American Express National Bank is American Express’ U.S. banking operation, representing more than 60% of the company’s revenues through consistent payments, financing, and savings products. Led by the Chief Operating Officer, AENB HQ drives the administration of programs and services provided by AENB, in partnership with Bank affiliates and executive officers. In addition, the team plays an enterprise role in driving greater consistency, effectiveness and efficiency across the first line via the AENB COO Office’s Strategic Planning, Control Management, Program Management and Governance functions.

The Enterprise Control Management (ECM) team within AENB operates as a Center of Excellence to serve as a central support hub for all first-line control management teams throughout the enterprise and be a key connection point with the second-line Global Risk & Compliance (GRC) teams.

The VP of Issue Management and Operational Risk Events is responsible for defining and continuously enhancing the 1st Line of Defense’s Issue Management and Operational Risk Events Programs, inclusive of ownership of enterprise level procedures. This role is also responsible for identifying opportunities to apply new and innovative strategies to drive consistent and quality adherence to the issue management and operational risk event frameworks. This role will also oversee ECM processes including triage of 1LOD escalated issue and operational risk event items, and in select scenarios coordinate execution across 1LoD for complex cross-LOB risk and regulatory initiatives. This role is essential in ensuring effective issue resolution and embedding accountability throughout the enterprise.

Responsibilities Include:

• Leading issue management and operational risk events programs across the 1LoD, including triage and execution.

• Developing and maintaining 1st line of defense procedures and guidance for in scope programs.

• In select scenarios, leading complex cross-LOB risk and regulatory initiatives. 

• Partnering with the 1st Line Control Management teams across the enterprise to consistently implement and maintain program requirements.

• Engaging with key internal and external stakeholders, including business leaders, control management teams, second line of defense teams, and audit partners as well as regulatory examiners, on issue management and operational risk event related matters.

• Coordinate and lead thematic analysis over issues and events to identify opportunities for enhancement or areas which warrant additional management attention. 

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ Years experience in risk management (e.g., within Risk, Compliance, Control, and/or Internal Audit function).

• Understanding of critical operational risk management lifecycle activities.

• Extensive experience in issues management and remediation within a financial services context. 

• Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts.

• Expertise in process governance, with a track record of establishing and overseeing robust decision-making processes that align with policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or operational standards.

• Proven record of successfully leading and implementing complex, large-scale, cross-functional initiatives.

• Demonstrate core leadership abilities, which include setting the agenda for the team and enterprise, bringing others along by fostering collaboration and promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing it the right way through clear, candid, and courageous communication.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience in communicating to regulators and reporting on regulatory interactions.

• Understanding of the inherent risks and control environment for financial services and AXP, as well as regulatory requirements applicable to AXP.

• Strong relationship/interpersonal skills with ability to build trust, followership, and develop productive relationships across stakeholders including business, second line of defense, and audit partners, including but not limited to challenging the status quo.

• Communicating effectively and appropriately to all relevant stakeholders including senior management and other colleagues, customers, third-party and affiliate service providers, industry thought leaders, and regulators, among others.

• Strong consultative and collaborative skills to partner with business leaders to devise solutions to complex business challenges and persevere through conflict that comes with change.

• Thorough understanding of risk pillars (e.g., operational, data).

• Experience with technology and automation in the workspace.