Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles

These degree profiles look at potential jobs, key skills & atributes, associations & professional development and great books which relate to each degree and its potential career path.

Risk Management Insurance & Finance

Risk management as a corporate function has evolved from being segregated and practiced in “silos” to being integrated into all aspects of business. This new approach to risk management, called Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), treats risks more holistically, largely disregarding the source.

With the adoption of ERM, individuals working in risk management benefit a great deal by having a solid knowledge of finance. The RMIF combination provides the necessary skill set to understand and innovate in the field of risk financing, including capital market techniques, that apply equally well to financial and operational risk management challenges. This complements knowledge of the traditional insurance markets, which still play a major role in the management of operational and hazard risks, and appeals to the many Canadian financial institutions that have insurance subsidiaries. With the expanding number of enterprise risk managers among their clients, service providers such as consulting and brokerage firms increasingly value a solid knowledge of finance.

As one of the most established programs in the country, and the only one in Western Canada, the RMIF program in the Haskayne School of Business is both practical and progressive. It is designed to provide students with an understanding of the risk management process, insurance products for business, operational aspects of insurance companies as financial institutions, and the competitive environment of this dynamic industry. RMIF concentrators qualify for many of the more than two dozen scholarships and bursaries sponsored by the risk management and insurance industries.

Key Skills & Knowledge

Specific application of these skills are dependent on the role

Insurance knowledge; claims management, global insurance markets, pricing risk aversion,
Client services and Sales
Types of Risk: market, credit, operational, liquidity, enterprise
Strong computer skills
Modeling: strong quantitative analysis skills, use of statistical information
Market awareness (practical understanding of products and macroeconomic trends)
Analytical skills (Intellectual curiosity and independence)
Reporting (strong communication skills)

Sample Job Titles

Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo

Account Executive
Financial Planner
Pension Consultant
Research Assistant
Financial Advisor
Loss Control Specialist
Consultant for Financial Risk
Small Business Underwriter
Broker
Asset Liability Manager/Analyst
Market Risk Management
Credit Manager
Risk Control Manager
Operational Risk Management
Data Analyst
Valuation Actuary
Audit Assistant
Analyst, Lending & Investment Pricing
Associate Business Analyst
Junior Gaming Analyst
Enterprise Risk Analyst
Financial Controllers

Potential Industries

Manufacturing
Insurance, Personal, Property
Construction
Real Estate Investment Trust
Financial Institutions
Management Consulting
Corporate Wellness Services
Natural Resources Agriculture
Energy
Technology
Retail
HealthCare
Government
Not for Profit

Associations & Professional Development

Job Sites

Additional Resources

Student Clubs

Association of Risk Management and Insurance

Aligned Majors (varies depending on type of venture). Some suggestions:

Did you know?

Formal Career Assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can be helpful tools for your career development. These assessments have been used for decades to help individuals choose a major, explore career options during and upon completion of a degree and to further understand yourself in relationship to the world of work. Inquire with Career Services if you are interested in these formal assessments.