Mike Jennings is the Director of Sustainable Finance at Anthesis Group, the largest team of sustainability consultants globally. Mike has been collaborating with both large and small companies, guiding them through the complexities of mandatory non-financial reporting—an area that is rapidly gaining momentum.
On the horizon looms the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), a game-changing EU regulation that demands mandatory sustainability reporting. With an astonishing 50,000 companies set to fall under its watchful eye, time is of the essence, and the urgency to adapt by implementing new policies, processes, and systems to ensure proper reporting grows by the day. Mike’s mission is to address this, by assisting local, national, and multinational companies affected by the CSRD to “understand the requirements and how to appropriately plan for compliance” particularly those companies that lack any ESG practices of their own. Mike’s guidance here serves as a catalyst for transformation.
Mikes commitment to assisting companies does not stop there, he has curated a number of informative and invaluable resources, including a CSRD 101 mini-series on LinkedIn, serving as an “introductory course” to help companies understand the ins and outs of CSRD, who it applies to, and when.
For larger companies under the CSRD, Mike is helping them with gap analyses of their current reporting and data against the new requirements set out in the EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). ESRS seeks to reduce corporate greenwashing by establishing a standardised and codified framework for material sustainability reporting. With the ESRS, transparency and authenticity become the pillars of reporting, and companies are encouraged to go beyond mere compliance to showcase the true essence of their business.
Mike’s role has been pivotal in guiding these larger companies towards ESRS compliance. His expertise in conducting ESRS gap analyses proves invaluable in identifying areas where companies may fall short of the EU's stringent sustainability reporting standards.
What’s more is that some of Mike’s projects entail a collaboration with an esteemed member of the Sustainability Reporting Board (SRB) of European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) a driving force behind crafting the very ESRS standards they explore together. Mike expresses that “clients appreciate that they can hear directly from a standard-setter on topics like governance, materiality assessment etc…” This direct interaction equips clients with essential knowledge and valuable insights to navigate the intricacies of ESRS compliance and sustainability reporting with clarity and purpose.
Mike has skilfully bridged both the financial and sustainability reporting worlds, by leveraging the skills and knowledge gained through his ACA training and audit experience, Mike found linkages between these two realms. He advises clients on organizing sustainability reporting, drawing from best practices already embedded in financial reporting—a domain he has mastered over the years. Mike firmly believes that the principles governing financial reporting can be applied to sustainability reporting, making him an invaluable resource for clients seeking comprehensive and constructive guidance.
Mike’s willingness to share his experience throughout this case study was fuelled by his belief in showcasing that accountants and auditors have a major role to play in driving sustainability. Mike’s advice for Chartered accountants who are now becoming more involved in sustainability reporting is “to think through how to implement it based on best practices from financial reporting. The type of data will be different and there is less guidance on many topics than in accounting standards but build on what you already know as that will set a firm base”. As we come to learn about Mike’s role and draw from his insights, we may feel encouraged to play our part in embracing sustainability, creating a more responsible and greener future.
Mikes commitment to assisting companies does not stop there, he has curated a number of informative and invaluable resources, including a CSRD 101 mini-series on LinkedIn, serving as an “introductory course” to help companies understand the ins and outs of CSRD, who it applies to, and when.
For larger companies under the CSRD, Mike is helping them with gap analyses of their current reporting and data against the new requirements set out in the EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). ESRS seeks to reduce corporate greenwashing by establishing a standardised and codified framework for material sustainability reporting. With the ESRS, transparency and authenticity become the pillars of reporting, and companies are encouraged to go beyond mere compliance to showcase the true essence of their business.
Mike’s role has been pivotal in guiding these larger companies towards ESRS compliance. His expertise in conducting ESRS gap analyses proves invaluable in identifying areas where companies may fall short of the EU's stringent sustainability reporting standards.
What’s more is that some of Mike’s projects entail a collaboration with an esteemed member of the Sustainability Reporting Board (SRB) of European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) a driving force behind crafting the very ESRS standards they explore together. Mike expresses that “clients appreciate that they can hear directly from a standard-setter on topics like governance, materiality assessment etc…” This direct interaction equips clients with essential knowledge and valuable insights to navigate the intricacies of ESRS compliance and sustainability reporting with clarity and purpose.
Mike has skilfully bridged both the financial and sustainability reporting worlds, by leveraging the skills and knowledge gained through his ACA training and audit experience, Mike found linkages between these two realms. He advises clients on organizing sustainability reporting, drawing from best practices already embedded in financial reporting—a domain he has mastered over the years. Mike firmly believes that the principles governing financial reporting can be applied to sustainability reporting, making him an invaluable resource for clients seeking comprehensive and constructive guidance.
Mike’s willingness to share his experience throughout this case study was fuelled by his belief in showcasing that accountants and auditors have a major role to play in driving sustainability. Mike’s advice for Chartered accountants who are now becoming more involved in sustainability reporting is “to think through how to implement it based on best practices from financial reporting. The type of data will be different and there is less guidance on many topics than in accounting standards but build on what you already know as that will set a firm base”. As we come to learn about Mike’s role and draw from his insights, we may feel encouraged to play our part in embracing sustainability, creating a more responsible and greener future.
