American Express

Director-Compliance - Insider Investigations

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American Express’s US Investigations Unit (USIU) is part of the broader Global Risk & Compliance organization, operating within Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC). USIU provides oversight and support for global financial crimes investigations. In partnership with teams across the financial crimes’ organization, USIU develops and implements transaction monitoring rules, reports, and other tools to detect potential criminal activity. They investigate suspicious financial behavior and, when necessary, file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or refer cases to internal compliance partners for global reporting. USIU plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with key regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the USA PATRIOT Act. They also support law enforcement by providing critical information to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes.

The Insider Investigations Director will lead a team of managers and analysts responsible for managing Insider Risk (American Express colleagues, contractors, affiliates, vendors, or partners) by investigating suspicious activity and communicating with applicable law enforcement agencies as necessary. The candidate will also provide information and data to the Insider Risk Program on suspicious activity for aggregate reporting purposes. In addition, they will partner closely with internal stakeholders including GCO, Global Security and Internal Audit in support of the Insider Risk Program. The successful candidate must have excellent investigative, communication, and time management skills, and the ability to effectively manage change and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

  • To develop and maintain an adequate knowledge of complex U.S financial crime environments and insider risk.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert, and point of contact for globally dispersed GFCC colleagues, on insider risk, global financial crime, sector, geopolitical or regulatory issues.
  • Coordinate the filing of SARs and support the SAR filing process globally on insiders.
  • Responsibility to enable the right training and the proper awareness of financial crime environments for all the insider team members.
  • Manage a team of leaders and Investigative Analysts responsible for reviewing, editing, and filing SARs related to insiders.
  • Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards as well as internal quality requirements for SAR.
  • Provide guidance on how to conduct and document SAR-related investigations.
  • Identify and analyze SAR patterns and trends related to insiders.
  • Collect and report on SAR metrics for the Insider Program.
  • Liaise with law enforcement, other financial institutions, and industry groups

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelors/University degree or equivalent experience
  • 8+ years of work experience as an AML Compliance Manager/Director in a financial services institution with expertise in any of the following areas: BSA-AML compliance, law enforcement, complex AML/CTF/ABC investigations.
  • Strong knowledge of global AML/CTF/ABC Regulations (BSA, US PATRIOT Act)
  • Experience with direct people leadership and developing top talent.
  • Extensive experience in conducting financial crime investigations.
  • Deep understanding of criminal typologies associated with a wide array of financial products and services.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to contribute suggestions to enhance systems, methodologies, and process simplification.
  • Must display strong analytical and thought leadership by being able to transform ideas to actionable plans.
  • Ability to challenge the status quo by removing organizational barriers and influencing without authority.
  • Demonstrated success building and scaling investigative teams.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Ability to assess, manage, and drive change.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to influence, gain support, and resolve conflict.
  • Strong collaboration and relationship development skills.
  • Ability to strategically plan with thought leadership.
  • Must be a deadline-driven team player.
  • Proven ability to take complex technical information and translate it into clear communications (presentations/memos) for a variety of audiences.
  • Experience in building and leading large diverse teams.
  • Master's or other advanced degree preferred.
  • CAMS and/or CFCS Certifications a plus.

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