With many of the devastating financial calamities that have swept through the global economic markets blamed on over-zealous risk-taking, market professionals have largely shied away from the four-letter word in recent years.
That is until now, when the appetite for risk is edging its way back into the finance sector - especially in Hong Kong.
In a recent global survey of chief finance officers and financial directors by specialised financial recruitment firm Robert Half, more than a quarter of respondents based in Hong Kong consider 'risk-taking' the most important factor contributing to a financial professional's success.
Hong Kong is the only financial centre globally where 'risk-taking' ranks as the top attribute. This is closely followed by other capabilities, including leadership - 20 per cent - and a competitive nature, which scored 19 per cent.
Elsewhere, finance leaders on the mainland, Germany, and Belgium cited strong technical or analytical skills as the most important attribute, while for their counterparts in Luxembourg and Singapore, leadership comes top.
Pallavi Anand, director at Robert Half Hong Kong, says risk-taking comprises the willingness and ability to take calculated risks to improve economic and organisational performance.
'While strong technical and analytical skills remain important, an accounting and finance candidate who wants to stand out from the crowd in Hong Kong needs to demonstrate the necessary industry knowledge and business acumen to take risks and make sound commercial decisions,' says Anand.