Director-Risk Management

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back. With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally. At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard, and feels like they belong. Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.

The Risk Oversight organization within Global Risk and Compliance (GRC) is responsible for identifying and managing risk across all processes and geographies at American Express. The Director, Enterprise Risk Management UK, within the GRC organization, is responsible for establishing the second line of defense for the UK market. We are seeking an experienced risk leader to be a part of this exciting journey. The incumbent will lead a team of risk professionals in the UK to identify, assess, measure, manage, and report risk and strengthen the governance structure for our UK businesses.

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Develop risk tolerance limits, and establish risk appetite metrics and escalation thresholds for all major risk stripes in accordance with regulatory requirements, and risk appetite.
• Identify emerging risks in accordance with the risk appetite program.
• Establish policies, practices, and other control mechanisms to manage key enterprise risks.
• Monitor and report on aggregate risk profile, initiating appropriate actions to ensure adherence to risk appetite.
• Ensure appropriate risk governance through participation at various committees.
• Provide oversight of internal control framework and management of risks, including outsourcing.
• Provide effective challenge through reviews of critical processes.
• Maintain and continuously enhance Legal Entity Risk Management Framework.
• Collaborate effectively with GM & CEO, Credit and Fraud Risk, Compliance, GCO, Operations Excellence / Control Management, Treasury, Controllership, and other stakeholders in the first line teams to ensure regulatory compliance and manage regulatory relationship and exams for safety & soundness related regulations.
• Lead the functional oversight of risk management activities including the oversight of key risk-taking activities and core risk controls across the UK.
• Provide oversight of UK operations through the establishment and ongoing maintenance of an effective enterprise risk management program.

Experience and Background:

• 8+ years of leadership experience in risk management or a similar role;
• Strong business acumen with a risk-reward control perspective;
• Experience in interacting with regulators and familiarity with the UK’s regulatory landscape and requirements;
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple priorities under pressure;
• Fluency in English (verbal and written);
• Advanced degree in business, economics, engineering, or a related field is preferred.

Leadership Skills:

• Proven leader who can build, inspire, and coach a team with a passion for the business;
• Excellent relationship and influence management skills with the ability to build productive relationships across teams and levels of seniority;
• Self-confident with a strong sense of integrity and the ability and willingness to challenge and be challenged;
• Proactive in identifying issues, delivering and escalating key findings, and advising on recommended solutions to correct issues or mitigate risks;
• Ability to communicate oversight findings to colleagues, business partners, and senior leaders;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

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.