**Description** **You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.** With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally. At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong. Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together. **AML** **Director** **(MLRO)** + This role reports directly to Chief Compliance Officer (VP). This role leads ASA Team (Anti-Money Laundering, Sanction & Anti-Corruption) in the delivery of Financial Crime compliance program, to meet both the local regulatory expectations and the enterprise GFCC program standards. This role is responsible for both the operational aspect and advisory aspect of the ASA work. + Setting, owning & continuously enhancing the overall Financial Crime Framework for managing regulatory risks for American Express (AXP) in Japan market, working closely with the key stakeholders including General Counsel Office(GCO), Global Financial Crimes Compliance(GFCC), Line of Business Compliance Officers(LOBCO), the market Legal Entity representatives, and the business units. + Advising the Senior Management/Country Executive Team and Governance Committees on their Financial Crime risk management program and ensure they are aware of the state of their Financial Crime risk and control environment (including risk assessments, alert volumes, SLAs, SAR filings, resource needs, policies and procedures). Escalate compliance issues and concerns as they arise, propose actions to mitigate compliance risks at the appropriate forums. + Ensuring the AXP GFCC organization has visibility on the state of Financial Crime risks / risk management program for the market and ensure the market program is operating within GFCC Financial Crime framework and policies and procedures. + Identifying any implications or changes necessary to either the Financial Crime framework or processes that support Financial Crime risk management (CDD in the 1st line, Customer Risk Rating, Money Laundering Risk Assessment, Transaction Monitoring, Sanctions, Governance, Outsourcing etc) due to changes in applicable regulation (new or changes to existing), regulatory guidance (new or changes to existing) or industry practice + Setting and communicating the regulatory requirements and providing compliance advisory support as the Financial Crime SME in the Japan market, across all lines of business, business strategies and partnership, Third Parties and product and process changes including new products. + Responsible for Regulatory Change Management (RCM) related to AML. + Designing and delivering local training plans to ensure staff understand the Financial Crime risks that AXP is subject to and its operating environment, the importance of mitigating these risks, and to promote a culture of accountability. + Completing the local market Money Laundering Risk Assessment and setting out requirements for appropriate action plans are in place to address all weaknesses identified and subsequently assessing completeness of gap closing actions and the resulting changes to Financial Crime risk for the market. + Reviewing and keeping up to do date all required local Financial Crime policies or procedures + Oversee all internal audits and exams relating to Financial Crime risk in the market, and take a lead role in addressing any audit or supervisory findings. + Preparing necessary report to the Country Executive Team and other governance committees on a regular basis. **Minimum Qualifications** + At least 5 years of people management experience and strong leadership skills + Significant AML, Sanctions and Anti-Bribery & Corruption experience in financial industry + Proficient in both Japanese and English (writing and verbal), Japanese native level, English business level. + Proven track record of executing responsibilities with the utmost integrity - highly credible individual who is able to build trust across stakeholder groups. + Excellent business English language skills, both verbally and written + Comprehensive understanding of Financial Crimes Program issues in an international context, and deep understanding for the Japan market + Experience of dealing with regulatory authorities at the most senior levels. + Strong operational knowledge in building and running a sound compliance program with detailed knowledge of Financial Crimes Program legislation and regulatory requirements + Experienced in establishment and maintenance of Financial Crime controls relevant to Financial Crimes Program, ideally within a financial institution + Experience of preparing MLRO and other reporting required for purpose of risk escalation to governance body + Strong written and verbal communication skills; at ease communicating and presenting to senior management and other internal and external parties, and to be able to do so with conviction + Strong influencing and negotiating skills, with track record of excellent collaborating skills and proven ability to develop win-win outcomes + Ability to provide practical, strategic and business-oriented advice + Proven planning and organisation skills, creating own work schedules, prioritising workload and ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects + Adaptable and flexible working style, remaining calm under pressure, adjusting comfortably to changing conditions/priorities **Qualifications** We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include: + Competitive base salaries + Bonus incentives + Support for financial-well-being and retirement + Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location) + Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need + Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location) + 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 Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations. **Job:** Compliance **Primary Location:** Japan-Tokyo-Minato-ku **Schedule** Full-time **Req ID:** 25000767