Credit Risk Manager (First Line of Defense)

Job description

Credit and Fraud Risk (CFR) is a global function, responsible for making the right credit and fraud risk decisions that uphold operational excellence, drive growth, and accelerate innovation across American Express. CFR combines technology and infrastructure with new computing techniques to make better risk decisions and provide real-time customer communications and fraud servicing. We are looking for a Credit Risk Manager to join our UK Credit Risk organisation, a first-line function led by the UK Chief Credit Officer.

This is an opportunity to shape the governance of credit risk strategies—enabling responsible, sustainable growth, meeting UK regulatory expectations, and delivering good customer outcomes. You will take ownership of first-line credit risk governance for the UK market, ensuring processes and controls remain effective, proportionate, and responsive to evolving expectations. Working with senior leaders across Compliance, Legal, Operations, Enterprise Risk, and the wider business, you will bring clarity to challenging issues, influence strategic decisions, and raise the standard for responsible credit risk management.

You will have significant visibility, genuine ownership, and the freedom to turn insight into action. Joining a collaborative, high-performing team, you will work with experienced leaders, broaden your influence, and make a measurable difference for customers and the business.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities Shape forward-looking credit strategies by combining critical thinking, data analytics, and sound business judgement to improve customer outcomes. Turn regulatory and enterprise expectations into practical first-line processes and controls, using business and customer insight to influence how requirements evolve. Bring clarity to risk and regulatory issues, translating technical detail into decisive, actionable messages that influence stakeholders.

Build strong partnerships across Operations, Compliance, Legal, Control Management, Enterprise Risk, and the wider business to strengthen oversight and maintain regulatory and procedure alignment. Lead the response to operational risk events, internal audit requests, and regulatory remediation activities. Own and evolve the UK Credit Risk Procedure, ensuring it remains clear, current, and aligned with regulatory, enterprise, and business requirements.

Qualifications

Significant experience in risk management, data analytics, or a related discipline within a regulated financial services organisation, with a record of delivering meaningful outcomes. Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with the business judgement to turn insights into action. Sound knowledge of UK consumer credit regulation, including the CONC Consumer Duty, and the Consumer Credit Act. The drive and judgement to navigate competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent written and verbal communication, with the confidence and credibility to influence across functions and levels. A proactive, curious, and detail-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to robust governance and good customer outcomes. Proficiency in SQL or Python. Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the UK is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.