ESG in Finance: What Finance Leaders Need to Know When Hiring

As Australia moves toward more robust ESG reporting standards, finance leaders are under growing pressure to embed sustainable practice across the organisation, not just the finance function. That shift is reshaping finance hiring, and getting it right starts with understanding what the role genuinely requires.

Aligning ESG goals with financial strategy

Finance leaders are increasingly the ones translating ESG ambitions into measurable financial outcomes. With more scrutiny from investors, regulators and customers, finance teams are expected to quantify ESG impact, manage disclosures and ensure reporting stands up to genuine transparency. That requires people who understand ESG-specific risk assessment, regulatory compliance and sustainable investing, not generalists layering it on top of a traditional finance skill set.

Hiring for the right specialisation

Traditional finance skills remain essential, but finance leaders are increasingly looking for candidates with experience in ESG-focused accounting, sustainable finance and data-driven analysis. Familiarity with frameworks such as TCFD or SASB is a genuine asset for businesses working toward international standards, and broadening recruitment criteria to attract people with interdisciplinary backgrounds, financial acumen paired with environmental or social insight, is increasingly worth the effort.

Adaptability matters as much as current expertise

The ESG landscape moves quickly, with new regulation, technology and market expectations arriving regularly. Hiring managers should look for candidates with a genuine track record of adaptability and a proactive approach to staying current, not just today’s expertise. The people who keep pace with evolving standards are the ones who keep the finance function credible as the goalposts move.

Culture is part of the pitch

A meaningful share of candidates now expect their employer to take real action on environmental and social issues. Embedding ESG values into workplace culture, and being genuinely specific about it during recruitment rather than gesturing at it, resonates with candidates looking for purpose alongside a strong role. A credible commitment to diversity and inclusion within the finance team also supports the social component of ESG directly, not just as an adjacent initiative.

The value of a recruitment partner who understands the space

ESG-focused finance hiring benefits from a targeted approach. A recruiter who genuinely understands the ESG landscape knows which businesses are ahead of the curve, where relevant talent has been developing their skills, and how to frame a role in a way that resonates with candidates who want to drive real impact, not just add a line to their CV.

Finance leaders who recruit deliberately for ESG capability are positioning their teams to lead on sustainability, not just report on it after the fact. If you are building that capability and want a second opinion on where to find it, we would welcome the conversation.