The Global Risk & Compliance (GRC) organization serves as American Express’ independent risk management function. GRC maintains the enterprise risk framework, provides oversight and challenge, and monitors key risks. By embedding risk discipline into strategy and operations, GRC enables responsible growth, innovation, and long-term value creation while protecting customers and shareholders. 

This position is based in London and follows a hybrid working model, currently requiring three days per week in the office. The role is responsible for leading the management and oversight of an effective second-line regulatory compliance program for American Express Global Merchant Services (GMS) across Europe (EMEA) and the UK, while also supporting and, where appropriate, leading selected GMS International Compliance initiatives that require cross regional coordination, consistency and governance. It will provide strategic Compliance oversight, effective challenge and practical guidance to support the business in identifying, assessing, managing and mitigating compliance risks across multiple markets.

The Global Compliance & Ethics team plays a critical role in protecting American Express, our brand and colleagues through practical, solution-focused guidance on regulatory and ethics-related matters. Within Global Merchant Services Compliance, the GMS International Compliance team performs second-line oversight of merchant acquiring activities outside the United States, ensuring a robust and sustainable compliance risk management framework.

Reporting to the Vice President, Compliance GMS International, the Compliance Director will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive and sustainable Compliance program for GMS in EMEA, providing oversight of regional risk management activities, and partnering with business, legal and control stakeholders to support compliance with applicable laws, regulations, enterprise policies and internal standards. The role will also contribute to the design, coordination and execution of broader GMS International Compliance priorities, including cross-market risk assessments, governance, oversight and issue management activities. 

• Demonstrated experience leading a Compliance Risk Management and oversight program across multiple markets in large, complex, matrixed organisations.

• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to merchant acquiring and payments, including Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions, Anti-Corruption, Data Privacy, Business Conduct and Payments Regulations.

• Demonstrated Compliance expertise in risk assessment, risk identification and articulation, issue resolution, and escalation to senior management and relevant company risk management forums.

• Proven ability to set the agenda on complex, evolving legal and regulatory requirements, provide effective challenge, question assumptions and critically assess information.

• Strong leadership, relationship management and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels across a matrixed international organisation.

• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and effectively to senior leaders and governance forums.

• Knowledge of merchant acquiring, alternative and emerging payment models, and associated regulatory compliance risks.

• Experienced people leader with the ability to drive results in changing and ambiguous situations.

• University degree required; Compliance, Legal or related professional qualification preferred.

• Fluency in English required

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

 

• Lead the second-line Compliance program for GMS in EMEA, ensuring regulatory compliance risks are identified, assessed, monitored, controlled and escalated appropriately.

• Develop and implement a strategic risk assessment, monitoring and oversight framework for GMS International, with particular focus on the EMEA region, and help drive consistency in approach across international markets where common standards, methodologies or governance are required.

• Provide effective challenge and oversight of GMS risk reduction and mitigation activities, as required under the Compliance Risk Management Program and the broader Operational Risk Program.

• Act as a point of escalation for GMS Line of Business Compliance regional teams, GMS and Compliance stakeholders, ensuring timely and appropriate resolution of risks and issues.

• Lead strategic Financial Crimes initiatives across GMS International, including cross regional projects, regulatory change programmes, issue management activities, remediation efforts and governance enhancements, ensuring consistent execution and effective risk management across markets

• Lead or coordinate selected GMS International Compliance initiatives, where appropriate, including cross-regional programmes such as Compliance Risk Assessments, Risk and Control Self Assessments, governance enhancements and other international risk management priorities. 

• Provide oversight and challenge on Financial Crimes Compliance risks impacting GMS International, partnering with Global Financial Crimes Compliance, business stakeholders and regional Compliance teams to support effective identification, assessment, mitigation and escalation of emerging risks. Communicate the status of the GMS International Compliance program, including strategic initiatives, risks, issues and key metrics, to senior leadership and relevant governance forums, ensuring clear visibility of both EMEA-specific matters and broader international initiatives led or supported on by the role.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders including the General Counsel Office, Legal Entity Compliance Officers, Global Financial Crimes Compliance, Global Privacy Office, GMS Control Management, Internal Audit, broader GMS business teams and regional GMS International Compliance teams to support joined up execution of cross market priorities, while providing leadership and coordination across complex initiatives requiring engagement with senior business, risk and control stakeholders.

• Provide Compliance input on the development and evolution of centrally managed GMS policies, products, capabilities, processes and controls to enable the business to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

• Drive cross market issue management activities for GMS International, including the oversight, escalation and reporting of key compliance risks, regulatory developments, control weaknesses and remediation plans to senior leadership and governance forums.

• governance forums.

• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise, and strengthen compliance risk management practices across GMS International, working with regional compliance leads and key control partners to support consistent execution.

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and Company policies, with guidance from the General Counsel Organization, to support understanding of the Company’s legal and regulatory obligations.