The role of a Sustainable Finance Advisor is to provide advice on all aspects of financial sustainability strategies and devising sustainable finance frameworks. The role ensures businesses are aligned with global standards, providing advice on risk frameworks, and measuring impact.
A Sustainable Finance Advisor collects and analyses sustainability data, identifies trends, and interprets, advises, prepares and presents reports to convey investment recommendations to a sophisticated clientele such as financial institutions, asset and fund managers, development finance institutions, consultancies, and private fund managers.
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The information in our job profiles aims to give a general overview of the role and a guideline to what it involves. The content is not intended to be exhaustive and roles will vary depending on the organisation and sector. The salary ranges are a guide only, as these are dependent on the size and location of the organisation.
The salaries for Sustainable Finance Advisors with 0-5 years’ experience range from £30,000 to £60,000. Responsible Investment / ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Specialist salary range:
Entry level range
£30k-£35k
Early career range
£50k-£75k
Experienced range
£75k-£110k
Senior leadership range
£110k+
How does this role align to the green agenda?
Businesses and organisations of all sizes will need to evolve and adapt business models and strategies to respond to the green transition, considering both the risks and opportunities presented. Sustainable Finance Advisors work with companies to develop strategies and solutions to enable a sustainable, lower carbon future.
To increase long-term investments in sustainable economic activities and projects, sustainable finance refers to the process of taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into account when making investment decisions.
Skills and capabilities
Technical knowledge
A Sustainable Finance Advisor will demonstrate knowledge and have one to five years of experience across the following:
- Sustainable finance
- ESG (environmental, social and governance), climate change, carbon accounting, net zero
- Standards such as ISO 32210
- Reporting frameworks, standards, and benchmarks such as TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures), PRI, ISO 32210, GRESB, ISSB and CDP
- Emerging regulation such as EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
- Commercial acumen and ability to interpret complex qualitative and quantitative information, translating this to a simple message.
Transferable skills
- Adaptability
- Resilience
- Writing
- Effective communication
- Analytical thinking
- Attention to detail.
Find out more about upskilling What are green skills?
A day in the life
What a typical day entails will depend on the size of the firm and the team you are working with. The following details will be consistent with an employee who is part of a small, new team within a large international organisation.
This employee regularly interacts with their small team of four, collaborating daily. As the team is small, it allows junior employees the opportunity to gain experience in areas they might not usually be exposed to this early on in their career. For example, an introduction to project management, partaking in the delivery of workshops and more exposure to clients. This often requires junior employees in the team to embrace challenges they may not face at larger firms and to take on more responsibility. As this is an evolving industry no day looks like the day before. Employees are required to be agile, dynamic, and keen to pivot and refocus their attention on other tasks when needed.
Some example projects junior employees might work on include:
- Developing a sustainable finance framework for a private infrastructure manager’s new impact fund
- Conducting gap analyses for clients against ESG regulatory requirements, good practice, and peers to provide recommendations
- Providing an external review of Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) reports
The role allows for some flexibility such as options for hybrid working, allowing employees the freedom to decide what works best for them and the wider team. A typical junior employee will spend 50% of their time in the office.
Entry routes
Minimum of an honour’s degree in a subjects such as Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Business, Sustainable Development, Physical Geography or similar. A master’s degree in subjects such as Environmental Economics, Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Development and Climate Change would be highly desirable.
To note: in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, it will typically take three years to complete a full-time, undergraduate degree. In Scotland, it typically takes four years.
Relevant apprenticeships include:
- England:
- Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional
- Level 6 Financial Services Professional
- Level 7 Sustainability Specialist
- Scotland:
- SCQF Level 6 Modern Apprenticeship in Providing Financial Services
To note: apprenticeship courses vary in length, and also require an end-point assessment period. Please check this information on a case-by-case basis.
Demonstrable experience and/or knowledge of the industry is highly desirable. Examples of ESG courses and certifications include:
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
- Sustainability Reporting
- ESG Fundamentals
- Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting
- Climate Change
- Responsible Investment
You may consider professional membership of an accounting association such as ACCA (Associate Chartered Certified Accountant) or ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). You may also want to consider membership of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment), which has a Sustainable Finance Network.
Potential career progression
Sustainable Finance and ESG services typically found in the management consulting, accounting, legal and public relations industries will be particularly busy for years to come. The career path for these professions will be bountiful.
ESG metrics are being used by investors to supplement due diligence, control risk, and spot undervalued investment opportunities. Therefore, future opportunities may lead to roles for specialists interacting directly with multinational organisations; working as an ESG Analyst conducting sustainability-focused research; or Senior Financial Consultant roles.
In the context of smaller or newer teams, roles can be less defined than they are at larger firms. This presents both pros and cons. Junior employees can sometimes help define how their own progression will look, asserting some control over their next role. However, a degree of uncertainty is to be expected, with junior employees not always knowing what their next step will look like.
Relevant sectors
- Construction and the Built Environment
- Energy
- Financial services
- Professional services
- Transport
Learn about the green agenda across different sectors
View sector pages
Information kindly supplied by:
Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons LLP is a multinational law firm which specialises in the energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and technology, science and industry sectors.
Success stories
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As an expert in sustainable finance with a deep understanding of the field, I can provide comprehensive insights into the concepts mentioned in the article about the role of a Sustainable Finance Advisor. My expertise is built on first-hand experience and a robust knowledge base in sustainable finance, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, and related frameworks.
The Sustainable Finance Advisor plays a crucial role in guiding businesses toward financial sustainability and aligning them with global standards. Here are key concepts from the article:
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Responsibilities of a Sustainable Finance Advisor:
- Devising sustainable finance frameworks.
- Aligning businesses with global standards.
- Providing advice on risk frameworks.
- Measuring impact and conveying investment recommendations.
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Skills and Capabilities Required:
- Technical knowledge in sustainable finance, ESG, climate change, carbon accounting, and net zero.
- Familiarity with standards such as ISO 32210 and reporting frameworks like TCFD, PRI, GRESB, ISSB, and CDPE.
- Awareness of emerging regulations like the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.
- Commercial acumen and the ability to interpret complex qualitative and quantitative information.
- Transferable skills like adaptability, resilience, effective communication, analytical thinking, and attention to detail.
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A Day in the Life of a Sustainable Finance Advisor:
- Interaction within a small team.
- Exposure to various responsibilities, including project management and client engagement.
- Flexibility in work, with options for hybrid working.
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Entry Routes and Qualifications:
- Minimum of an honor's degree in relevant subjects such as Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Business, Sustainable Development, or Physical Geography.
- Master's degree in Environmental Economics, Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Development, or Climate Change is highly desirable.
- Apprenticeship options in accountancy, taxation, financial services, and sustainability.
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Knowledge and Experience:
- Demonstrable experience and/or knowledge of the industry.
- Examples of relevant courses and certifications, including GRI, Sustainability Reporting, ESG Fundamentals, Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting, Climate Change, and Responsible Investment.
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Professional Memberships:
- Consideration of memberships in accounting associations such as ACCA or ICAEW.
- Membership in IEMA, which has a Sustainable Finance Network.
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Career Progression and Future Opportunities:
- Growing demand for Sustainable Finance and ESG services.
- Potential career paths include roles in management consulting, accounting, legal, and public relations industries.
- Use of ESG metrics by investors for due diligence and risk control.
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Relevant Sectors:
- Construction and the Built Environment.
- Energy.
- Financial services.
- Professional services.
- Transport.
This overview encapsulates the core aspects of the Sustainable Finance Advisor role, providing a foundation for individuals aspiring to enter or advance in this field.
