FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT: IMPACT ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study investigates the evolutionary process of financial risk management practices connected with different aspects of risk management and financial performance across the financial sector of Pakistan. Despite the growing number of risk management practices in the financial sector in recent years, financial risk management was still at an early stage of development and further research is recommended. The literature review identifies a gap in the financial risk management literature, prompting the development of a theoretical framework to investigate key aspects critical to effective implementation of the risk management. A risk management framework was developed to address key shortcomings of the existing risk management practices in the financial sector and to provide practical guidance to academics and practitioners. The research was conducted as a two-stage empirical study in the finance industry, employing a mixed method of data collection and analysis. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire from the staff members of the financial institutions working in various departments to understand the Risk-Management practices adopted by the financial institutions. The sample size was composed 318 staff members. The questionnaire data was analyzed by adopting the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Regression model to examine the different aspects of Risk-Management practices. Secondary data was collected from the annual financial reports of the selected financial institutions for ten-years from 2006-2015. The sample of the study comprised 29 banks and 04 Development Financial Institutions (DFI’s). The secondary data was analyzed by utilizing the Panel Regression Model. The literature review supports the industry view of continuous internal and external pressures towards risk management implementation across financial institutions. The research findings confirm that risk management is perceived to have slowly transformed from a process of compliance to a strategic tool and become a source of value creation and competitive advantage. The study also shows that aligning risk management with core organizational strategies and risk culture have been the underlying factors driving a strategic risk management framework sustainable over time. Insufficient senior management support for risk management and inadequate Financial Risk Management: Impact on Financial Institutions in Pakistan ix dynamic risk culture identify as the greatest challenges to risk management sustainability. The study revealed that it is pivotal for financial institutions to formulate an effective Risk-Management system to identify, monitor, measure, evaluate and control different types of risks. The study also showed that effective risk management is valuable for the improvement of financial performance of the financial institutions working in Pakistan. The main contribution to the knowledge of this study is the risk management guidelines for its effective implementation. Specifically, this research offers academics and finance industry practitioners a better understanding of organizational factors critical to the implementation of a strategic risk management framework, supported by empirical evidence.