The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ACTUARIES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
C
T
U
A
R
I
E
S
More clues leading to the result ACTUARIES
- A curate is naughty? We understand the risks
- Assessors work on sign that all can see inside
- Deed reportedly you sign for assessors
- Bill joins union stars — they may examine business statistics
- Risk assessors do something with figures essentially, then sign
- Risk assessors sign, after a drastic cut
- Risk takers evenly match tour with a sign
- They give you the odds, do you finally sign?
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "We understand the risks" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case we understand the risks = actuaries.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ACTUARIES mean?
ACTUARIES noun- Registrar, clerk.
- A professional who calculates financial values associated with uncertain events subject to risk, such as insurance premiums or pension contributions.