Vice President, Head of Governance, Model Risk Management - job 1 of 4

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.

Model Risk Management Group (MRMG) is responsible for the model risk management of all American Express models. The role ( Head of Model Risk Governance) will report to Head of MRMG and lead global team based out of US and India to manage enterprise-wide model risk.

The successful candidate will lead the development and execution of model risk governance, ensures regulatory compliance, manages model and tool inventories, oversees validation and reporting, and drives continuous improvement in risk management practices. This will help elevate model excellence, strengthen long term shareholder value, and adapt to the changing landscape of both model development innovation, external environment and heightened regulatory expectations.

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Oversee the model risk governance framework, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Develop, implement, and maintain model risk management policies, procedures, and standards.
• Conduct sample-based testing to ensure that the validators are in sync with the policy, standards and procedures.
• Administer the Model Risk Management Committee, manage model/tool inventories, and monitor model performance and risk metrics. Drive insights from inventory management and discuss them in various forums
• Be the business owner of OMNI – Model Risk Management Tool
• Lead the governance of non-model tools and End User Computing (EUC) applications, including inventory management and control standards.
• Coordinate model validation, testing, and documentation of findings for both models and non-model tools.
• Prepare and present comprehensive model risk reports to senior management, risk committees, and the board, highlighting key risks and compliance.
• Serve as primary liaison for regulatory and audit inquiries and ensure timely, accurate responses to regulators and auditors.
• Drive issue management processes, including tracking, remediation, and closure of model risk issues.
• Collaborate with business units, risk owners, and senior management to define and communicate model risk appetite and governance practices.
• Lead or support enterprise-wide model risk initiatives, including the rollout of new governance programs and stakeholder engagement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., statistics, mathematics, finance, economics, engineering, computer science).
• 10+ years of experience in model risk management, governance, or related roles, with significant leadership exposure in financial services.
• Must have worked in a GSIB in the field of model risk governance.
• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements (e.g., SR 11-7), model risk management frameworks, and best practices.
• Experience with statistical/quantitative modeling, model validation, and risk assessment.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills, including experience with regulatory exams and senior forums.
• Proven people leadership experience with the ability to lead, motivate and mentor highly competent and multi-layered teams, dispersed geographically
•  Exceptional ability to build, leverage, and maintain relationships with senior leaders, business partners, and regulators
• Proven record of designing strategies and communicating effectively to bring senior management and diverse stakeholders on board. Experience with managing regulators, working with external/ internal auditors preferred
• Understand the evolving compliance and regulatory requirements with key focus on gaps to stabilize and eliminate vulnerabilities in MRM

Salary Range: $185,000.00 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 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.

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