Credit and Fraud Risk (CFR) is a global function, responsible for making the right credit and fraud risk decisions that uphold operational excellence, drive growth, and accelerate innovation across American Express. CFR combines technology and infrastructure with new computing techniques to make better risk decisions and provide real-time customer communications and fraud servicing.  

 

Commercial Rating and Underwriting (CRU) sits within the Credit & Fraud Risk division and forms a key component of the institutional credit risk management function within American Express. The CRU team plays the critical role of assessing and managing the risk of institutional exposures across all business units within American Express, and in all regions globally. Credit exposures are primarily generated through corporate card programs, via merchant service relationships where non-delivery risk exists, and among the securities portfolio held for firm-wide liquidity.

 

In addition to determining the internal credit rating which drives the probability of default of each exposure, CRU also provides underwriting (i.e. approval and limit sizing) for wholesale card and lending products. As a bank holding company, American Express must comply with the highest global banking standards.

• At least 3-5 years’ experience conducting credit analysis at a leading financial institution or rating agency. 
• Mandatory German / French language fluency.
• Experience in commercial credit assessment and/or underwriting with the ability to underwrite and make decisions/ recommendations on short term credit lines, determining appropriate credit capacity, structuring of facilities, and risk mitigation techniques.
• Knowledge of analyzing the outputs from credit models, and identifying any rationale for any deviation found.
• Knowledge of public agency ratings, and supporting analysis.
• Ability to understand current macroeconomic trends, and making respective sound recommendations to improve the PD estimation based on the business cycle.
• Ability to communicate succinct rationales for credit decisions both written and orally, including to audiences with a non-financial background.
• Desirable: CFA or another professional qualification in finance, accounting or economics.
• Desirable: Experience analyzing a range of industries in Europe.

Depending on factors such as business unit requirements, the nature of the position, cost and applicable laws, American Express may provide visa sponsorship for certain positions. 

• Portfolio Managers in CRU are responsible for assessing and monitoring credit risk across a portfolio of large exposures in their assigned region, industry, and business line. The ultimate objective is to help minimize the risk of loss and support internal stakeholders in driving profitable growth of our corporate business.
•  For large exposures, credit assessment is via fundamental credit analysis and incorporates a thorough review of business, its financial statements, calculation and interpretation of key credit metrics and ratios, industry and country risk, as well as consideration of signals from internal and external rating model outputs. 
• Portfolio Managers additionally underwrite larger credit programs across our commercial services business, requiring an understanding of the need for and appropriateness of credit extension, profitability of a relationship and program structures. 
• CRU Portfolio Managers interact with various constituents across the firm including front office sales, second line of defense, business unit risk partners, and credit administration to perform their critical role.
• Portfolio Managers are also responsible for providing secondary review of decisions relating to smaller exposures in their area of expertise, as well as providing guidance and mentoring to CRU Analysts.
• Portfolio Managers are also required to stay up to date with general corporate development and market sentiment, and be able to speak and write confidently on the outlook for the industries and markets in their area of responsibility.