Enterprise Risk Manager

Career Guide
Enterprise Risk Managers help organizations identify, assess, and reduce risks that could impact strategy, operations, finances, compliance, or reputation. They connect business leaders, data, and controls to keep risk decisions consistent and well documented.

Key Responsibilities

  • Build and maintain an enterprise risk framework and risk policies
  • Run regular risk assessments across business units
  • Create and update the enterprise risk register
  • Define risk appetite and risk tolerance with leadership
  • Design and track risk indicators and early warning signals
  • Facilitate risk workshops and executive risk discussions
  • Coordinate risk reporting for senior leadership and boards
  • Partner with compliance, audit, legal, and security teams
  • Oversee remediation plans and validate completion
  • Support scenario analysis and stress testing for major risks
  • Ensure third party and vendor risk is assessed and monitored
  • Improve risk governance and decision making processes

Top Skills for Success

Stakeholder Management
Executive Communication
Structured Problem Solving
Program Management
Risk Assessment
Risk Reporting
Risk Governance
Control Design
Policy Development
Scenario Analysis
Regulatory Knowledge
Cyber Risk Awareness
Third Party Risk Management
Data Analysis

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Enterprise Risk Manager
Director of Enterprise Risk
Head of Enterprise Risk
Chief Risk Officer
Risk and Compliance Leader
Operational Resilience Leader
Transition Opportunities
Internal Audit Manager
Compliance Manager
Information Security Risk Manager
Business Continuity Manager
Financial Risk Manager
Governance Leader

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Board Level CommunicationRisk QuantificationRisk Indicator DesignScenario PlanningControl TestingThird Party Risk DepthCybersecurity FundamentalsRegulatory Writing
Development SuggestionsBuild a small portfolio of risk outputs, such as a risk register sample, a risk dashboard mockup, and a board ready risk summary. Strengthen quantification by learning basic modeling, probability thinking, and impact estimation. Partner with audit and security teams to learn how controls are tested and how cyber risks are described in business terms.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUS$90,000 to US$115,000
Mid LevelUS$115,000 to US$150,000
Senior LevelUS$150,000 to US$210,000
Growth Trend
Steady to strong demand, driven by cybersecurity threats, regulatory scrutiny, third party risk, and board level focus on resilience. Hiring is especially active in financial services, healthcare, technology, and regulated industries.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyCapital OneVisaMastercardUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthCignaKaiser PermanenteAmazonMicrosoftGoogleAppleMetaSalesforceIBMDeloittePwCEYKPMG
Industry Sectors
BankingInsuranceAsset ManagementPaymentsHealthcarePharmaceuticalsTechnologyRetailEnergyTelecommunicationsGovernment ContractorsConsulting

Recommended Next Steps

1
Benchmark your current work against an enterprise risk framework and identify gaps
2
Create a repeatable risk assessment template and run it with one business unit
3
Develop a set of risk indicators and define ownership and review cadence
4
Practice turning complex risks into a one page executive summary
5
Pursue a risk focused credential if it fits your industry, such as CRISC, CISM, or an ERM certificate
6
Set up informational interviews with enterprise risk leaders in your target industry
7
Tailor your resume to outcomes, such as risks reduced, controls improved, and decisions enabled