A tightrope walk between growth and risk: when a finance career turns to surety

Growing up in Algeria, I developed an early interest in the financial world which led me to study banking and finance at the École Supérieure de Banque in Algiers. In my final year, I completed a training course at the French bank Banque de France, giving me my first taste of working in the French financial system.

After graduating, I began my career in the Credit Department of the Tizi Ouzou regional branch of the Banque Nationale d’Algérie. However, my drive to deepen my expertise brought me back to France to pursue a Master’s degree in banking and finance from Paris-Sorbonne University. In 2006, towards the end of these studies, I joined Allianz Trade - then known as Euler Hermes SFAC- as an intern. That experience turned into a long-term commitment: nearly 20 years later, I’m still with the company!

I started at Allianz Trade in Paris as a credit analyst before moving on to credit insurance underwriting, with a focus on the construction sector. I held this position for 10 years, which enabled me to develop a solid expertise in financial analysis, risk management and decision-making. I also benefited from a lot of direct contact with our clients, brokers and partners.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to join the surety department. Having reached a sort of comfort zone in underwriting, I seized this opportunity as a way to challenge myself and develop new business-oriented skills – and it’s definitely delivered.

As Surety Underwriter, my core responsibility is evaluating new business opportunities and evaluating potential deals: analyzing whether the financial health of a prospective client, nature of the underlying project, and associated risks and legal aspects are all in alignment with Allianz Trade’s ambitions.

My job requires lots of collaboration with other teams, such as legal, administration and information departments. I also monitor our portfolio to ensure we’re not exposed to excessive risk and sometimes lead internal initiatives to build on our processes.

I would say my role requires striking a delicate balance between supporting business growth while maintaining a good level of risk. It’s like being a tightrope walker – we need to propose solutions that protect us in terms of risk, while still supporting business development. That balancing act is key. 

Transitioning from TCI to surety was challenging because it demands a much deeper legal and long-term operational understanding. It was also a learning process to adapt to a diversity of industries, projects and jurisdictions, which requires a great deal of agility.

It’s been a demanding but stimulating experience that centers around having a solid foundation in financial analysis, but it goes beyond that, too. Other essential skills include adaptability, communication to justify decisions to stakeholders – and curiosity. If you’re not curious, you won’t ask the right questions! A strong capacity for teamwork is also crucial. You can do your job well, but the end result is only good if the team works together.

I’m very satisfied with my overall professional journey and the evolution of my career at Allianz Trade. I’ve grown steadily while adapting to different roles, all the while maintaining a strong desire to keep learning. Entering surety has pushed me into a new environment that has required me to develop new skills, including the autonomy to handle complex projects.

Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the trust of my managers and colleagues. That human aspect and positive work environment motivates me every day. As I continue to deepen my expertise, I hope to become involved in more cross-functional projects and help others grow in their roles. Passing on knowledge and sharing expertise is something that really matters to me and that I want to keep doing, while also contributing to the growth of our surety business in line with Allianz Trade’s ambitions.