ESG REPORTING

There ’ s a new role shaking up sustainability teams , as the ESG Controller takes on the task of detailed reporting to meet increased regulatory compliance

WRITTEN BY : KATE BIRCH

While some countries and trading blocs have already implemented stringent regulations , others are on the horizon , and it will only be a matter of time before these standards are demanded by customers and stakeholders alike .

This is driving the need for organisations around the world to rethink their sustainability reporting strategy , and the people charged with ensuring that compliance .

Rewind just 20 years and the role of Chief Sustainability Officer ( CSO ) was unheard of , with Linda Fisher of DuPont widely regarded as the pioneer in 2004 .

Tasked with an incredibly wide remit , and the growing pressure on external reporting rather than internal , it ’ s little wonder that the world ’ s biggest companies are bringing in specialists to ensure compliance and navigate this complicated , and evolving , landscape . Welcome to the era of the ESG Controller – the person responsible for timely and accurate reporting of ESG data , similar to how CFOs play this role for financial reporting .

What does an ESG Controller do ? Scan the jobs boards and you will see ESG Controller roles popping up at an increasing rate . DuPont has again been fast out of the blocks , recently hiring its first ESG Controller . Alphabet and Halliburton have also made these appointments .

You may need to read between the lines on the job descriptions to spot the ESG Controller , with companies including Netflix , Mastercard and Delta Airlines all hiring for the position in all-but name .

So what does the ESG Controller do , why is it required , and how does that impact the CSO and wider sustainability team ?

Christina Shim is Head of Sustainability Software at IBM . She says that as ESG and sustainability obligations have matured in recent years , we ’ ve started to see significant involvement of the controllership function , most often partnering closely with the CSO .

“ Having an ESG Controller is saying to regulators , investors , and the market , ‘ we take this seriously .’ The role is essential in developing ESG measurements , systems , and reporting processes that align with changing market dynamics and regulatory requirements ,” Shim tells Sustainability magazine .

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