Our Internal Audit Group is a worldwide function with 300+ team members and offices across nine countries within American Express. Our mission is to protect and enhance organizational value by providing independent, objective, risk-based assurance, advisory services and to influence the way the company manages risk.

We are committed to growing our audit staff significantly as we continue to expand and enhance the Internal Audit Group. Our assurance and risk professionals have diverse backgrounds including internal controls, consumer compliance, technology, operational risk, financial accounting, data analytics, and banking operations. 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.

About the Role:

The Internal Audit Group (IAG) is seeking a Privacy Audit Manager based in New York, NY, to lead and execute risk-based audits focused on data privacy, protection, and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. This role will align with IAG’s Privacy Subject Matter Expert (SME) group, providing specialized expertise in assessing privacy risks, evaluating the effectiveness of internal controls, and delivering actionable insights to strengthen the organization’s privacy governance and risk management framework.

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as Auditor in Charge (AIC) on audits, managing the audit engagement end-to-end, planning audit projects, defining objectives and scope, and coordinating with control groups, external auditors, stakeholders, and regulators to ensure effective execution; conduct L1 reviews; serve as the primary audit client contact.

Analyze / review audit results and documentation to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency, synthesizing audit findings.

Lead audit client meetings and walkthroughs.

Develop test steps, audit findings, and the audit report in accordance with IAG policies and procedures.

Guide team on how to validate and execute corrective actions are impactful, sustainable, and improve the control environment of the business unit.

Support business monitoring activities with audit leadership, tracking key metrics to identify control issues and trends; stay up to date with evolving industry trends, external news and regulatory changes, and analyze the impact to the business.

Delegate tasks to team members; guide auditors in assessing risks, evaluating control design, and executing audit tests; review and provide feedback on work papers.

Effectively coach, teach, mentor, and develop less experienced colleagues and co-sourced resources in geographically diverse locations across all aspects of their role, the audit and analytic lifecycle, audit methodology and best practices.

Conduct post-audit feedback discussions with audit team members to provide actionable feedback, support development, and recognize accomplishments.

Guide team to proactively and routinely communicate task status, roadblocks, challenges, suggesting potential solutions to the team.

Minimum Qualifications:

5 + years of audit experience and prior experience in Privacy and an understanding of emerging regulations and their impact on control practices.

Prior experience working at a Big Four / G-SIB.

Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills to deliver deliverables with quality, and actionable value-add feedback to management on issues, opportunity areas, and deficiency solutions.

Effectively leads a team in a fast-paced environment to drive business results, utilizing related project management skills, employing creative thinking, and the ability to work on competing priorities.

Applies critical thinking to break-down complex problems into components, and solve using data analysis, process, risk control knowledge, and experience to drive risk-based conclusions and decisions

Applies control theory and professional auditing practices throughout the audit lifecycle.

Understands regulations, regulatory risks, accounting, and financial industry best practices relevant to the business, including emerging technology and data considerations, and incorporates into the audit approach to enhance outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience conducting risk-based internal audits focused on data privacy, data protection, and information governance within a large, complex financial services organization.

Strong knowledge of global privacy laws and regulatory requirements, including GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and other applicable U.S. and international privacy regulations.

Experience assessing privacy governance frameworks, data lifecycle management, consent management, data retention, and third-party data sharing controls.

Familiarity with privacy risk management frameworks and industry standards, including the NIST Privacy Framework and ISO 27701.

Experience evaluating privacy risks associated with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data analytics.

Proficiency in assessing the design and operating effectiveness of privacy controls, identifying control gaps, and developing actionable recommendations.

Experience collaborating with Privacy, Legal, Compliance, Information Security, and Technology teams to evaluate regulatory compliance and enterprise-wide privacy risks.

Relevant professional certifications such as Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US or CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

Experience with data analytic tools, data visualization, key risk indicators (KRIs), key performance indicators (KPIs), information systems / technology, and scorecards / dashboards, etc.

Interest in working with data, interpreting results, analytic best practices and experience with data analytics tools and data visualization.

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

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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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.