American Express - Service Delivery Leader - Operational Risk/SOX/Audit

About the department :

This position within the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Group will play a key role in helping the SOX leadership team develop and implement the global strategy for the SOX Program at AXP, driving implementation of changes to provide proactive assurance, institutionalize processes for ongoing management of changes to SOX critical processes and related controls, ensuring existence and maintenance of clear linkage to AXP's financial statements.

The success of this role involves driving results through extensive engagement and close collaboration with multiple stakeholders including Operational Risk Governance Group, Lead Operational Risk Officers (LOROs), business process owners, controllership functions, auditors etc.

Key Responsibilities :

Day to day key responsibilities include - but are not limited to:

- Being a subject matter expert in identification and comprehensive assessment and analysis of internal control deficiencies, people, process, technology etc. changes impacting financial reporting and related internal controls, in accordance with SOX 302 / 404 legislation requirements and related guidance, as well as the Company's operational risk management framework

- Managing/supporting various other SOX compliance reporting activities in accordance with the Company's Sarbanes Oxley Act compliance framework that involves escalations / reporting to the SOX Deficiency Evaluation Committee, Disclosure Committee and Audit & Compliance Committee and supporting the CEO/CFO quarterly certifications related to the Company's internal control over financial reporting Managing the SOX compliance performance monitoring and tracking activities including process owner certifications, process and control changes, advising business units/staff groups on SOX significance of those process and control changes, assist process owners in creation and documentation of financial reporting risks and controls, controls remediation tracking and deficiency closures Managing/supporting various reporting activities as part of the Company's operational risk metrics tracking, escalation and reporting to various risk committees

- Operational Risk Management Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee etc.

- Supporting/participation in the annual financial statement risk assessment and the RAQ process for the Company and its key entities, as applicable to identify high risk areas from a financial reporting risk mitigation perspective

- Developing, issuing and maintaining guidance for SOX governance activities and initiatives

- Ad hoc projects and initiatives within the SOX Compliance Group designed to enhance the Company's Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework

- Providing technical SOX guidance and advisory to business process areas, operational risk and LORO teams through sessions and trainings to increase awareness and understanding of Sarbanes Oxley Act framework and their requirements, as applicable to the business processes

- Providing data and information to auditors (internal, external etc.) to ensure timely and smooth conduct of audits

Qualification :

- Minimum 6 years of public accounting, internal audit or operational risk experience

- Strong understanding of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act and the COSO internal controls framework

- Strong analytical, problem solving, project management skills with demonstrated proficiency in managing multiple projects simultaneously

- Strong written and oral communication skills with proven success in influencing business decisions

- Strong and strategic thought leadership to identify business needs and provide efficient and practical solutions

- Proven ability to build strong relationships and collaborate across a cross-functional team and influence senior leaders

- Strong team player, self starter and motivator, capable of working independently with minimal supervision

- Successful candidate will be results focused, with high energy, flexible and with good work prioritization skills

- A degree in Accounting/Finance/Risk is required. CPA/CIA/CISA/higher degree in Risk Management considered a big plus