Compliance Manager

Compliance Manager at American Express

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. 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.

Impact in this Role

As a key member of the EMEA Regional MLRO team, the Compliance Manager will support the Global Financial Crimes organization and the EMEA market MLROs in the main aspects related to the Financial Crimes program requirements at Enterprise, Regional and local market level. This ensures a holistic view of key risks, regulatory challenges, and an analysis of regional/market trends. Reporting directly to the Director of EMEA Regional Financial Crime Compliance Organization, the candidate will manage a variety of compliance-related matters, supporting and overseeing the implementation of Enterprise, Regional, and market policies and procedures to achieve compliance with legal obligations and Company policy on all business activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage Financial Crimes Compliance aspects of the Legal Entities governance structure, supporting Legal Entities AML Committees with market MLROs for harmonized governance arrangements.
• Work on the prudential oversight of AEESA and AEPE branches, channeling escalation of matters from local branches' AML Committees.
• In close coordination with Company's Financial Crimes Risk Management policy and standards, support setting standards for market committees, policies, and procedures across region's market teams.
• Support issuance of the annual business-wide risk assessment, in line with Enterprise's methodology, overseeing market deployment for harmonization at Legal Entity / region level.
• Support issuance of the MLRO's Annual Activity Report, in line with EBA guidelines on the role of the Compliance Officer.
• Support issuance of the internal business control framework evaluation program.
• Support the EMEA Regional MLRO and market MLROs in managing regulatory interactions and regulatory exams.

The position will supervise a team of 3 compliance analysts and 2 assistants, focusing on governance matters and providing advisory support to the region's card-issuing business.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in AML/CFT regulatory compliance within a financial services industry firm.
• Sound knowledge of a 3 lines of defense structure.
• Excellent understanding of European and Spanish AML regulations, plus good working knowledge of Payment Services regulations and EU regulatory bodies.
• Experience in a 2nd line function at a financial institution is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of AML/CFT regulatory framework in Europe and Spain.
• Strong communication skills to represent the Regional MLRO in discussions with company senior management or regulators.
• Highly proactive, strong analytical, and problem-solving skills with experience evaluating risk scenarios effectively.
• Capacity to translate complex regulations into clear and applicable guidance.
• Strong influencing skills in a complex/matrix organization to drive results/design a robust local regulatory compliance framework.
• Expertise in communicating regulatory implications to a range of audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills; able to manage competing priorities under demanding deadlines.
• Strong management skills to effectively lead, motivate, and manage a team of direct/indirect reports.
• Graduate and/or relevant professional qualification preferred - Law or Economics Degree.
• High level of Spanish and English language proficiency is a must.

Preferred Qualifications

• Compliance/AML Diploma
• CAMS Certification

Benefits & Culture

American Express backs you with benefits that support your holistic well-being, including competitive base salaries, bonus incentives, support for financial well-being and retirement, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits. They offer a flexible working model (hybrid, onsite, or virtual depending on the role), generous paid parental leave, access to global on-site wellness centers, free and confidential counseling support, and numerous career development and training opportunities. Employment eligibility to work with American Express in Spain is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

Key skills/competency

• AML/CFT Compliance
• Regulatory Affairs (EU/Spain)
• Financial Crimes Risk Management
• Governance Structure Management
• Policy Implementation
• Team Leadership
• Risk Assessment
• Regulatory Reporting
• Stakeholder Influence
• Analytical Problem-Solving