Manager- ESG Controllership

Job Description

The successful candidate will be well‑versed in global environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulatory reporting requirements, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and assurance processes, internal controls, and ESG data platforms (e.g., Watershed, Workiva). This role will play a critical part in strengthening American Express’ ESG controllership capabilities by providing technical expertise, operational leadership, and disciplined execution to support high‑quality, assurance‑ready ESG reporting.

You will be hands‑on, with strong project management, analytical, and communication skills, and comfortable operating in a dynamic regulatory environment. The role requires the ability to design, implement, and continuously improve scalable ESG reporting processes, controls, and governance frameworks to meet both current and emerging regulatory requirements globally.

This position will partner closely with Corporate Sustainability, Legal, Real Estate, Climate Risk, HR, SOX, Internal Audit, Treasury, and other enterprise teams owning environmental, social, and governance data, as well as with external auditors, to support ESG disclosures and GHG inventories.

This is a manager‑level position based in New York, reporting to the Director, ESG Controllership, within the Corporate Controllership organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and operationalize standardized ESG reporting policies, processes, and governance frameworks, including materiality assessments, disclosure controls and procedures, estimation methodologies, and documentation standards.
• Collaborate with SOX, Operational Excellence, and Internal Audit teams to design and maintain ESG data processes and controls that are aligned with controllership and assurance expectations and support external assurance.
• Coordinate and support readiness assessments and external assurance activities over ESG disclosures and GHG inventories, including responding to auditor inquiries and managing remediation of findings, where applicable.
• Lead the end ‑ to ‑ end enterprise GHG inventory process, with responsibility for data collection, review, documentation, controls, assurance coordination, and stakeholder management across business units and geographies.
• Manage ESG data collection and review processes with internal data provider teams to support mandatory global and local ESG reporting requirements, including escalation and resolution of data quality issues.
• Evaluate the applicability and impact of new and emerging ESG regulatory requirements globally and at the legal ‑ entity level (e.g., threshold and scoping analyses), in partnership with the Legal and Sustainability teams, and support interpretation of disclosure obligations relevant to American Express.
• Build and enhance ESG controllership capabilities across people, processes, internal controls, and systems, including supporting the evaluation and optimization of ESG data collection and reporting technologies.
• Build strong cross ‑ functional partnerships across Enterprise ESG, Legal, HR, Climate Risk, Real Estate, Treasury, and Controllership teams to support coordinated, consistent, and well ‑ governed ESG reporting.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and Masters/MBA preferred.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in ESG reporting, GHG accounting, sustainability assurance, financial or non ‑ financial regulatory reporting, or related controllership roles.
• Experience working with GHG reporting standards such as the GHG Protocol and PCAF.
• Working knowledge of ESG regulatory frameworks such as CSRD, ISSB, and U.S. climate regulations including California SB ‑ 253 and SB ‑ 261.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with senior stakeholders.
• People management experience or demonstrated ability to lead workstreams and collaborate across functions and geographies.
• Strong understanding of ESG topics and a demonstrated commitment to staying current on evolving ESG regulations, standards, and best practices.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast ‑ paced environment with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and complex stakeholder needs, while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ESG data platforms (e.g., Watershed) strongly preferred.
• Big 4 experience and/or financial services industry experience preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSP), or Greenhouse Gas Management Institute credentials preferred.
  
  

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

About Us

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.