For risk managers to keep their jobs in this difficult economy, they must remain “highly visible” by making sure their senior management and board members appreciate the bottom-line savings that loss control, safety programs and alternative risk-transfer efforts produce, according to Bill Perry, president of Logic Associates.

“Risk managers need to stand up and take credit for all they are doing by quantifying their bottom-line contributions,” said Mr. Perry, in analyzing the results of the “2010 Risk Management Compensation Survey,” conducted by National Underwriter, in partnership with Logic Associates. “Hard numbers that put risk management in a very positive light will give companies pause before cutting into their departments.”

When push comes to shove, he added, “not much has changed in terms of how you keep your job as a risk manager. You not only have to perform, but you have to show everyone above you that you are performing. It's like the tree falling in the forest–if no one is there to witness what you are saving the organization, it's like it never happened.”