Job Information
American Express Manager & Counsel (Financial Services Regulatory) in London, United Kingdom
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.
We are seeking an experienced UK qualified regulatory lawyer to join the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) at American Express to take the position of Manager and Counsel (Financial Services Regulatory) in a multi-disciplinary Global Legal Policy and Strategy function. The role will be based in London in the Global Legal Policy & Strategy team, which comprises both competition and financial services lawyers. The role will report into a senior lawyer in the team.
The role will advise on, track and report on payment services regulation and financial crimes matters for American Express in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and partner with colleagues to advise on analogous strategic regulation and emerging regulatory and policy trends globally.
The role will support all lines of business within American Express. Key business areas include financial crimes, card issuing, merchant acquiring and payments generally, all with the overlay of a dynamic environment involving emerging and evolving digital/mobile and data-driven technologies and capabilities.
The role will partner closely and interface with other GCO lawyers, business colleagues, Compliance, Operational Risk, Government Affairs, and external bodies, local regulators, and industry trade groups.
The ideal candidate would be a strategic thinker with strong analytical and communication skills. You will have the ability to track, interpret and report relevant developments quickly, understanding the strategic implications, translating them into concise clear updates for a range of internal stakeholders and proactively anticipating their needs. You will also have the ability, working in partnership with internal stakeholders, to consider strategic implications and consolidate and communicate syndicated policy positions to policymakers in the context of consultation responses and potentially other forums.
The ideal candidate would be someone who has experience in areas of law and policy, which are closely interconnected with payments regulation including payments systems regulatory matters, data/digital policy, strong customer authentication requirements, open banking/finance, e-commerce, money transfer, digital currencies, cryptoassets and financial crimes.
You will need to demonstrate an aptitude for interpreting and applying technically complex regulation. You will need to be confident and able to work closely with business clients, managing conflicting priorities and tight deadlines. You will also need to be confident in interacting with and helping American Express to deepen its relations with local and European regulators.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
Advising on UK AML, counter-terrorist finance, anti-corruption and financial sanctions legislation and helping to develop American Express global policy, strategy and approach in these critical areas, including supporting the GCO AML Centre of Excellence and providing technical and strategic advice to Compliance and the business on regulatory interactions in these areas.
Advising on and supporting compliance with the requirements of key financial services legislation including UK payment services regulations, EU PSD2 and PSD3/PSR1, Interchange Fee Regulation, legislation related to digital currencies, cryptoassets and environmental, social and governance, and helping to shape future lobbying strategy in these areas.
Taking a lead in the regulatory change management process by monitoring regulatory developments at UK, EU and global level relating to financial services, financial crimes, payment services, and payment schemes through internal, external and desktop resources and reporting these developments internally.
Assisting lobbying efforts in the UK and EU as well as potentially other regions globally to ensure regulation is proportionately tailored according to different business models. Assisting in the development of American Express strategy in response to and anticipation of regulatory developments in the payments industry.
Advising on licensing, prudential regulation, ongoing governance and conduct regulation under the regimes established by PSD2/PSD3. This include playing a role on licensing matters such as advising on license applications, passporting submissions and appointment of agents.
Advising on cross-border structures, passporting and arrangements with third parties (group companies and external partners), including outsourcing and agency arrangements.
Advising on FCA authorisation and supervision generally, assisting with relevant UK/EU regulatory reviews and inspections and responding to requests for information.
Supporting Compliance and business leaders in managing the FCA and other regulatory relationships.
Advising on management of potential regulatory breaches or compliance failures.
Supporting regulatory aspects and overall strategy on re-organisation projects, structuring considerations, new product launches and new market entry.
Briefing colleagues and clients on significant developments and projects. This will include preparing and supporting the delivery of trainings or presentations as appropriate.
Instructing and finalising legal opinions/advice from outside counsel as needed.
Attending relevant training courses.
Supporting the work of the Global Payments Systems Regulation Centre of Excellence, as required.
Specific Experience Required:
Qualified to practice law in the UK with experience advising onregulatorymatters, in particular anti-money laundering and sanctions in the UK.
Professional experience or post-qualification experience in financial services regulation matters in a law firm, regulator or in-house.
Familiarity with one or more of the following areas would be ideal - EU and UK payment services, payment schemes, e-money, FSMA. Willingness to learn and become an expert in these fields.
Fluency in English.
Solid drafting, research and negotiation/influencing skills.
Solid analytical skills and high attention to detail.
Required Personal Attributes : * *
High engagement – passionate about payments and regulatory matters.
Skilled at prioritisation - able to manage and prioritise a wide variety of matters and client contacts at once, and comfortable working autonomously.
Commercial awareness – able to interpret and apply regulation in a pragmatic manner.
Communication skills – personable, able to communicate clearly, concisely, effectively and persuasively with clients, all levels of business, legal management and external regulators.
Comfortable with speaking up in meetings and briefing stakeholders orally and in writing.
Process-management skills - strong knowledge-management and organisational skills, and willingness to help identify and implement improvements in work process to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Adaptable and collaborative - able and willing to work both as part of a team and independently, under supervision of more senior lawyers where appropriate.
Willingness to learn and grow - willing to learn business sectors relevant to American Express as well as the applicable regulatory environment and to leverage experience gained in this position to expand skill set for future career growth at American Express.
Strong relationship focus - able to build solid working relationships with clients, colleagues and external parties. Enjoys getting to know people.
Commitment to integrity and American Express values, with high personal work standards.
Strategic thinker with good analytical skills, attention to detail even under time pressure.
Intellectually strong - rapid grasp of key issues.
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 counselling 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: Legal
Primary Location: United Kingdom-London-London
Schedule Full-time
Req ID: 24013095