American Express

Director - Regulatory Advisory & Practices

American Express$150K — $180K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7-10+ years of compliance, legal, or risk experience in a financial institution, particularly in a first line of defense role.
  • Deep knowledge of U.S. banking and securities regulations like BSA/AML, UDAAP, and Fair Lending.
  • Experience in designing and implementing compliance controls and assessments.
  • Strong understanding of the payments industry and federal/state banking regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a liaison between business functions and second-line compliance entities for issue management.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies through monitoring and assessment.
  • Lead compliance testing, risk assessments, and issue tracking aligned with governance frameworks.
  • Embed compliance into processes and workflows by collaborating with operational teams.
  • Manage compliance governance activities, including risk acceptance and senior management reporting.
  • Maintain compliance documentation, including procedures and training materials.
  • Support internal audits and regulatory exams with necessary documentation and responses.

Benefits

  • Work in a critical role to strengthen compliance and control environments.
  • Opportunity to influence and advise senior leaders.
  • Promote a strong risk and compliance culture within the organization.
  • Engage in cross-functional initiatives to improve compliance processes.
  • Benefit from the resources and support of a leading financial institution.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Regulatory Advisory & Practices Director (1LOD Compliance) within the Risk & Remediation organization to support GMNS in managing compliance risk across products, processes, and customer interactions. This role plays a critical part in strengthening the control environment, enabling sustainable business growth, and protecting the American Express brand. The ideal candidate has strong regulatory knowledge, a process mindset, and the ability to translate risk concepts into practical actions.

Responsibilities

How will you make an impact in this role?
  • Serve as a key point of contact between the business and second-line functions (Regulatory Compliance, GCO, Risk Management, Audit) to support effective issue identification, remediation, and closure.
  • Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and Network and Merchant standards through proactive monitoring, assessment, and issue management (e.g., UDAAP, Privacy, BSA/AML).
  • Lead risk and control assessments, compliance testing, issue tracking, and remediation activities in alignment with enterprise governance frameworks.
  • Partner with business and operational teams to embed compliance requirements into processes, initiatives, and operational workflows.
  • Lead and support cross-functional compliance initiatives related to regulatory change management, control enhancements, and process improvements.
  • Maintain and update business-level compliance documentation, including procedures, control descriptions, and training materials.
  • Manage compliance-related governance activities, including exception management, risk acceptance, issue escalation, and senior management updates.
  • Review, challenge, and approve compliance reporting, metrics, and dashboards, ensuring accurate risk articulation and actionable insights.
  • Support internal audits, regulatory exams, and management reviews, including preparation of documentation, responses, and action plans.
  • Act as a subject matter expert for 1LOD compliance within Risk & Remediation, providing support and guidance to stakeholders.
  • Promote a strong risk and compliance culture by providing ongoing advisory, training, and thought leadership to business partners.


Qualifications

Required:
  • 7-10+ years of compliance, legal, or risk experience within a financial institution, preferably in a business-aligned or first line of defense role.
  • Deep knowledge of U.S. banking and securities regulations (e.g., BSA/AML, Reg Z, Reg E, Reg W, Fair Lending, UDAAP, etc.).
  • Experience designing and implementing compliance controls, programs, and assessments.
  • Strong understanding of the payments industry and bank regulatory environment and expectations of federal and state banking regulators.

Preferred:
  • Advanced degree (e.g., JD, MBA, MPA) or professional certifications such as CRCM, CAMS, or CCEP.
  • Experience working with compliance technology tools and issue management systems.
  • Familiarity with global compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, MiFID II).

Key Competencies:
  • Strong business acumen and judgment
  • Regulatory interpretation and control design expertise
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to influence and advise senior leaders
  • Proven ability to manage competing priorities in a complex, matrixed environment
  • services or payments.

Key Skills Required:
  • Strong understanding of 1st Line of Defense responsibilities and interaction with 2LOD and 3LOD functions.
  • Solid knowledge of the payments and financial services industry, including regulatory requirements, operational risk, conduct risk, and compliance frameworks.
  • Proven experience owning and executing compliance programs and controls within a business-aligned (1LOD) environment.
  • Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and challenge senior stakeholders effectively.
  • Experience in risk assessments, control design and testing, issue management, remediation tracking, and governance reporting.
  • Ability to interpret regulatory and policy requirements and translate them into practical, business-aligned controls.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify emerging risks, trends, and control gaps using data-driven insights.
  • Experience with compliance governance processes, including issue escalation, exception management, and senior management reporting.
  • Familiarity with automation, analytics, and reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, SQL, Power Apps, MicroStrategy) preferred.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, fast-paced environment.
  • High degree of ownership, sound judgment, and comfort operating independently in ambiguous situations.
  • Collaborative mindset with a strong focus on partnership, customer outcomes, and risk-based decision making.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio.


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

About American Express

Amex provides industrial services to the coatings and linings sector, providing support for commercial, industrial, and maritime projects such as petrochemical, power, and water treatment industries. They offer painting services for steel structures, storage tank linings and coatings, pipelines, floors, and marine vessels such as ships, tugboats, and barges.

American Express Careers

Join the vibrant team at American Express, a global leader in financial services, and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity. At American Express, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for professional growth and a chance to be part of a culture that is committed to excellence and inclusive growth. Work You’ll Do At American Express, we are dedicated to helping our employees reach their full potential. With a variety of career paths available in areas such as technology, marketing, finance, and customer service, American Express is the perfect place to advance your career. Our team is composed of highly skilled professionals who thrive on innovation and collaboration. Join our team and contribute to a company known for its prestigious history of leadership in the credit card industry. Engage in meaningful work that makes a real impact on our global scale business operations. American Express Leadership and Development Programs We believe in nurturing the leadership skills of our employees with extensive training programs and leadership development opportunities. Our commitment to professional growth is evident in our comprehensive benefits package that supports both personal and professional development. Internship Opportunities Start your career with an internship at American Express and gain valuable industry experience. Our internships offer a chance to develop skills, work on challenging projects, and learn from leaders in the industry. Interns at American Express are considered integral members of the team and are given responsibilities that provide a real insight into their future career paths. Diversity and Inclusion At American Express, diversity and inclusion are at the core of our company culture. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and inspired. We offer diversity training programs that empower our employees to thrive and lead in a global marketplace. Networking and Innovation Our employees enjoy unparalleled opportunities for networking and personal growth through our global connections and innovative projects. American Express encourages a culture of innovation that helps propel our company and your career forward. Career Benefits and Growth American Express is dedicated to the growth of its employees. We offer competitive benefits, including health, retirement plans, and family leave, ensuring that our team members have the support they need to succeed both at work and in their personal lives. Join Our Team Explore the job opportunities and open positions at American Express. We are continuously hiring talented individuals who are passionate about their careers and interested in working for a company that offers a dynamic and supportive environment. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest from American Express Careers by following our career blog and signing up for job alert emails. Tailor your subscription to receive updates that match your skills and interests. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at American Express. SEARCH AMERICAN EXPRESS JOBS Whether you are looking for a full-time position, an internship, or a leadership opportunity, American Express offers a path to a rewarding career. Join us and make a difference with your passion, creativity, and drive.
Learn more about American Express
Size
64,000 employees
Market Cap
$108.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1850
5 Year Trend
+3.5%
Revenue
$37 billion
NASDAQ

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