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ESG jobs and career pathways – How to build a career in sustainability

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) jobs are on the rise. This comes as no surprise as investors and stakeholders prioritise environmental, social, and corporate governance issues across all industries. Dubbed Sustainability 2.0, businesses are going beyond being sustainable and instead striving for regenerative practices that restore and enhance natural ecosystems. So, what does this mean for ESG jobs? It means companies can’t hire enough staff with skillsets (and mindsets) in both traditional finance and sustainability.

There is great scope for finance professionals to make a real and measurable difference in the ESG space. In this article, we explore the multiple ways to build an ESG career.

Some key skills required for a career in ESG

ESG talent needs to demonstrate intellectual and analytical rigor, high ethics, and the right credentials. Professionals from a range of backgrounds are attracted to this field, which requires a key set of skills and competencies:

Analytical skills and critical thinking: An ability to collect, analyse, and interpret data related to ESG performance and risks. This requires strong analytical skills as well as critical thinking.

Communication skills: An ability to communicate results clearly and effectively to a variety of stakeholders, including investors, policymakers, and the public.

Financial acumen: A good understanding of finance and investment, particularly if involved in investment analysis and portfolio management.

Sustainability expertise: A deep understanding of sustainability issues, including environmental and social risks, trends and best practices in the field.

Interpersonal skills: Professionals tend to work closely with a variety of stakeholders, including company management, investors, and NGOs. Strong interpersonal skills are important for building relationships and engaging with these groups effectively.

Project management skills: Professionals may manage projects that aim to improve a company’s ESG performance, or in producing ESG reports. Project management skills are important for ensuring that these initiatives are completed on time and within budget.

Adaptability: ESG is constantly evolving so it’s important to adapt to changing circumstances and stay up to date with the latest developments.

ESG Job Opportunities

The number of businesses appointing a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is expanding rapidly. More CSOs were hired in 2021  than in the previous five years combined. The core responsibilities of the CSO, the manager responsible for a company’s environmental impact, resources, and plans, involve:

ESG jobs

Outside the role of the CSO, there are multiple entry points for finance professionals seeking to enter the ESG field. Roles include:

  • ESG Analyst: Conducts research and analysis of companies to evaluate ESG performance and risks.
  • Sustainability Consultant: Advises companies on how to improve their ESG performance, reduce their environmental impact, and engage with stakeholders.
  • ESG Portfolio Manager: Responsible for overseeing a portfolio of investments that align with ESG principles.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Responsible for developing and implementing a company’s CSR program, including initiatives related to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and corporate governance.
  • Sustainability Reporter: Responsible for producing reports on ESG performance and communicating results to stakeholders.
  • Sense Makers: Professionals who can make sense of complex sustainability issues and data and communicate them to various stakeholders.
  • Transformation Managers: Responsible for leading sustainability transformations within an organisation. These roles are becoming increasingly important as companies strive to improve their ESG performance and integrate sustainability into their business strategies.

ESG innovation and technology

As mentioned, Sustainability 2.0 is a new wave of sustainable business practice. It not only considers the environmental and social impact of a company but embraces innovation and technology to find solutions to climate issues and sustainability challenges. This is particularly pertinent in the areas of renewable energy, the circular economy and sustainable agriculture.

The best way to stay up to date with emerging ESG topics is to attend relevant conferences, read aligned publications, network with experts such as climate scientists, engineers, and technologists, and participate in online courses and training. By doing so, a company’s ESG performance can be improved in the following ways:

  • Implement new sustainable practices: New technologies, such as renewable energy and energy-efficient building materials, can be leveraged to improve the sustainability performance of businesses.
  • Monitor and report on ESG metrics: Technologies like big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence can be used to collect, analyse, and report on ESG metrics.
  • Improve supply chain management: New technologies can help businesses to better manage their supply chains, including traceability and transparency of products and materials, and reduce environmental and social risks.
  • Develop sustainable products and services: Technological innovations can be used to develop sustainable products and services that meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and socially responsible solutions.

Industry collaboration leads to ESG success

Today, regenerative business and systems thinking go beyond traditional sustainability practices. They focus on creating ways to support the restoration, regeneration, and resilience of natural and social ecosystems. To be successful, collaboration among industries — businesses, governments, and NGOs — is required to achieve sustainable outcomes, particularly when it comes to regeneration. The benefits include shared knowledge, resources, and expertise, as well as increased credibility and impact. Successful examples include reforestation projects, ecosystem restoration initiatives, and sustainable urban planning. Sustainability professionals play a key role in fostering these collaborations by building strong relationships with stakeholders and advocating for sustainable practices. Ultimately, they can make a significant impact on the future of business and society.

Final Thought

ESG careers offer professionals an opportunity to combine technical expertise with meaningful impact. By developing analytical, communication, financial, and sustainability skills, professionals can position themselves for a broad range of rewarding roles in ESG and sustainability.

Sunny Chen

Senior Consultant, Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Permanent)

Sunny is a CPA-qualified accountant with over 10 years’ experience across finance and accounting roles in a wide range of industries. She brings a practical, real-world understanding of how finance teams operate.

With a strong technical and commercial background, Sunny can quickly get to the heart of a business’s needs and turn them into smart, well-matched hiring solutions for finance and accounting professionals.

Sunny has a strong track record of recruiting high-calibre mid to senior-level candidates and takes a consultative, partnership-led approach to every search. By working closely with both clients and candidates, Sunny focuses on understanding long-term goals and building genuine, lasting relationships.

Aligned with Moir Group’s commitment to quality outcomes and long-term partnerships, Sunny is focused on creating value for both organisations and the people within them.

Sunny Chen - Senior Consultant Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Permanent) at Moir Group

Sunny Chen

Senior Consultant
Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Permanent)

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    Tabibah Paean

    Senior Financial Accountant

    With over 9 years of experience in financial accounting, Tabibah brings a wealth of expertise to our team as a Senior Financial Accountant. Specialising in external reporting, financial reporting and analysis, and payroll, she excels in ensuring accurate financial records and providing strategic insights that drive organisational growth.

    Tabibah is a Certified Chartered Accountant, underscoring her commitment to professional excellence. She is adept at navigating complex financial landscapes and optimising processes to enhance efficiency and transparency.

    Passionate about leveraging technological advancements to streamline business processes, Tabibah is dedicated to delivering meticulous financial management and fostering a culture of integrity and excellence within our organisation.

    Tabibah Paean, Senior Financial Accountant at Moir Group

    Tabibah Paean

    Senior Financial Accountant

    Rachael Gleeson

    Operations Coordinator, Commercial Recruitment & Reception

    Rachael started with Moir Group in February 2022 and is currently in the role of Operations Assistant. She is first point of contact with phone enquiries and supporting the Operations Team in all functions

    Rachael Gleeson, Operations Coordinator - Commercial Recruitment & Reception at Moir Group

    Rachael Gleeson

    Operations Coordinator
    Commercial Recruitment & Reception

    Chloe Thomas

    Executive Assistant to Stephen Moir & Office Manager

    Chloe is Moir Group’s Operations Coordinator. In this role, she provides key administrative support to the Executive, Permanent and ESG Recruitment Team, manages our in-person and online events, and oversees Moir Group’s LinkedIn and social media presence to share insights and promote engagement.

    Since joining Moir Group in 2017, Chloe has played a central role in keeping the business running smoothly, building strong relationships, and ensuring a seamless experience for both clients and candidates.

    Prior to joining Moir Group, Chloe lived and worked in London for two years in a corporate front-of-house role at a large insurance company. She brings over 12 years’ experience in professional services, with a strong focus on operations, administration, and event coordination across the Banking, Insurance, and Finance sectors.

    Chloe is committed to delivering excellent service and making a real difference to people’s day.

    Chloe Thomas, Operations Coordinator Executive Recruitment & Events at Moir Group

    Chloe Thomas

    Operations Coordinator
    Executive Recruitment & Events

    Coralee Stanton

    Executive Assistant to Stephen Moir & Office Manager

    Coralee joined Moir Group in July 2019 as Executive Assistant to our Director Stephen Moir and Office Manager, ensuring the smooth running of our office, overseeing events and managing our Operations Team.

    She brings over 15 years’ experience as an Executive Assistant supporting CEO, C-Suite Executives and Board Members for major Logistics and Information Technology companies.

    Prior to that, Coralee spent 10 years in Office & Administration Management for HR and Recruitment companies.

    Coralee Stanton, Executive Assistant to Stephen Moir & Office Manager at Moir Group

    Coralee Stanton

    Executive Assistant to Stephen Moir & Office Manager

    Vanessa Fortune

    Recruitment Resourcer, Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Vanessa is a Recruitment Resourcer in Moir Group’s Temporary and Contracting team. Supporting the contract team, she plays a key role in the end-to-end recruitment process, including sourcing, candidate management, and maintaining strong pipelines of skilled professionals to ensure a quick turnaround for urgent hiring needs.

    With a background in Business Administration, Vanessa brings strong organisational skills and a focus on streamlining recruitment processes. She is passionate about enhancing the candidate experience and providing efficient, high-quality support across all stages of the hiring process.

    Vanessa Fortune, Recruitment Resourcer Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim) at Moir Group

    Vanessa Fortune

    Recruitment Resourcer
    Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Natalie Truong

    Senior Consultant, Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    With over 15 years of experience across a broad range of industries both in Australia and internationally, Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of fast-paced, dynamic business environments.

    A seasoned Senior Leader, Natalie has a proven track record of delivering strong outcomes by identifying and placing high-calibre professionals into roles where they can thrive. Her expertise spans mid to senior-level and C-suite appointments, and she has successfully supported organisations in building high-performing teams to drive business growth in competitive markets.

    Natalie’s approach is aligned with Moir Group’s core values of integrity, care, and delivering quality outcomes. She works closely with business leaders and decision-makers, forming strategic partnerships to ensure a strong alignment between client needs and candidate aspirations. Her recruitment style is highly relationship-driven, focused on building long-term connections that support sustainable career and business success.

    Natalie is especially passionate about connecting senior finance and accounting professionals with purpose-led organisations, creating opportunities where individuals can grow, contribute meaningfully, and align with company culture and values.

    Natalie Truong, Senior Consultant Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Permanent) at Moir Group

    Natalie Truong

    Senior Consultant
    Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Deborah Swaine

    Senior Consultant, Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Deborah began her recruitment career in London and has 14 years of experience, including in-house roles across various industries. She cultivates an innovative and inclusive culture that inspires, engages, and connects skilled professionals with opportunities, building capability for both now and the future.

    Deborah excels in providing bespoke solutions to clients and candidates, building genuine business partnerships, and offering a consultative service. She has a successful track record of recruiting a wide range of roles across all levels and industries. Deborah is committed to providing a first-class service and enjoys partnering closely with both clients and candidates to find the best solutions and create long-term relationships.

    Deborah Swaine, Senior Consultant Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim) at Moir Group

    Deborah Swaine

    Senior Consultant
    Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Lisa Tracy

    Manager, Moir Group ESG

    Lisa is an expert in recruiting ESG and Sustainability Professionals. Over the last 15 years, she has sourced Heads of Sustainability, Chief Sustainability Officers, ESG experts and a variety of management and analyst roles across a broad spectrum of industry sectors. She has focused on working in partnership with leaders to attract and retain the highest calibre team members, whilst prioritising positive social and environmental impacts. Joining Moir Group in 2023, Lisa brings her skills and expertise to develop the new ESG Division.

    Lisa continues to teach as a casual academic in Sustainability and Climate Change Impact at the University of Sydney Business School. She is also retained as an external coach to the MBA Program. She designed the successful MBA Career Academy before transitioning her Sustainability Recruitment Firm, founded in 2008, into a coaching practice. Before Moir Group, Lisa acted as Program Manager for the Climate Solutions Partnership – a global program with WWF, HSBC and WRI. She co-designed climate innovation challenges to mobilise impact investment into climate technology ventures. Her experience brings perspective to client and candidate needs in the ESG space.

    Lisa Tracy

    Manager
    Moir Group ESG

    Andrew Pownall

    Senior Associate, Executive Search

    Andrew has over twenty years’ experience gained from recruiting in a variety of disciplines, including finance, procurement, supply chain as well as engineering and manufacturing.

    At Moir Group Andrew focuses on executive-level finance search across the greater Sydney region (including Western Sydney) and in Melbourne. Andrew has successfully executed a number of roles for a mix of ASX listed, large multinationals and SME’s.

    Candidate-focused in his approach, Andrew is passionate about supporting people with their overall job-search strategy. He is skilled at helping senior finance professionals perfect their personal brand and fine-tune their approach to securing a fulfilling executive position.

     

    Andrew Pownall - Senior Associate Executive Search at Moir Group

    Andrew Pownall

    Senior Associate
    Executive Search

    Emma Walsh

    Chief Executive Officer, Senior Contract & Interim Executive Recruitment (Accountancy & Finance)

    Emma has over 25 years’ experience in the accountancy and finance recruitment sector and is recognised for her strategic leadership, commercial acumen and ability to build high-performing teams.

    Since joining Moir Group in 2010, Emma has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s growth and direction. She provides clear leadership and vision, ensuring the business remains responsive to market conditions while delivering strong outcomes for clients and candidates.

    Emma brings deep market insight across CFO, Financial Controller, Finance Manager, commercial and change leadership, analyst, and transformation appointments. She works with ASX-listed organisations, global corporates, high-growth businesses and start-ups.

    An authentic and values-led leader, Emma is known for building collaborative, accountable and high-performing teams. She is committed to developing people and supporting organisations through growth and change.

    Emma began her recruitment career in the UK before returning to Australia in 2003. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Technology, Sydney.

    Emma Walsh - Chief Executive Officer at Moir Group

    Emma Walsh

    Chief Executive Officer
    Senior Contract & Interim Executive Recruitment (Accountancy & Finance)

    Stephen Moir

    Executive Chair, Moir Group

    Prior to establishing Moir Group, Stephen spent 17 years with a leading international recruitment firm. He progressed through the business and was Managing Director for the operations in Australia. He left to establish Moir Group in early 2007.

    Stephen firmly believes that work is a big part of people’s lives and that having a satisfying job is a big part of having a fulfilling life. Stephen has had great success in delivering on this belief.  He stands by Moir Group’s values of Care, Partnership, Rigour, and Persistence, and they underpin everything he does.

    He always focuses on cultural fit, service and sourcing the right people for his clients, realising that, when Moir Group do their job really well, they have a significant impact on organisations and people’s lives. The result is that Moir’s candidates build successful careers with great retention for the organisations they are placed with.

    Stephen Moir - Executive Chair, Moir Group

    Stephen Moir

    Executive Chair
    Moir Group

    Rio-Jane Porter

    Senior Consultant, Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)

    Rio joined Moir Group in June 2019, as a Senior Recruitment Consultant for the Temporary/Contracting team, after relocating from Queensland. She has over 20 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, including several years spent working in the UK. Having recruited for both Commercial & NFP organisations.

    Rio possesses strong communication and relationship-building skills, and has a proven track record in contingency recruitment, account/compliance management, complaints handling and internal auditing. She is excited to bring her passion for customer service and compliance to Moir Group and help support our candidates on their career journey.

    Rio-Jane Porter Senior Consultant Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim) at Moir Group

    Rio-Jane Porter

    Senior Consultant
    Accountancy and Finance Recruitment (Contract and Interim)