What CPAs Need to Know about ESG
4 Hours
Course Overview:
Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations are integral components of modern business ethics, reflecting a corporation's commitment to responsible conduct that transcends financial gains. These principles guide businesses in aligning their operations with ethical values, ensuring environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and transparent governance.
For accountants, ESG and sustainability underscore their ethical responsibility to provide accurate and comprehensive financial information that reflects the broader impact of business activities on stakeholders and the planet. At the same time, considering and planning for ESG and sustainability related risk factors reflects preparation for long term growth and viability of an organization. As stewards of financial integrity, accountants play a pivotal role in quantifying and communicating ESG-related risks, opportunities, and performance, contributing to informed decision-making that reflects both financial and ethical dimensions.
The recent establishment of the ISSB and the increasing focus on ESG and sustainability related standards will require CPAs to be well-informed and provide guidance on these emerging matters. In the coming years, CPAs will play a central role in helping organizations deal with risk assessment and mitigation, evolving reporting standards, forecasting and strategic decision-making. CPAs must therefore adapt quickly and learn how to assist with developing, implementing and evaluating successful ESG and sustainability initiatives during these disruptive times.
This course will highlight what ESG is, and how it is a part of the ethical responsibilities that professional accountants hold. ESG will be explored in depth as a business ethics activity, relating concepts of ethical principles and moral responsibilities to the emerging issues that CPAs will experience in the 21st century. A step-by-step approach will be shared with participants to help them begin their ESG journeys in their organizations.
Topics Covered:
KEY TAKEAWAYS
By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:
"I really enjoyed this course and I appreciate the effort you put into the contents and delivery. You have inspired me to look for more ways to incorporate ESG into my role within my organization."
"Thank you very much for an engaging and interesting course this morning. I appreciate your style of explaining things in “plain English” rather than getting to technical. This was a worthwhile investment of time!"
"Great overarching information on ESG, ESG metrics/KPIs"
"You made a complicated topic easy to understand."
"Very easy to understand, concepts were simplified for the audience, Good tie-in of ESG to ethics, it was a different perspective looking at ESG for CPAs"
"As someone who did not know what ESG is, this was a great introduction to ESG. it gave me insight as to what it is, how my company may have it in place and how a company can involved more in ESG"
"Thanks again! Was very interesting and gave me some things to think about and discuss with our CFO."
"Arun, I like that your course is relevant, and it is not technical. I think this gives CPA a great perspective of an emerging non-financial risk and how CPAs contribute and "be at the table". Speaking from personal experiences, I often downplay our skills as a CPA as to "number crunching and financials" only, but your course highlights the opportunities where CPAs can contribute with the skills and competencies we developed to be part of the professional. I like that you highlighted risk concepts such as "risk appetite, risk assessment, risk management". These are important concepts to understand. This is a great course to not only learn about ESG, but also have CPAs think from a different lens."
Arun K. Mathur, FCPA, FCA, LPA
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