Associate Director-ESG Controllership- ESG Governance and Social Lead

Associate Director-ESG Controllership- ESG Governance and Social Lead

Role Summary:

Cognizant’s (the Company) Global Controllership function is seeking an ESG Governance and Social Lead to join the newly established ESG Controllership team. The ESG Controllership team, which resides with the Global Controllership function, is responsible for implementation and reporting for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The ESG Governance and Social Lead will play a key role in the implementation activities for CSRD reporting. The role will be at the Associate Director level and the individual will be based in the Chennai, India office reporting into the Finance Director.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead implementation activities associated with CSRD reporting for relevant governance and social topics.
• Perform and update the Double Materiality Assessment to evaluate the materiality of impacts, risks and opportunities for governance and social matters.
• Conduct gap assessments for CSRD reporting and partner with internal stakeholders to execute management action plans for identified gaps related to relevant governance and social topics.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to review and assess the adequacy of the Company’s policies, targets, actions and data for relevant governance and social topics.
• Assist in the preparation of the governance-related disclosures for CSRD reporting.
• Perform and update the global CSRD scoping assessment to determine which entities are subject to CSRD reporting.
• Monitor emerging/new sustainability reporting requirements.

Experience / Education Requirements:

• Minimum 10-15 years of experience in a mix of public accounting and industry experience in a sustainability/ESG related role with a multi-national company.
• This position requires a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Environmental Studies or Sustainability Studies.
• Thorough understanding of ESG reporting requirements, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
• Understanding of ESG-related topics including the various frameworks and standards, such as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHP) is preferred.
• Experience in conducting internal control risk assessments and scoping.
• Experience with Sarbanes Oxley and the COSO framework
• Experience with identification and implementation of internal controls is preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively in formal settings with senior management.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills.
• Professional certification (CPA/Charted Accountant) or a Masters in a Sustainability discipline is preferred.

Skills Summary:

Sustainability, ESG Reporting, Project Management, Internal Controls, Accounting.