A risky profession to be in

TO the layman, a credit risk analyst can be likened to a spoilsport or party pooper. As Shanon Shah, a credit risk analyst with a local oil company, explains: “A risk analyst is the voice of caution. For a giant firm, the bottom line is maximising profit. But to maximise profit, you have to think to what extent you are willing to risk, and what sort of risk you are willing to take.” 

A company which is thinking of maximising profit will like to take risks and throw caution to the wind. “But risk analysts are the ones who say – ‘Hang on, how can we minimise the risk?’ - even if it means that the company will not make as much profit.”