About the Internal Audit Group at American Express
Our Internal Audit Group is a worldwide function with 400+ team members and offices across nine countries within American Express. Our mission is to protect and enhance organizational value by providing independent, objective, risk-based assurance, advisory services and to influence the way the company manages risk.
We are committed to growing our audit staff significantly as we continue to expand and enhance the Internal Audit Group. Our assurance and risk professionals have diverse backgrounds including internal controls, consumer compliance, technology, operational risk, financial accounting, data analytics, and banking operations. Our audit teams align to key risk areas and business units to ensure IAG can provide comprehensive and risk-based audit coverage. In addition, IAG has a Professional Practices group responsible for managing audit operations, quality, and standards; regulatory relations; reporting; training and professional development; and key internal capabilities and technologies.
About the Role
This manager role supports the Internal Audit Group’s assurance coverage for Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS). The colleague will support audit engagements, leading planning and execution activities, evaluating control design and effectiveness, and providing actionable insights that strengthen payments governance and risk management across the merchant, network, and payment lifecycle, including fund flows, settlement, third-party oversight, fraud, compliance, and operational resiliency.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Serve as Auditor in Charge (AIC) on audits, managing the audit engagement end-to-end, planning audit projects, defining objectives and scope, and coordinating with control groups, external auditors, stakeholders, and regulators to ensure effective execution; conduct L1 reviews; serve as the primary audit client contact
Analyze / review audit results and documentation to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency, synthesizing audit findings
Lead audit client meetings and walkthroughs
Develop test steps, audit findings, and the audit report in accordance with IAG policies and procedures
Guide team on how to validate and execute corrective actions / Management Action Plans (MAPs) are impactful, sustainable, and improve the control environment of the business unit
Support business monitoring activities with audit leadership, tracking key metrics to identify control issues and trends; stay up to date with evolving industry trends, external news and regulatory changes, and analyze the impact to the business
Delegate tasks to team members; guide auditors in assessing risks, evaluating control design, and executing audit tests; review and provide feedback on work papers
Effectively coach, teach, mentor, and develop less experienced colleagues and co-sourced resources in geographically diverse locations across all aspects of their role, the audit and analytic lifecycle, audit methodology and best practices
Conduct post-audit feedback discussions with audit team members to provide actionable feedback, support development, and recognize accomplishments
Guide team to proactively and routinely communicate task status, roadblocks, challenges, suggesting potential solutions to the team
Minimum Qualifications
5+ years of audit experience
Prior experience working at a Big Four / G-SIB
Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills to deliver deliverables with quality, and actionable value-add feedback to management on issues, opportunity areas, and deficiency solutions
Effectively leads a team in a fast-paced environment to drive business results, utilizing related project management skills, employing creative thinking, and the ability to work on competing priorities
Applies critical thinking to break-down complex problems into components, and solve using data analysis, process, risk control knowledge, and experience to drive risk-based conclusions and decisions
Applies control theory and professional auditing practices throughout the audit lifecycle
Understands regulations, regulatory risks, accounting, and financial industry best practices relevant to the business, including emerging technology and data considerations, and incorporates into the audit approach to enhance outcomes
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in Internal Audit, Payments, Payment Operations, Product Risk, Operational Risk, Enterprise Risk, Compliance, or a related control function within the financial services industry.
Understanding of payments risk management frameworks, including governance, operational processes, risk assessments, issue management, and reporting across the payments ecosystem.
Knowledge of payment industry regulations, network rules, and risk management practices, with the ability to assess the design and effectiveness of payment processes, controls, and governance.
Understanding of risks associated with payment products, transaction processing, merchant services, third-party relationships, fraud, and technology across complex payment environments.
Understanding of payment products, payment networks, emerging payment technologies, or payment operating models, including associated operational, financial, and technology risks.
Experience with data analytic tools, data visualization, key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs), information systems / technology, and scorecards / dashboards, etc.
Interest in working with data, interpreting results, analytic best practices and experience with data analytics tools and data visualization
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
About UsAt 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 our 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.
About the TeamWe 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
- 6% Company Match on retirement savings plan
- Free financial coaching and financial well-being support
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits
- Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
- 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender, offered for pregnancy, adoption or surrogacy
- 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
For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of audit experience
- Prior experience working at a Big Four or G-SIB
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to lead a team in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities
- Critical thinking and data analysis to drive risk-based conclusions
- Applied knowledge of control theory and professional auditing practices
- Understanding of regulations, regulatory risks, accounting, and financial industry best practices
- Experience in Internal Audit, Payments, Payment Operations, Product Risk, Operational Risk, Enterprise Risk, or Compliance
- Understanding of payments risk management frameworks, network rules, and payment processes and controls
- Knowledge of payment products, transaction processing, merchant services, third-party risk, fraud and technology risks
- Experience with data analytic tools, data visualization, KPIs/KRIs, dashboards and scorecards
- Interest and experience working with data and interpreting analytic results
American Express Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about American Express and has not been reviewed or approved by American Express.
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Healthcare Strength — Pay is often viewed as attractive when combined with comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage that supports day-to-day needs. The benefits package is also framed as especially helpful for those supporting dependents.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are positioned as a meaningful part of total rewards through a 401(k) plan with company matching. Financial wellness services and coaching are also highlighted as strengthening longer-term financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is repeatedly characterized as generous and a valued component of the overall package. Time off and flexibility are presented as helping the total rewards feel more complete beyond base salary.
American Express Insights
What We Do
At American Express, we know that with the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. Whether we’re supporting our customers’ financial confidence to move ahead, taking commerce to new heights, or encouraging people to explore the world, our colleagues are constantly striving to uphold our powerful backing promise to our customers and each other every day. These beliefs have been our North Star for 170 years as our business transformed – from helping evacuate travelers during World Wars, to ensuring the safety of our customers’ funds during the Great Depression in the U.S., to creating the Shop Small® movement to help small businesses recover from the Financial Crisis, to providing aid to communities impacted by many natural disasters and so much more. For generations, the key to our success has been the determination and resilience of our American Express colleagues. Now, as a globally integrated payments company, we work together to provide customers with access to products, insights and world-class experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Join us and let’s lead the way together.
