Director Compliance

You Lead the Way. We've Got Your Back.

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.

How will you make an impact in this role?

Reporting to the LACC Regional Head of Financial Crimes Compliance, the Director Regional Enablement & Strategy for Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean (LACC) will serve as the primary financial crimes compliance point of contact for regional, market and legal entity compliance. This individual will oversee and govern the Global Financial Crimes Compliance program across LACC region and will assess local risks and regulatory changes, monitor market compliance with the American Express FCRM policy and related standards, coordinate with and support Market Compliance Officers (MCOs), ensuring that market-specific requirements are incorporated into enterprise program delivery, and submit regular reports and escalations to relevant governance committees at legal entity, market and enterprise levels.professionals focused on ensuring risk and control management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our business.

Responsibilities:

· Provide strategic and operational leadership for financial crimes compliance activities across Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean, ensuring a globally consistent, risk-based approach to FCRM that meets compliance requirements.

· Provide guidance to the respective MCOs to set policies and procedures at the legal entity level to coordinate/consolidate regional AML regulatory risk assessments.

· Oversee the investigation of complex financial crimes cases, including money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, sanctions violations, and other suspicious activity. Ensure effective escalation and timely resolution.

· Ensure the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of suspicious activity and transaction reporting in line with local and regulations and GFCC policy and standards. Provide guidance to local teams on documentation standards and regulatory expectations.

· Monitor and assess emerging risks within the region, identifying trends and developing mitigation strategies. Provide ongoing risk reporting to global and regional leadership.

· Deliver expert guidance, training, and thought leadership to regional compliance teams, business partners, and legal entities to strengthen financial crimes risk awareness and management.

· Serve as the primary liaison with business, compliance, audit, and regulators in the region. Provide credible challenge and advice to ensure the bank's practices align with regulatory expectations.

· Drive the execution of global FCC policies, standards, and initiatives within the region, tailoring to market-specific nuances where necessary.

· Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, overseeing risk identification and assessment, policy and standards compliance, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

· Build effective working relationships with senior business leaders in the respective markets and key stakeholder groups both locally & globally such as General Counsel's Office, Operational Risk, Internal Audit, among others.

· Support the management of supervisory and regulatory examinations and audits.

· Partner with other GFCC teams to ensure that local market requirements are aligned with compliance teams and reflected in the Money Laundering Risk Assessment and Customer Risk Rating methodologies and outputs.

· Support the LACC Regional Head of Financial Crimes Compliance by serving as governance support officer for all regions ex-US (e.g., by providing unified reporting support for all regions, collating and analyzing operational and resourcing needs across all markets)

Minimum Qualifications

•    Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree in Law, Finance, Business, Economics, or related field preferred.

•    8+ years of experience in financial crimes compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), or related risk management functions within financial services, with significant exposure to Latin America, Canada, or Caribbean markets.

•    Deep understanding of financial crimes regulatory requirements and trends across Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean.

•    Strong knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulatory frameworks, with expertise in SAR/STR filings, investigations, and regulatory engagement.

•    Experience managing and leading regional or multi-jurisdictional compliance programs in a global financial institution.

•    Proven ability to work effectively across diverse markets, cultures, and regulatory environments.

•    Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

•    Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with a risk-based mindset.

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 
• 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.