Enterprise Risk Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of enterprise risk managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for enterprise risk managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of enterprise risk managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for enterprise risk managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Enterprise Risk Managers?
Do enterprise risk managers need a degree? What kind of experience do enterprise risk managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for enterprise risk managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Enterprise Risk Managers
Jobs Postings for Enterprise Risk Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 38,406 (57%)
- Master's degree: 13,474 (20%)
- No Education Listed: 10,658 (16%)
- High School or GED: 2,937 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,228 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of enterprise risk managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 57% of positions. In 20% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 16% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Enterprise Risk Managers
Jobs Postings for Enterprise Risk Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,436 (6%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,138 (24%)
- 4-6 Years: 15,186 (40%)
- 7-9 Years: 5,968 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 5,674 (15%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for enterprise risk managers. In 40% of job postings for Enterprise Risk Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for enterprise risk managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Enterprise Risk Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for enterprise risk managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 16 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective enterprise risk managers, and in 2021 a total of 84,766 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective enterprise risk managers.
Top Degree Programs for Enterprise Risk Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Enterprise Risk Managers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 51,430 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. | 8,340 |
| Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,658 |
| Financial Mathematics. | 4,612 |
| Project Management. | 4,155 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 51,430 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. | 8,340 |
| Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,658 |
| Financial Mathematics. | 4,612 |
| Project Management. | 4,155 |
| Financial Planning and Services. | 4,087 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,644 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,537 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 991 |
| Risk Management. | 396 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other. | 387 |
| Investments and Securities. | 346 |
| International Finance. | 121 |
| Public Finance. | 48 |
| Financial Analytics. | 13 |
| Financial Risk Management. | 1 |
What Skills Do Enterprise Risk Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by enterprise risk managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for enterprise risk managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Enterprise Risk Managers
Based on 52,369 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Enterprise Risk Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Management | 38,047 | 73% |
| Risk Analysis | 21,186 | 40% |
| Auditing | 17,324 | 33% |
| Finance | 13,452 | 26% |
| Project Management | 13,262 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Enterprise Risk Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 34,141 | 65% |
| Communications | 28,301 | 54% |
| Leadership | 18,685 | 36% |
| Operations | 16,033 | 31% |
| Governance | 14,297 | 27% |
Based on 52,369 job postings related to enterprise risk managers, risk management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 73% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for risk analysis, auditing, finance, project management and financial services were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for enterprise risk managers, followed by communications, leadership, operations, governance and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Management | 38,047 | 73% |
| Risk Analysis | 21,186 | 40% |
| Auditing | 17,324 | 33% |
| Finance | 13,452 | 26% |
| Project Management | 13,262 | 25% |
| Financial Services | 9,904 | 19% |
| Operational Risk | 9,763 | 19% |
| Accounting | 8,630 | 16% |
| Data Analysis | 8,585 | 16% |
| Risk Mitigation | 6,952 | 13% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 6,800 | 13% |
| Internal Controls | 6,626 | 13% |
| Internal Auditing | 6,029 | 12% |
| Mitigation | 5,915 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 5,722 | 11% |
| Risk Appetite | 5,573 | 11% |
| Economics | 5,559 | 11% |
| Business Process | 5,556 | 11% |
| Underwriting | 5,182 | 10% |
| Emerging Risk | 5,050 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 34,141 | 65% |
| Communications | 28,301 | 54% |
| Leadership | 18,685 | 36% |
| Operations | 16,033 | 31% |
| Governance | 14,297 | 27% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,081 | 27% |
| Problem Solving | 13,329 | 25% |
| Writing | 11,724 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 11,338 | 22% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 11,088 | 21% |
| Influencing Skills | 10,795 | 21% |
| Presentations | 10,679 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 10,466 | 20% |
| Planning | 8,706 | 17% |
| Research | 8,412 | 16% |
| Consulting | 8,185 | 16% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 7,771 | 15% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,738 | 15% |
| Analytical Skills | 7,642 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 7,313 | 14% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about enterprise risk managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for enterprise risk managers.
What do enterprise risk managers do?
How much do enterprise risk managers make?
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