ERM Reaching New Heights with Automation

By CIOReview | Wednesday, January 13, 2021

An effective enterprise risk management program enables streamlined processes and workflows to reduce risk across the entire organization.

FREMONT, CA: Financial institutions face several risks in today’s market, from liability and vendor management, auditing, strategic planning, and project management, to name some of them. Traditionally, these risks have been managed individually, creating a siloed environment with little visibility. Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a comprehensive approach to identifying and managing risk in financial institutions. ERM enables the bank or credit union to view risk from a higher level and make connections that might otherwise be omitted. Read on to know more.

ERM strategies offer a similar view of a bank’s danger zones by sharing information across siloed risk management efforts and offering a view of the organization’s risk. In the present regulatory environment, having an enterprise risk strategy is increasing significance as regulators need stronger reporting and controls, even for smaller banks. Beyond regulatory compliance, good ERM strategies lead to informed operating decisions and stronger performance. Involving risk management in product and service development can help financial institutions avoid mispricing or inadvertent misconduct risks down the line.

Financial institutions have found data as the lifeblood of an effective ERM strategy and prioritize investments, respectively. The majority are focused on enhancing data quality and automating processes to access and analyze the vast stores of data held in banking systems. A fully integrated enterprise risk and compliance management system breaks down data silos. It provides an enterprise view of the institution’s risk by offering a 360-degree view of its data from a central vantage point. When data is visible from multiple business departments and back-office teams, risk analysis is simplified, enabling ERM professionals to make accurate decisions regarding a firm’s risk. Enterprise risk management(ERM) systems can make it seamless to attract data science professionals by offering them the tools they need to be successful.

ERM is essential to guarding bank profitability and competitiveness and aiding in regulatory compliance. To identify and mitigate risks, financial institutions should leverage technology to get a unified view of the enterprise and enhance reporting and decision making for stronger organizational outcomes.