Compliance Assistant - GFCSU

The Global Risk & Compliance (GRC) organization serves as American Express’ independent risk management function. GRC maintains the enterprise risk framework, provides oversight and challenge, and monitors key risks. By embedding risk discipline into strategy and operations, GRC enables responsible growth, innovation, and long-term value creation while protecting customers and shareholders.

American Express’s Global Financial Crimes Surveillance Unit (GFCSU) and the US Investigations Unit (USIU) are part of the broader Global Risk & Compliance organization, operating within Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC). Together, they provide end-to-end oversight and support of global financial crimes investigations. In partnership with GFCC, GFCSU and USIU develop and implement transaction monitoring rules, reports, and other tools to detect potential criminal activity. They investigate suspicious financial behavior and, when necessary, file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or refer cases to internal compliance partners for global reporting. These teams also manage risk related to politically exposed persons (PEPs) through sanctions screening and enhanced due diligence processes, as well as improper payments that may signal bribery, corruption, or other illicit conduct. GFCSU and USIU play a vital role in ensuring compliance with key regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They also support law enforcement by providing critical information to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes.

In partnership with GFCC, GFCSU and USIU develop and implement transaction monitoring rules, reports, and other tools to detect potential criminal activity. They investigate suspicious financial behavior and, when necessary, file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or refer cases to internal compliance partners for global reporting. These teams also manage risk related to politically exposed persons (PEPs) through sanctions screening and enhanced due diligence processes, as well as improper payments that may signal bribery, corruption, or other illicit conduct. GFCSU and USIU play a vital role in ensuring compliance with key regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. They also support law enforcement by providing critical information to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes.

The successful candidate will work in our hub in Spain to mitigate risk to the American Express enterprise through research and analysis of financial activity for suspicious patterns along with the review of records. Candidates must be flexible and willing to change responsibilities to meet business needs, should be comfortable reading and reviewing records from multiple jurisdictions, and be able to work with various teams across American Express, including international Market Compliance Officers, line of business representatives, and project teams, among others.

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Conduct time-sensitive, meticulous financial crime investigations, analyzing each instance of potential suspicious financial activity across multiple jurisdictions and countries, utilizing a wide variety of research and analytical tools.

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Demonstrate a keen attention to detail in investigation, analysis, and writing.

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Produce well-written reports detailing and analyzing potentially suspicious activity.

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Ability to pivot smoothly between the different GFCSU workflows: AML, EDD, Screening and Anti-Corruption.

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Meet performance expectations: productivity and quality goals.

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Compliance with SLAs.

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To develop and maintain an adequate knowledge of the financial crime environment.

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Build strong relationships with strategic partners across to ensure effective coordination of investigations.

Minimum Qualifications

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• At least 1 year of relevant work experience
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• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
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• Microsoft Excel proficiency.
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• Proven ability to work with and analyze large amounts of data in order to report critical information.
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• Effective communication and excellent writing skills.
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• High level of professionalism, self-motivation, and sense of urgency.

Preferred Qualifications

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Knowledge of languages other than English would be a plus.

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Certification in Compliance, AML or Financial Crime related fields.

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Experience working in KYC, Transaction monitoring, Sanctions or EDD departments.

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Highly preferred bachelor’s degree (or equivalent). Ideally in one of the following, or similar, fields of study: Law, Justice Studies, Criminology, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or Government & Public Services,

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Knowledge of data processing and visualization, dashboarding and reporting, process automation and optimization.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in Spain is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.