New regulation in the U.S. and abroad has ushered in a wave of new roles around carbon reporting and disclosures. Originally, the driver was the much anticipated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rule. However, given the recent stay on the SEC rule, additional regulatory drivers remain such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California SB 253, which also faces legal challenges.
Sustainability executives are putting considerable resources into meeting the anticipated — or in the case of California, already enacted — regulatory requirements. Those resources include technology tools and headcount to support gathering and inputting the data and then putting controls in place to substantiate claims.
As a recruiter, I’m seeing a number of new roles being created, too. Here are five roles companies should be focusing on in preparation for the new regulations.
1. ESG controller
The ESG controller is responsible for setting up systems to integrate and analyze ESG data, including associated financial implications, conducting risk assessments, setting targets and monitoring progress. The emerging role is gaining attention and was featured in "The Rise of the ESG Controller" panel discussion at GreenBiz 24.
"The ESG controller role reflects a more rigorous approach to monitoring and disclosing performance," said Velislava Ivanova, Americas chief sustainability officer and climate change and sustainability services leader at EY. "Bringing together competencies across sustainability management, accounting and assurance, this role will be crucial for embedding a new approach to climate accounting in compliance with the SEC rules."
2. In-house sustainability counsel (legal and compliance)
Many companies will need specialized legal expertise to navigate complex international disclosure requirements.
"Companies, especially multinationals, are balancing growing ESG enforcement and litigation risks, ever-expanding shareholder demands and an increasingly complex global landscape of disclosure requirements," said Alexandra Farmer, partner, ESG & Impact, Kirkland & Ellis. "This often requires legal and compliance teams to develop more in-depth substantive knowledge of ESG and sustainability. As a result, many companies are determining that they need a dedicated, often senior, legal or compliance professional to manage these issues."
3. Sustainability reporting director
Gone are the days when sustainability reporting could be an additional task for the communications team; increasingly, it requires a dedicated role with expertise in ESG reporting and a focus on coordination across the business.
Valerie Lee, CEO at BuzzWord, part of Anthesis, explained: "The new requirements are raising the bar for the quality and rigor of sustainability disclosure. Companies need leaders to guide their disclosure strategy and drive the reporting process with the expertise and influence to bring together the right people internally to make informed decisions."
4. ESG data manager
Filling ESG data gaps might require a dedicated role such as an
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