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Global Merchant & Network Services (GMNS) brings together American Express' merchant-and network related businesses to enable a sharp focus on using the power of our network to provide unique value to all our mutual customers. The organization manages the relationships with the millions of merchants around the world that accepts American Express and runs the company’s payment network and manages bank partnerships globally.
The objective of the Global Merchant & Network Services Control Management Governance team is to establish the Operational Risk and Controls strategy for [Global Merchant & Network Services, set up a foundational governance structure that ensures operational risks are identified, assessed, and managed in compliance with enterprise Operational Risk Management programs and reporting.
Global Merchant & Network Services is looking for a Director of Governance to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring control 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.
Responsibilities
The Director, Global Merchant & Network Services Governance will:
- Develop execution plans for operational risk management within the business unit (BU), including BU specific guidelines, project plans, etc.
- Track and identify issues with KRI limits and risk appetite for Global Merchant & Network Services to ensure operational risks are managed within agreed thresholds, and leverage these metrics to detect significant or concerning rises in emerging problems, e.g., upticks in reload complaints, then escalate and flag concerns accordingly
- Implement the operational risk framework to enable effective risk management and decision making in the BU
- Lead risk and controls governance forums for Global Merchant & Network Services, interfacing with org-wide governance processes and committees (e.g., Operational Risk Management Committee) and share insights and lessons learned across forums (e.g., Community of Practice)
- Create BU-specific procedures and additional standards (i.e., escalation protocols), related to the execution of the Operational Risk Management programs
- Facilitate the understanding and use of the risk governance framework across BUs through regular communication (e.g., Communities of Practice)
- Support the day-to-day internal and external exam management process, working with the Enterprise functions (e.g., data request compilation, action implementation, and regulatory adherence)
- Aggregate reporting, approvals/exceptions and support "change-the-function" activities for the BU
- Develop and administer implementation of comprehensive training initiatives and clear career progression plans that align with Operational Risk Management
- Establish processes to ensure and monitor the integration of regulatory changes & updates into the Operational Risk framework and training materials
- Be a key leader for sharing insights, better practices, themes, etc. across the enterprise
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- 6+ Years experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk and/or Internal Audit function) Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities
- Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts
- 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
- Experience within financial services industry
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to analyze data, identify trends, and evaluate risk scenarios effectively [BU-SPECIFIC]
- Demonstrated history and ability to manage large teams, spread over geographies and with varying backgrounds
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business, Risk Mgmt., or related field; advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, MSc) or certifications are advantageous
- Experience in at least one of the following:
- Translating operational risk strategy and appetite into execution guidelines
- Tracking and identifying issues with Key Risk Indicator (KRI) limits and risk appetite to ensure operational risks are managed within agreed thresholds
- Implementing the operational risk governance frameworks
- Creating, communicating and ensuring understanding and adherence to operational risk procedures and standards
- Supporting the operational risk exam management processes