We are currently seeking an experienced Sustainable Finance and ESG Advisor to undertake a 2-year fixed term assignment with our Douglas-based Client, a leader in fiduciary services, fund administration, and management and investment advice compliance.
The Sustainable Finance and ESG Adviser will be responsible for leading and managing actions allocated to the organisation to lead under a key element of their roadmap, including assisting in embedding climate and nature-related financial risks into financial services firms' governance and risk management systems, reinforcing a strong, proactive regulatory conduct supervisory approach by highlighting greenwashing and other sustainable finance-related misconduct, while exploring the feasibility of developing a sustainable investment product label framework. Specific duties will include:
- Represent the organisation as a stakeholder for relevant actions under the roadmap
- Act as a first point of contact on Sustainable Finance and Environmental, Social and Governance ('ESG') matters
- Provide technical expertise and researching areas as required, including global practices relating to ESG, climate change and sustainability risk management, and regulatory approaches surrounding these areas in the financial sector, proposing solutions fit for the local market and economy
- Drive the drafting of policy recommendations, guidelines and reports for the financial services sectors specific to ESG, climate change risk, sustainable finance and disclosures and 'green' regulation, and integration of relevant risk in the regulation and supervisory framework
- Prepare ESG-related updates to guidance issued by the organisation under the Supervisory Methodology, e.g. in relation to Conduct, Governance, Operational, Prudential, Strategic and Financial Crime risk
- Coordinate, assess and design industry surveys, exercises and consultations, overseeing industry engagement while making recommendations
- Lead internal knowledge-sharing initiatives and the organisation's ESG Working Group, developing its comprehensive work plan, and tracking implementation and milestones
- Contribute to the development and implementation of plans to integrate sustainability in its own operations
- Provide support to the organisation's senior leadership team on the topic of sustainability and climate change, and any other working group / workstream
- Ensure efficient use of resources and ensure internal systems, policies and procedures are maintained and followed
The Ideal candidate for the Sustainable Finance and ESG Advisor role will:
- Proven experience in a leadership/management role with the ability to work in a collaborative style
- Direct and in-depth knowledge of environmental issues, climate change risk and management, climate/green finance, responsible investment, disclosure regimes, international policy developments and regulatory frameworks and how they relate to material business risks and opportunities
- Proven ability to build and maintain working relationships with stakeholders at all levels including the ability to influence and negotiate
- Strong analytical skills, ability to quickly and accurately assimilate information, to consider any associated risks and to summarise the information effectively
- Ability to work under pressure, manage workloads of varied complexity, manage competing priorities, and deliver against deadlines
- Ability to prepare, lead and conduct meetings with senior stakeholders both internally and externally including dealing with difficult/contentious issues and having the ability to challenge on these
- Demonstrate highly effective interpersonal, spoken and written communication skills
- Demonstrate strategic thinking, the ability to plan, work and make decisions accordingly
Desirable:
- Hold a professional qualification relevant to ESG, climate change or sustainability
- Extensive experience interpreting and/or developing policy frameworks and formulating solutions by way of legislation, policies, procedures and guidance
- Extensive experience working within a risk or controls function within a regulated financial services entity, a professional services firm or public services organisation
- Extensive working knowledge of the financial services sector and associated legislation, along with an understanding of trends and developments
