Company: American Express
Position: Director & Counsel, Merchant Risk
Location: NYC Campus
Description:
Join Team Amex and let’s lead the way together.
The General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) at American Express is seeking a Director & Counsel to support the Global Merchant Pricing organization and the commercial credit risk management team that evaluates and mitigates financial exposure arising from GMS relationships. This role will evaluate risks associated with various pricing programs and policies and act as a legal and strategic thought leader on exposure risk management and collateral documentation.
The GMNS business is a core business of American Express and fundamental to the operation of the American Express global payments network. GMNS builds and maintains relationships with merchants that choose to accept the American Express Card and financial services companies who enable merchants to accept the Card, simultaneously delivering differentiated products and services and driving revenue growth for both merchants and American Express. The GMNS business is responsible for signing merchants to accept the Card, processing Card transactions and providing marketing and other innovative programs and services to grow our merchant and Card acceptance relationships.
Where great legal minds influence national business strategy.
Our mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps our business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company’s promise of exceptional products and services. Given the dynamic nature of the national and global payments industry and the valued partnership between our team and the business, we see it as imperative to attract and develop talented people by:
- Providing rich work experiences and opportunities for professional development
- Recognizing and rewarding those who drive and deliver results
- Respecting and valuing diversity, integrity, and personal accountability
Role & Responsibilities:
Help propel your team and its business partners to success.
Here’s just some of what you’ll do in this role:
- Provide primary legal support to dynamic merchant pricing team; evaluate legal risks and considerations related to pricing policy and implementation.
- Provide primary legal support to the GMS risk team focused on evaluating and mitigating risk arising from GMS relationships and advising on risk management and collateral documentation.
- Provide counseling and support to GMS teams on strategic legal and policy matters, compliance and operational processes, also with focus on competitive changes in marketplace and regulatory and litigation environment.
- Coordinate with GCO colleagues and outside counsel, Compliance, client teams and other stakeholders, to ensure the most effective support and relevant expertise is applied to particular matters.
- Participate in a small team of seasoned attorneys and legal managers, offering thought leadership for cross-subject matter practice group issues and projects.
- Effective, cost-conscious targeted engagements of outside counsel, with a disciplined approach to budget management.
Contact: mario.a.magana1@aexp.com
Qualifications:
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree & J.D.
- Experience in trade finance, secured credit/lending or corporate banking practice
- Admitted to New York Bar or eligibility to do so
- 6+ years of relevant legal experience
Preferred qualifications:
- Extensive experience in a trade finance, secured credit/lending or corporate banking practice, including drafting and negotiation of collateral documentation, guaranties and intercreditor arrangements
- Working knowledge of the UCC (including Article 9), receivables financing, and forms of credit protection (including letters of credit)
- Experience in the banking, finance, or payments industry
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to generate creative and innovative solutions to novel issues
- Ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively, in both written and oral format
- Excellent collaboration, inter-personal and teamwork skills
- Ability to drive consensus and exert influence in a cross-functional capacity
- Self-motivated, high level of personal energy and commitment
- Strong leadership skills, growth mindset and strong customer focus