What Do Operational Risk Analysts Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for operational risk analysts?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what operational risk analysts do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Operational Risk Analysts Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about operational risk analysts by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Operational Risk Analysts analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.
Popular Job Titles For Operational Risk Analysts
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Risk Analysts
- Risk Managers
- Directors of Risk Management
- Risk Management Managers
- Third Party Risk Managers
- Compliance Risk Managers
- Operational Risk Analysts
- Risk Management Analysts
- Business Risk Managers
- Enterprise Risk Managers
- Risk Management Specialists
- Operational Risk Officers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for operational risk analysts can be found.
Best Industries for Operational Risk Analysts
Operational Risk Analysts Jobs By Industry
- Depository Credit Intermediation: 22.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 13.6%
- Insurance Carriers: 8.7%
- Other Financial Investment Activities: 8.5%
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities: 7.4%
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage: 7%
- Other: 31.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of operational risk analysts can be found working in the Depository Credit Intermediation sector. In 2022, about 22.9% of all jobs for operational risk analysts were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (13.6%), Insurance Carriers (8.7%), Other Financial Investment Activities (8.5%), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (7.4%) and Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (7%).
What Do Operational Risk Analysts Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what operational risk analysts do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work operational risk analysts do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that operational risk analysts tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for operational risk analysts, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Operational Risk Analysts
Based on 52,369 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Operational Risk Analysts
| 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 Operational Risk Analysts
| 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 operational risk analysts, 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 operational risk analysts, 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% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Operational Risk Analysts
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Analysts | 5,229 | 10.2% |
| Risk Managers | 4,433 | 8.6% |
| Directors of Risk Management | 4,874 | 9.5% |
| Risk Management Managers | 3,302 | 6.4% |
| Third Party Risk Managers | 2,628 | 5.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was risk analysts, with 2,421 unique job postings. Risk managers were second, with 1,889 postings, followed by directors of risk management, risk management managers and third party risk managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to operational risk analysts.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Analysts | 5,229 | 10.2% |
| Risk Managers | 4,433 | 8.6% |
| Directors of Risk Management | 4,874 | 9.5% |
| Risk Management Managers | 3,302 | 6.4% |
| Third Party Risk Managers | 2,628 | 5.1% |
| Compliance Risk Managers | 3,817 | 7.4% |
| Operational Risk Analysts | 2,543 | 4.9% |
| Risk Management Analysts | 2,499 | 4.9% |
| Business Risk Managers | 2,470 | 4.8% |
| Enterprise Risk Managers | 2,080 | 4% |
| Risk Management Specialists | 2,578 | 5% |
| Operational Risk Officers | 3,886 | 7.6% |
| Operational Risk Managers | 2,101 | 4.1% |
| Cybersecurity Risk Analysts | 1,402 | 2.7% |
| Risk Control Consultants | 1,411 | 2.7% |
| IT Risk Analysts | 1,344 | 2.6% |
| Risk Adjustment Analysts | 1,218 | 2.4% |
| Cyber Risk Managers | 1,319 | 2.6% |
| Loss Control Consultants | 1,119 | 2.2% |
| Risk Management Consultants | 1,180 | 2.3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for operational risk analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for operational risk analysts.
How much do operational risk analysts make?
Operational Risk Analysts: How do you become one?
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