Simple Principles of Risk Management for Small/Medium Financial Institutions
Small/Medium Financial institutions (“SMFI”) do not have the same regulatory pressures and enforcements that can lead larger organizations to measure and mitigate their risks. However, they also have fewer buffer resources to resist unexpected shocks. SMFIs are one significant incident from being subject to a financial impact that threatens their survival. This is why we believe that SMFIs also benefit from taking the appropriate actions:
- Designing controls to mitigate risks that they have exposure to;
- Analysing the lessons from success (not only from failures) and;
- Using risk management framework and tools to boost and protect their business from unforeseen events.
An unfortunate stereotype says that risk management is tedious and unwanted. Stakeholders view risk managers as pessimistic persons and compliance officers as scaremongers. As a result, risk management is generally an unloved area that lacks focus and is a misunderstood discipline. Until disaster strikes, risk management is, for most, a painstaking and costly chore.
Risk management has never been so important in an increasingly volatile world where risks could be interrelated. Despite the increased risk exposures, directly or indirectly, risk managers struggle to make their voices heard in the face of more immediate and commercial pressures. This is especially true in small/medium-sized financial institutions — organizations with entrepreneurial cultures, fewer regulatory demands, and resource constraints.
However, enterprise-wide risk management is crucial for businesses of all sizes, including smaller enterprises. While the scale of operations may differ, the principles of effective risk management remain consistent.
Principles For Effective Risk Management
We have provided some critical points on how SMFIs can effectively manage risk and ensure that an adverse event does not impact their business operations. While the magnitude and relevance could vary, these fundamental principles apply to all financial institutions.
Identification of Risks
Identify potential risks that could impact your business. These can include financial risks, operational risks, market risks, and external factors such as regulatory changes or natural disasters. Risk professionals can help small business owners to identify the relevant risks and assess their potential impact.
Assess the Risks and Prioritize
Evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of each identified risk. Prioritize them based on their significance to your business objectives and financial health. This is essential in deciding where the organization should focus its resources to minimize its exposure.
Develop Risk Management Strategies
Once risk exposure has been identified and prioritized, you must develop risk management strategies that mitigate and minimize their impact. This could include implementing internal controls, purchasing insurance, and developing contingency plans. Risk management professionals can match risk management tools aligned to the risks and the company’s needs and resources.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance
All organizations, irrespective of their size, must comply with various regulations, including employment laws, tax laws, and industry-specific regulations. Risk professionals must ensure that small businesses understand these regulations and develop compliance strategies to avoid legal and financial penalties.
Regular Review and Adjustment
Regularly revisit and update your risk management strategies. As your business evolves, so do the risks it faces. Stay proactive in identifying new risks and adjusting your risk management approach accordingly. Risk management should be embedded into the business processes. This ensures that risk management becomes integral to decision-making and business planning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, effective risk management is crucial for the success of businesses, irrespective of the size of their operation. SMFIs can avoid costly mistakes and position themselves for long-term success by identifying and mitigating risks. Risk professionals can play a critical role in helping small businesses navigate the risks they face and confidently achieve their strategic objectives.
For SMFIs, discipline and vigilance are essential for success. Start-ups need more than great ideas to thrive; they depend on the relentless attention of their founders, who must continually monitor performance and be alert to what could go wrong. Like personal life, the early detection of a theft, a fire, or an illness can make all the difference between a fright and a tragedy.
We at Ingenia Consultants Pte. Ltd. provide initial and ongoing support to our clients to set up practical enterprise-wide risk management frameworks proportional to the size and scale of their operations. This ensures timely identification and mitigation of risks per the organization's risk appetite.
For any further information, please contact:
Vijay Bharadwaj
Director
Ingenia Consultants Pte. Ltd.