Director - Audit, Financial Crimes

American Express
New York, NY
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward seasoned audit professionals comfortable with leading financial crime compliance audits and managing cross-functional teams.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years of audit experience and deep expertise in financial crime compliance programs
    — “8+ years of audit experienceExperience auditing Financial Crime Compliance Programs”
  • Individuals who have managed audit teams and led complex, multi-regional projects
    — “Oversee audit professionals across multiple simultaneous audit projects of all sizes and complexity across multiple business areas”
  • Professionals with a track record of translating risk insights into actionable audit strategies
    — “Guides the team in applying critical thinking to evaluate potential risks and how to translate these considerations into evidence and risk-based insights”

Things to consider

  • No visa sponsorship is available, so only candidates eligible to work in the US should apply
    — “Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required”
  • This role demands a broad understanding of financial crime regulations and their application in audit execution
    — “Coach team on applying rules, requirements, and regulations (e.g., Bank secrecy act, USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC and other global sanctions regimes)”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in leading audit teams and managing multiple complex projects simultaneously
    — “Oversee audit professionals across multiple simultaneous audit projects”
  • Demonstrate ability to align audit plans with regulatory expectations and risk frameworks
    — “Collaborate with Audit Leaders to develop the annual Audit Plan, leveraging knowledge of the portfolio, banking, and industry trends”
  • Showcase skills in data analytics, visualization, and KRI/KPI development to align with preferred qualifications
    — “Experience with data analytic tools, data visualization, key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs)”
  • Emphasize prior experience in developing training and upskilling audit teams for continuous improvement
    — “Develop the training plan to upskill colleagues to ensure audit teams have the skills necessary”
  • Demonstrate leadership in mentoring and career development of audit staff
    — “Recruit, supervise, coach, mentor, and develop audit staff to build high-performing teams”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • oversee audit professionals
  • lead regulatory activities
  • develop relationships with business leaders
Typical background
internal auditfinancial crimescompliance

Skills & requirements

Required

AuditFinancial CrimesRisk ManagementCompliance

Preferred

Regulatory ComplianceInternal Controls

Stack & domain

Internal ControlsConsumer ComplianceTechnologyOperational RiskFinancial AccountingData AnalyticsBanking OperationsProblem-solvingAttention To DetailCommunicationFinanceHealthcare

About the role

Original posting from American Express

Our Internal Audit Group is a worldwide function with 400+ team members and offices across nine countries within American Express. Our mission is to protect and enhance organizational value by providing independent, objective, risk-based assurance, advisory services and to influence the way the company manages risk.

We are committed to growing our audit staff significantly as we continue to expand and enhance the Internal Audit Group. Our assurance and risk professionals have diverse backgrounds including internal controls, consumer compliance, technology, operational risk, financial accounting, data analytics, and banking operations. Our audit teams align to key risk areas and business units to ensure IAG can provide comprehensive and risk-based audit coverage. In addition, IAG has a Professional Practices group responsible for managing audit operations, quality, and standards; regulatory relations; reporting; training and professional development; and key internal capabilities and technologies.

This role is based in New York and will be supporting the Vice President of Global Financial Crime. This role will lead a dedicated team of financial crime auditors covering key pillars of the compliance program and collaborate with integrated audit teams covering financial crime risks associated with their respective portfolios. The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to communicate audit results effectively.

Oversee audit professionals across multiple simultaneous audit projects of all sizes and complexity across multiple business areas within and outside of local region, in unfamiliar areas, and for different audit leaders, ensuring audits are completed timely and with high quality; conduct L2 reviewsSpecialize in one or more specific lines of business; own portfolio with accountability, ownership and horizontal risk view of entire portfolioCollaborate with Audit Leaders to develop the annual Audit Plan, leveraging knowledge of the portfolio, banking, and industry trends to establish a risk-based Audit Plan with adequate coverageSupport and/or lead regulatory activities and attend regulatory meetings as appropriate Lead delivery and execution of the annual Audit Plan for assigned audit portfolio using an integrated auditing approach that considers financial, operational, compliance, and technology risksReview management’s corrective action plans to address business-identified issues, audit findings and regulatory remediationsLead Chief Audit Executive (CAE) audit report reviews and share insights / observations Develop relationships with Senior Business Leaders across all business units, proactively identify changes in business environment, emerging risks, and control priorities that may impact Audit Plans, conducts effective business monitoring and guides team to adjust the audit approach accordingly; demonstrate effective challenge by providing deep subject matter knowledge industry related knowledge to support business partnership effortsCollaborate with Senior Managers / Managers to conduct post-audit feedback discussions with audit team members to provide actionable feedback, support development, and recognize accomplishments Support Audit Leader with special projects across multiple business units and geographic regions, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and risk frameworks, helps prepare for regulator responses and attend meetings as neededServe as a People Leader, providing mentorship, coaching, and career development support for direct reports Recruit, supervise, coach, mentor, and develop audit staff to build high-performing teams, fostering continuous learning and professional growth Develop the training plan to upskill colleagues to ensure audit teams have the skills necessary to effectively deliver the Audit PlanChampion continuous improvement by monitoring industry trends, regulatory developments, and best practices in auditing and banking, and incorporate these insights into audit methodologies and team ways of workingCoach team on applying rules, requirements, and regulations (e.g., Bank secrecy act, USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC and other global sanctions regimes) to audit execution and analysis.

Minimum Qualifications

8+ years of audit experienceExperience auditing Financial Crime Compliance Programs in the financial services and/or directly managing Financial Crime risksHas strong written and verbal communication skills that deliver high quality, actionable and value-added feedback to management on potential issues and potential solutions to close gaps Effectively oversees multiple audits, projects and portfolio, setting direction, and developing team capabilities Guides the team in applying critical thinking to evaluate potential risks and how to translate these considerations into evidence and risk-based insights Guides team in applying control theory and professional auditing practices across the full audit lifecycle, including design and evaluation of control frameworks Stays abreast and cascades in-depth knowledge of current trends, new developments, regulations, technologies, and best practices in the auditing profession, banking industry, and area of specialization to teams, peers, and leaders  

Preferred Qualifications

CAMS CertifiedExperience with data analytic tools, data visualization, key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs), information systems / technology, and scorecards / dashboards, etc.Interest in working with data, interpreting results, analytic best practices and experience with data analytics tools and data visualization

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

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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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.

Source: American Express careers

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