Director-Financial Systems

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?

Do you have a passion for business efficiencies whether it be through process optimization or the use of modern stack technologies? Are you looking for ways to drive additional value for the enterprise? The Finance Automation COE team is responsible for identifying and delivering results on highly critical projects and initiatives leveraging process automation and the use of advanced technologies.

We are looking for someone who is collaborative and passionate about transforming processes using new and emerging technologies and the drive to solve difficult business issues.

This position is responsible for leading and motivating a diverse team of India-based automation specialists accountable for delivering against a pipeline of process improvements that have been identified from the Finance Organization. Responsibilities include leading the assessment of opportunities, aligning with Process Owners and driving results using existing and new capabilities, while ensuring that all compliance, audit and legal requirements are adhered to. This position is also responsible for developing a collaborative and effective business relationship with various business and technical partners and will be tasked with working with partners across all Finance functions to support the implementation of the organization’s automation goals. A strong focus on process optimization Finance Domain knowledge and driving results is required.

Key Accountabilities:

• Enhance the process for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing new process opportunities, and assessing automation feasibility
• Management of Finance automation roadmap, driving accountability across stakeholders in Technology and Finance functions (Controllership, Business CFO, Corporate Planning, Tax and Treasury), from ideation through implementation
• Educating stakeholders across Finance on automation capabilities and future opportunities
• Collaborate and discuss strategy with Enterprise Process Automation groups for standardization and applicability of solutions
• Implementing Process Automation communication plan to ensure all requestors/stakeholders are updated on status
• Responsible for maintaining automation solution documentation including all associated system controls
• Problem solving issues that arise during development, collaborating with stakeholders to resolve, and providing timely responses and solutions as required
• Envision and define the evolving future state of Finance process automation products and services, focusing on deployments that deliver strong business value in the shortest amount of time
• Optimize delivery by leveraging the existing suite of tools available including learning from prior deployments
• Driving both quantitative and qualitative benefit by eliminating repetitive manual processes and repurpose skilled resources across the Finance organization
• Partner with the Technologies organization on enhancements to various enterprise capabilities, Oracle EBS (GL, SL. HFR. HFM. DRM), eDocumentum, Enterprise Balance & Control Application, IRIS Reconciliations, various others.
• Other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a local team with global responsibilities
• Strong working knowledge of automation capabilities and techniques, including OCR, RPA, NLP, NLG, Machine Learning and Workflow based logic
• 5+ years of substantial business process improvement experience
• Proven ability to influence without authority working with difficult stakeholders
• Proven ability to work independently with ambiguity driving technical implementations
• Demonstrated strategic thought leadership; ability to assess business objectives/strategies and define/implement appropriate strategies
• Innovative mindset with a track record in the successful delivery and support of improving existing processes with the use of technology
• Excellent communication and written skills, with the ability to present technical details to a non-technical audience
• 5+ years of strong working knowledge of agile methodologies, an ability to coordinate multiple priorities at once and an ability to work in a dynamic, time-critical environment
• Historical background in driving reengineering and in delivering automation capabilities and large technology programs
• Proven ability to build and leverage relationships and influence and inspire key partners to drive collaboration and alignment
• Superior problem-solving and analytical skills, strong learning agility, curiosity and willingness to embrace new challenges
• Experienced leader with strong ability to coach, engage, develop and provide feedback to team members
• Indirectly lead and motivate others to work through complexity and road-blocks to drive results
• Proactive and collaborative work style
• Strong executive presence and comfort presenting to all levels of the organization

Preferred Qualifications

• Emerging Techology experience in assessing and implementing new solutions
• 2+ years’ experience in other AI tools critical - Generative AI, Agentic AI
• Knowledge of Rally, Jira, Confluence and other project management and productivity tools.
• 10+ years knowledge of Finance Domain including Tax, Treasury, Finance Operations, Management Reporting, Regulatory Reporting and strong Control & Compliance background
• Knowledge of enterprise capabilities, Oracle EBS (GL, SL. HFR. HFM. DRM), eDocumentum, Enterprise Balance & Control, IRIS Reconciliations, various others.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related field

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
• 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

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.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.