Analyst - Risk Management (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.

How will you make an impact in this role?

The SOX Governance and Advisory team within Controllership (1LOD) plays a critical role in supporting the enterprise by assessing and enhancing the company’s internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR). The team executes a governance and testing program to manage financial reporting risk in compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We are seeking an Analyst – SOX within Global SOX Advisory and ICFR Governance team of the SOX Compliance group of American Express who will play a key role in helping develop and implement the global strategy for our SOX /ICFR framework, as well as meeting requirements of emerging ICFR guidance to provide proactive assurance, institutionalize processes for ongoing management of changes to critical processes and related controls, ensuring existence and maintenance of clear linkage to AXP’s & legal entity financial statements.

Responsibilities: The success of this role involves driving results through extensive engagement and close collaboration with multiple stakeholders including Operational Risk Governance Group and management teams, business process owners, controllership functions, auditors etc. Primary responsibilities include:

• Perform review and risk assessment/evaluation of AXP wide process and financial initiatives.
  
• 
  Provide technical SOX and ICFR guidance and advisory to business process areas, operational risk and Control Management teams through targeted sessions and training to increase awareness and understanding of Sarbanes Oxley Act, COSO framework and their requirements, as applicable to the business processes.
   
• Establish strong collaborative relationships across the matrix of key stakeholders across AXP including Operations, Finance and the Business, as also external groups including Auditors, Consultants, and Regulators, as necessary.
  Assessing SOX risk in compliance to the SOX requirements
  
• Execute and coordinate SOX activities for financial and operational controls.
  
• Assist in evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting
  
• Support the review of 3^rd parties for AXP’s SOX program
  
• Conduct financial statement risk assessment and support process walkthroughs, control documentation, and identification of control gaps
  
• Partner with business process owners to implement and strengthen internal controls.
  
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to facilitate SOX reviews
  
• Monitor changes in business processes, accounting policies, and regulations to assess impact on SOX controls
  
• Contribute to continuous improvement of SOX program methodologies and tools
  

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in risk management, or internal audit, accounting and strong understanding of financial reporting risk and Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements.
  
• Proficiency in technology and automation including experience with and knowledge of automated controls and technology general controls (ITGC)
  
• Familiarity with the COSO internal control framework
  
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work with stakeholders across business units.
  
• Good understanding of Risk and Controls, Audit Approach, SOX, Process Self-Assessment and Operational Risk Management
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead change: strong change management experience
  
• Executive poise and presentation
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field
  
• Professional certification (CPA/CA, CIA, CISA) preferred
  
• Experience with financial statement audits, SOX testing, or internal auditing
  
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles (GAAP/IFRS) 
  

• 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