Director-Operations Risk Management - job 3 of 7

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.

The Global Risk & Compliance Organization (GRC) is an independent risk management function, led by the Chief Risk Officer, with the objective of ensuring that American Express operates in a safe, sound, and fully compliant manner with all applicable regulatory expectations. GRC creates and maintains the overall risk management framework, performs independent risk management assessments, and monitors applicable risks.

Colleagues at GRC are passionate about our commitment to drive the Company’s goals of growth and progress by creating a culture of risk awareness and proactivity around regulatory matters. 

The Operational Risk Management (ORM) team facilitates and monitors the implementation of effective operational risk management programs throughout the company, and oversees risk ownership throughout business units, products, and processes.

The objective of the Operational Risk Management (ORM) Process Risk Reduction and Operational Risk Analytics team is to address identified systemic operational risks, to ensure the integrity and efficiency of business processes, and maintain the alignment of risk reduction efforts through well-executed risk mitigation and remediations activities. The team does this through analyzing data and looking for themes across the company’s processes and operational risk stripes using advanced analytics tools, in addition to quantifying operational risks, developing key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and operational risk metrics to assess risk exposure.

Operational Risk Management (ORM) is looking for a Director of Process Risk Reduction and Operational Risk Analytics to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on identifying emerging risks, performing analytics and reporting and ensuring effective operational risk 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, Process Risk Reduction and Operational Risk Analytics will:

• Identify emerging risks by scanning the external and internal environment to identify new and evolving risks that could impact the enterprise’s operations
• Develop and use advanced risk analytics models and tools to predict and quantify operational risks; monitor risk trends using analytics and data sources to track trends and assess potential impacts to the organization
• Develop and monitor key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational risk metrics to assess risk exposure
• Provide forward looking insights and strategic recommendations based on analytics to prepare American Express for long-term risk scenarios
• Collaborate with other business units to develop and implement control measures to mitigate identified risks, ensuring a proactive rather than reactive approach
• Identify systemic operational risks and prioritize them based on their potential impact on the enterprise
• Establish enterprise priorities for proactive risk reduction; manage and allocate a central pool of resources effectively to target interventions in high-risk areas identified within the business units
• Regularly monitor the execution of controls within business processes and conduct reviews of the control inventory to ensure they are effective and aligned with risk appetite
• Communicate progress and effectiveness of risk reduction initiatives to senior management and ensure alignment with the enterprise risk framework
• Stay connected with external experts and industry forums to keep up with best practices and peer developments and stay updated on emerging regulatory changes

Qualifications:

• Experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk, Internal Audit, or Control Management function) and has a deep understanding of operational risk frameworks and regulatory requirements for larger financial institutions
• Experience in a large financial institution is preferred due to unique regulatory, operational and financial risks such institutions face
• Leadership in analytics and risk quantification – demonstrated expertise in leading teams that utilize advanced analytics, statistical models and data-driven techniques to measure and assess risk
• Strong understanding of the financial sector’s regulatory environment and its implications for operational risk management
• Understanding of global risks including international markets, geopolitical risks and global macroeconomic trends
• Demonstrated history and ability to manage large teams, spread over geographies and with varying backgrounds
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts
• Proven 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

Salary Range: $130,000.00 to $205,000.00 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 you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• 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 our Colleague 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. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

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.

*Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

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