independent control monitoring, including identification of control improvements
Identifying areas of risk for intervention, including conducting independent quality assurance and process testing
Compiling thematic risk reporting to provide actionable insights on risk levels, emerging trends and root causes
Experience leading teams in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

Provide additional identification of risks throughout business processes and systems (along with business process owners)
Lead and develop a team of Control/Risk Management professionals across various markets/office locations
Facilitate Business Units in their risk assessments performance (e.g., Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA)) in addition to further assessments and testing / QA programs to ensure regulatory and internal standards are met (e.g., periodic RCSA reviews and update assessment criteria to align with regulatory updates)
Lead control monitoring (supplemental to BU process owners testing) and proactively communicate key Operational Risk (OR) trends, activities, and events to senior management, to facilitate informed decision-making
Proactively identify areas of high-risk for intervention (e.g., automated alerts generated for high-risk areas signal need for intervention and focus), including conducting independent quality assurance and vertical process testing
Compile thematic risk reporting (levels, trends, causes) to provide actionable insights to BU on current risk levels, emerging trends and root causes
Categorize controls and map against risks and processes (e.g., cross-BU process-control mapping)
Support BU with identification of risks and spotting areas where product changes or improved controls may be required within New Product Governance (NPG)
Champion risk management practices within the business
Be a key thought leader for sharing insights, better practices, themes, etc. across the enterprise

Benefits

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
6%25 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