ESG consulting

RSM designed the ESG Rapid Assessment to meet you where you are in your ESG journey. This assessment can help you formalize and align your ESG mandate with corporate values and strengthen your stakeholder engagement strategy. It can also help define your current-state capabilities to track and report ESG information using relevant frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Creating an ESG report can be daunting. The process may require additional support to ensure proper alignment to a recognized sustainability reporting framework such as TCFD, GRI or SASB. We have experience developing these reports for organizations of all sizes, industries and ESG maturity levels.

RSM helps your company navigate your greenhouse gas journey, leveraging industry-leading practices, guidance and frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to develop robust Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions inventories. We also prepare for disclosure and audit. RSM can create strategies for your global climate goals and align them to external organizations like Science Based Targets Initiatives or the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Not all companies are ready to hire a full-time chief sustainability officer (CSO), but they can still benefit from a CSO’s knowledge and skills. Our ESG program development and CSO outsourcing services leverage our experienced professionals to guide your ESG function, allowing you to achieve your goals and helping your team stay focused on core business activities.

RSM’s approach to ESG due diligence is rooted in industry best practices. We leverage our network of industry analysts to provide insights into trends and competitive landscapes, allowing us to identify significant ESG integration mergers and acquisitions transactions and material ESG risks associated with the transactions. We also assess the adequacy of the consideration and pricing of ESG risks, and we recommend risk mitigation efforts to navigate the evolving ESG regulatory landscape.

Technology can improve or introduce new capabilities, like ESG data management platforms or sustainability performance management systems. Technology can also free up capacity and accelerate the integration of ESG into your operational processes. With ESG, however, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. RSM takes a provider-agnostic approach to determine the most value-accretive and fit-for-purpose ESG technology solutions for your organization. The examples below are not an exhaustive list, but solutions can include the following:

1. AuditBoard
2. Microsoft Sustainability Manager/Cloud for Sustainability
3. ESG reporting for NetSuite
4. Workiva
5. ServiceNow ESG
6. Equifax

RSM professionals assess whether your organization’s processes, systems and controls support the accurate, complete and reliable reporting of ESG information according to recognized ESG frameworks, such as TCFD or the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. They also strive to help your company become audit-ready for any third-party assurance expectation, whether limited or full.

Our total-return-on-investment methodology can quantify measures that may not have a monetary valuation; this lack is common with many sustainability efforts but important nonetheless. Additionally, RSM’s proprietary technology and methodology allow your company to weigh the potential success of various initiatives and manage an effective ESG strategy. The goal is for your company to improve its sustainability ratings and navigate the growing market for sustainable finance.

Our methodology is founded on a risk-based, top-down philosophy. When C-SOX compliance efforts are focused on the areas of most significant risk of material misstatement of the financials, the benefits can include the following:

• A more efficient control environment in terms of the execution and  assessment of those controls
• Improved effectiveness of controls in preventing and detecting material misstatements
• A reduced independent external auditor effort and lower related fees   

We take an implementation-focused approach that addresses your bottom line, working capital and risk mitigation. The goal is to strengthen every link in your supply chain, creating a more efficient and resilient system. Our consultants focus on key operational levers and innovative models to identify and close gaps, solidify interdependencies, and modernize processes. A comprehensive analysis of your supply chain looks at the following vital components:

• Strategic sourcing and procurement
• Logistics and distribution
• Manufacturing and operations
• Warehousing and order fulfillment
• Inventory issues
• Sales and operations planning 
• Network optimization
• E-commerce issues
• Third-party logistics
• Supply chain planning and risk
• Freight issues

Our actuarial services practice is distinguished by our adeptness at unravelling and resolving intricate business challenges. By harnessing robust risk management tools and drawing upon our extensive experience in the complexities of the property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and employee benefits sectors, we tailor our solutions to the specific challenges confronting your organization so you can respond with agility.

o   The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a European Union directive that will replace the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) as the standard for ESG reporting in the EU. It is part of the commitment the EU made under the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Finance Action Plan. The CSRD requirements expand and enhance the existing requirements of the NFRD to establish a unified and comparable approach for ESG reporting across nations and industries. This requirement will affect listed and privately held companies, requiring them to disclose information on how they monitor a wide range of ESG issues and their impact on our planet.

RSM Catamaran delivers knowledgeable, experienced professionals to handle your most complex operations, keeping your business modernized and efficient. Through this premium service, you can tap into strategic business leaders in industries like life sciences, financial services, technology and media, non-profit, and consumer products who dynamically adapt with you. We also scale to take on more as your business grows and your needs change.