Risk management professionals work closely with technology, operations, audit, compliance, and other control functions within a bank. Risk management jobs are generally divided into different areas, the most fundamental of which are market risk, credit risk and operational risk.

Market risk is the risk that a whole portfolio of traded financial products (for example, stocks, bonds or commodities) falls in value simultaneously because of outside events, such as rising oil prices or terrorist bombs. The four standard market risk factors are stock prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices.

Market risk professionals assess risk across different asset classes, including derivatives (forwards, futures, options, swaps). They must also communicate clearly with traders, providing the front office with risk assessments.

Credit risk is the risk of loss of principle if a borrower defaults on a loan repayment. To help mitigate this risk, a credit risk worker will prepare credit proposals and credit reviews, which provide the business with independent assessments about the financial standing of prospective and existing borrowers.

Credit risk roles involve collaborating with the lending team to ensure that credit proposals or extensions are approved or declined in accordance with both the firm's internal credit policies and local regulations. Most lenders use their own credit scorecards to rank customers according to risk. Factors taken into account include operating experience, management expertise, asset quality, and leverage and liquidity ratios.

Operational risk is the risk that a bank will incur damage or losses due to internal factors such as systems breakdown or financial wrongdoing. An operational risk professional will perform front-to-back reviews of business processes and report to business managers.

Roles in operational risk require conductingrisk self assessments of business units, disseminating information about the firm's risk policies, and identifying and reporting any escalation ofrisk issues. They also liaise with internal audit, external audit and regulators.

To improve their knowledge, job opportunities, professional reputation and pay, many risk professionals possess qualifications in these areas. For example, the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation from the Global Association of Risk Professionals is awarded to those who pass two examinations and have at least two years' work experience in financial risk management.

The Professional Risk Managers' International Association (PRM) goes to financial risk managers who pass four exams covering financial theory, financial instruments and markets, mathematical foundations of risk measurement, and other subjects.