Vice President, Audit Leader, Finance

At 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. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this 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.

Audit Leader, Finance

Job Summary:

IAG is a global function with over 350 team members across nine countries within American Express. We are committed to growing our audit staff as we continue to expand and enhance the Internal Audit Group. Our professionals come from diverse backgrounds including internal controls, regulatory compliance, financial accounting, operational risk, technology, and data analytics. Most IAG team members hold at least one professional certification.

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Internal Audit’s coverage strategy for the Company’s Finance function and supporting second-line risk oversight groups. Coverage will include tax, accounting policy, financial reporting and regulatory reporting, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), financial data management, and corporate planning.
• Lead the development and execution of the annual audit plan for Finance using an integrated auditing approach that encompasses financial, operational, compliance, and technology risks. This requires a strong understanding of the Company’s finance and control strategies and how they translate into measurable risks.
• Lead global audits across Finance including internal and external reporting processes, general ledger and subledger integrity, closing processes, SOX compliance, and legal entity governance
• Provide oversight and direction during the planning, execution, and reporting phases of audit engagements, including special reviews and ongoing monitoring. Assessments may include regulatory and operational requirements, financial close controls, data lineage, system migrations, and accounting judgments and estimates.
• Serve as the Risk Category Owner for Financial Risk and associated areas, contributing content to the CAE’s annual letter to the Board. Lead communications with regulators and senior executives on these risk categories and Audit’s coverage strategy.
• Advance the use of analytics and technology within the Finance audit portfolio. Lead the ideation, development, and implementation of data-driven audit procedures and continuous monitoring.
• Build strong relationships with Finance, Corporate Planning, and Risk leadership. Demonstrate a deep understanding of AXP’s business model and financial architecture to effectively identify risks and shape audit strategies.
• Manage a team of audit professionals to deliver high-quality audit engagements, monitoring, and issue validations. Ensure teams are skilled and compliant with regulatory and professional expectations.
• Coach, teach, and mentor geographically distributed team members and co-sourced resources. Drive career development and knowledge of finance processes, audit methodology, and risk and control frameworks.
• Represent Internal Audit in meetings with senior stakeholders and regulators, contributing insights and recommendations that improve the control environment and mitigate financial reporting risks.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economics. Advanced degree in any of these disciplines preferred.
• CPA, CIA, or equivalent certification highly preferred.
• 12–15 years of relevant experience, with deep exposure to financial processes in one or more of the following areas: Tax, Controllership, Accounting Policy, Regulatory Reporting, Second-Line Risk Oversight, or Internal Audit within a major U.S. financial institution.
• Demonstrated knowledge of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), including Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), US GAAP, and regulatory expectations.
• Experience with internal control validation, accounting judgments, end-to-end financial processes, general ledger architecture, and financial systems.
• Ability to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls related to financial reporting, close governance, and tax compliance
• Knowledge of key regulatory requirements applicable to financial institutions, including OCC Heightened Standards, SEC disclosure controls, and financial resilience expectations.
• Familiarity with legal entity structures and regulatory reporting (e.g., FR Y-9C, FFIEC, 10Q/10K) is a plus.
• Proven analytical, data interpretation, and problem-solving skills with a focus on financial data integrity and reporting risk.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams. Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse talent.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills. Able to present to senior leadership and regulators with confidence and authority.
• Experience in the application of audit methodology and professional auditing standards, including end-to-end audit execution, risk assessments, issue validation, and governance reporting.
• Highly organized with strong project management skills and the ability to lead multiple high-impact audits and initiatives simultaneously.

Salary Range: $185,000.00 to $260,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

We 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.

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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