A company will use risk management consulting when determining the potential effects that a large or small change in strategy or method will make. The consulting can be for a variety of things, such as a change in marketing for a large business with a recognizable campaign or a change in location for a smaller business that is working on a local scale. Most top risk management firms will work with their clients in both hard and soft cycles and will analyze factors such as business liabilities, event probability and the potential for business accidents.
Risk management consulting is normally provided by either a firm or by an individual who is acting as an independent contractor. Larger businesses and corporations will normally work with larger risk management consultant firms that can provide them with teams of specialists who will each be able to assess risk in a different area of concern. For example, one professional might identify risks related to loss of profit, and another might address risk related to potential business liabilities.
Individual risk management consulting specialists who work as independent contractors will most often consult smaller businesses and other independent workers who are considering changing their models of operation. An independent consultant will normally be skilled at taking a generalized approach. He or she also will be able to assess risk as it applies to the overall effect of a business model or strategy.
Companies also use risk management consulting when they are not able to buy insurance. A company might not be able to get insurance because of past losses. A risk management consultant could help identify risks, thereby reducing the chance of further loss in the future. Insurance for the client or company is not viable in this scenario, and further loss could be detrimental, so the consultant works to locate and hopefully to reduce all potential business risks in order to avoid potentially damaging business risks.
Risk management is also useful for businesses that are looking for a sound, third-party decision. A business model or strategy often might seem good in the office when the enthusiasm and ambition of a team are behind it, but there might be flaws in the strategy that only an objective party is able to locate. In this context, the risk management consultant might also suggest avenues for improvement.
The best firms and independent contractors in the risk management consulting industry are those that are able to work with clients in a number of fields. This breadth of experience will often give the consultants a broader range of knowledge. This is important because event probability is based on historical evidence.