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 this 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.

1. Strategic Compliance Leadership & Risk Culture

Senior Compliance Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, controlling, measuring, monitoring, and reporting compliance AML and Sanctions program risks, and for providing compliance training throughout the organization to appropriately control the heightened level and complexity of compliance risk.

Compliance is an engaged and active partner protecting the brand and customers through strategic risk-based principles in accordance with regulations to achieve business objectives and enable enterprise growth.

Facilitate the development of a strong risk culture throughout the organization, develop consistent engagement with business partners as trusted advisors and increase collaboration across Global Risk and Compliance to share expertise and guidance to achieve business objectives in accordance with relevant regulations.

Build strong regulatory relationships and leverage regulatory expertise to ensure an effective control environment.

Leverage technology, automation and analytics to enable agile decision making.

2. Role Purpose – Mexico AML & Sanctions Oversight

This position is responsible for assisting the MCO in the development and maintenance of an effective AML legal compliance program consistent with local market and U.S. sanctions legal requirements and American Express Company Compliance programs/policies within the business units operating in Mexico.

A Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring that an organization adheres to applicable laws, regulations, internal policies, and ethical standards. This role is critical for minimizing legal, regulatory, and reputational risks.

Impact on results that this position must generate:

Risk management and potential impacts avoidance arising from violations of, or failure to conform to or comply with, Law(s) and/or Regulation(s), internal policies and procedures and related practices, or ethical standards.

Cover through preventive and detective controls, effective challenge and oversight, potential fines, civil money penalties, payment of damages, the voiding of contracts, damage to reputation, reduce franchise/enterprise value, limit business opportunities, reduce expansion potential, and harm ability to enforce contracts. Compliance coverage of risks also includes risk to consumers, which is the potential for consumers to suffer economic loss or other legally cognizable injury as a result of a violation of applicable laws.

3. Core ResponsibilitiesAML & Sanctions Program Oversight

Assist the Compliance Director in the development and maintenance of an effective compliance AML and Sanctions program, consistent with local market legal requirements and American Express Compliance programs and policies within the business units, and legal entities operating in Mexico.

Responsible for Compliance AML Program in Mexico, covering activities like RCM, CRA, Issue Management, Transaction Monitoring, Regulatory Reporting, Subpoenas and Information requirements, etc.

Responsible for an effective Regulatory Change Management Program from a AML Compliance program standpoint, in adherence to Company guidance and standard procedures.

Expected for the candidate to have a robust knowledge (Subject Matter Expert) of the applicable Regulation in Mexico, and to provide constant and proactive advice and training on regulatory matters to the Business Units and relevant stakeholders.

 

Regulatory, Audit & Governance

Experience as primary point of contact for regulators, auditors, and senior governance forums.

Regulatory and audit exams administration expertise.

Timely escalation of identified compliance risks to MCO.

Support the preparation of internal and regulatory reports.

Support MCO in taking appropriate steps to assure that compliance issues are regularly monitored and audited.

Provide periodic or other reports to the MCO upon request.

Provide such administrative oversight as is necessary to effectively document compliance activity.

Maintain accurate and complete data or other records of compliance activities, in a form to be agreed with the MCO, so that compliance-related information is readily available in a comprehensive and uniform manner.

 

Monitoring, Investigation & Reporting

Ensure appropriate interpretation of AML cases to support MCO in decision making process regarding suspicious activity accounts.

Ensure analytical approach and thought leadership to provide accurate information and timely resolution of cases.

Timely support and supervision of GFCSU related activities including the AML monitoring programs.

Assure the execution and review of reports to comply with Sanctions program (OFAC, UN, etc.) screening activities and monitoring.

Assure the correct execution of new account setups for Card and SEs in order to comply with the special characters policy in accordance to OFAC guidance.

Assure timely execution and coordination GFCSU scanners as per corporate standards.

Lead the investigation and analysis of transactions, review reports, document cases as necessary, follow through with linkage areas for case resolution, and coordinate account disposition.

Assure timely execution and coordination of the revision of PEPS program, both front and back-end reports. Escalate potential matches to MCO as appropriate.

Oversees all functional areas with respect to suspicious activity investigations.

Makes decisions on possible suspicious activity and collaborates with the AML Local Committee and MCO for reporting to the CNBV.

Manages lists of accounts and entities identified by the Enterprise as high-risk and maintains customer files updated.

 

Policy, Controls & Business Partnership

Lead the implementation of policies and procedures to achieve compliance with legal obligations and Company policy, participate and manage diverse projects and pertinent strategic initiatives.

Implement, in coordination with management, AML policies and procedures to achieve compliance with legal obligations.

Maintains the Enterprise AML Policy leads to the development of and/or changes to procedures of various operating units to ensure AML compliance issues have been adequately addressed.

Consults with business units as to any deficiencies and monitor to ensure that required changes are made.

Act as an advisor in new product/service development to ensure that AML compliance risks are identified and addressed.

Strong Compliance business partner and trusted advisor to the lines of business to support growth, and strategic market priorities.

In coordination with MCO participate in LOBs staff meetings and forums so to keep abreast of changes and line of business strategies.

Promote dissemination of compliance information, encourage behaviours that integrate compliance values into business practices and continuously reinforce to all staff personal responsibility for compliance.

Participate, support or coordinate the execution of Compliance related activities, AML goals and other priorities.

Deal appropriately with other staff and control functions and perform other tasks as requested or necessary from time to time to support the effective running of the AML compliance program.

 

Metrics & Strategic Oversight

Develop and keep up to date AML metrics and risk matrix, so to keep abreast Senior Management of status of AML program and incorporate information in business’ strategies.

 

4. Minimum Qualifications

5-10 years of program / project & people management experience; and demonstrated strong leadership skills is essential.

Managing experience +5 direct reports.

Deep knowledge of AML and financial crime regulations, strong understanding of market financial/commercial sector.

Experience as primary point of contact for regulators, auditors, and senior governance forums.

Regulatory and audit exams administration expertise.

ACAMS (CAMS or advanced), CNBV and/or UIF certifications.

Comprehensive understanding of Compliance Risk Management function across AXP, or a relevant Financial Institution.

Operational knowledge in building and running a governance program.

Strong effective communication, influencing and negotiating skills.

100% fluent English & Spanish speaker (written and verbal).

Proven experience in a compliance, legal, or risk management role.

Strong knowledge of industry laws, regulations, and best practices.

Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

 

5. Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of the applicable Regulation in Mexico

Knowledge or experience of the following LOB/processes: Insurance, TLM, Collections, CFR, Payments, Merchants, Consumer/Commercial/SBS products, Privacy, Credit Bureau, etc.

 

6. Skills

Strategic thinking and a proactive approach to regulatory change and legal inventory management.

Regulatory knowledge

Risk management

Ethical decision-making

Audit and investigation

Report writing and documentation

Communication and training abilities

Leadership skills

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

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.