Consultancy
We specialise in sourcing sustainability and ESG experts for leading consultancies. Whether it’s strategy, reporting, or climate advisory, our candidates bring the technical skills and leadership required to deliver impactful solutions. With increasing demand for specialist knowledge, we connect firms with professionals who drive measurable results for their clients.
Technology, Media & Telecomms
In the rapidly growing TMT sector, we recruit professionals who embed sustainability into innovation. From energy efficiency in data centres to ESG strategy in digital operations, our candidates help organisations align technological progress with environmental and social responsibility, meeting stakeholder expectations in an increasingly competitive sector.
Insurance
We connect insurers with talent who specialise in ESG risk management, sustainable underwriting, and climate resilience. As the insurance sector faces growing environmental and regulatory pressures, we source professionals who help organisations adapt, mitigate risk, and build strategies that align with both sustainability goals and business performance.
Legal and Law Firms
We support law firms in hiring ESG and sustainability specialists, from advisors to leaders driving responsible governance and compliance. As ESG regulations become increasingly complex, we place professionals who bring deep expertise, enabling firms to guide clients effectively and strengthen their own sustainability strategies.
Accountancy
Sustainability in accountancy requires professionals skilled in ESG reporting, climate risk analysis, and regulatory compliance. We find candidates with the technical expertise and industry knowledge to help firms meet evolving client demands, deliver transparency, and embed sustainability into financial practices, ensuring measurable progress and long-term impact.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
The SaaS industry is driving digital transformation, and we place sustainability professionals who help businesses integrate ESG into their platforms and operations. From emissions tracking tools to ESG data solutions, our candidates bring technical proficiency and innovation to create scalable products that meet the demands of a sustainable economy.
World-leading ESG and Sustainability Recruitment
Acre’s professional services team partners with B2B organisations, consultancies and advisory firms to build ESG-focused teams that drive sustainability transformation.
Leveraging our cross-sector expertise, we help firms source top talent across risk, compliance, and sustainable finance, ensuring they can support clients in meeting ambitious ESG goals.
Connect with our Team
Meet the Professional Services Team
Professional Services Insights
Consumer Markets
Thought Leadership5 Sustainability Issues Affecting the UK
At our sustainability recruitment agency and in our daily lives, sustainability issues are a subject at the forefront of our minds when we look at the impacts everyday living has on the environment.
Ultimately, we are responsible for ensuring we do not deplete our precious supply of natural resources and must work collectively and harmoniously to keep our planet spinning with minimal damage inflicted.
From eating less meat to reducing our carbon footprint when travelling, there are many ways we can live more sustainably. But there are many environmental issues in the UK and Acre has taken a look at five of the culprits.
1. Plastic Pollution
Plastic is not fantastic, environmentally, as we’re all too aware. We’ve ditched the plastic straws and gone back to basics with more environmentally friendly retro-style paper versions (which, let’s face it, were good enough for us when we were milk guzzling kids at school) and now many firms are leaping onto the eco bandwagon and using recycled plastic or alternative materials in their products. But currently, it’s not enough.
With only a third of the UK’s annual 1.5m tonnes of recyclable plastic waste being recycled, plastic pollution is big news this year and we have a large battle on our hands to protect the longevity of our planet.
Why is plastic catastrophic for marine life?
This year’s World Environment Day chose plastic pollution as its theme and it’s no wonder. As much as 40 per cent of plastic produced is packaging, used just once and then thrown away and as we know, the plastic crisis is catastrophic for marine life (eight million tonnes of waste plastic ends up in the sea each year).
Plastic is killing mussels, dolphins, turtles – the list goes on. Last year, a report for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that, by 2050, the amount of plastic in the seas will outnumber the fish.
A 2022 study [GS1] published in Nature Climate Change found that as much as 90% of marine life are at risk of extinction by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not dramatically reduced. This would impact as many as 25,000 species living in the top 100 metres of the world’s oceans, including fish, plants, bacteria and protozoans.
When you also factor in rising water pollution from the dumping of chemicals and trash into the ocean, which is affecting the health of all water-based ecosystems, the number of marine environmental issues that need to be tackled appears to be ever growing.
How are humans affected by plastic?
But we hardly come out unscathed ourselves. Humans are digesting plastic, via fish we consume (who have eaten the plastic that we’ve discarded). It’s a lose lose situation unless we all ditch the plastic, use alternatives where possible and are mindful about the packaging of the products we buy.
For example, crisp packets are made from a laminate of polypropylene and foil, developed to keep crisps fresh and crunchy by making the packet air tight. The material, which can be multi-layered, is difficult to recycle and slow to degrade. But people will of course continue to eat crisps so the packaging, unless manufactured using alternative materials, will carry on polluting our streets, countryside and sea.
The widespread use of plastic is one of the most prominent environmental issues that needs to be resolved, as it is now estimated that we could be eating thousands of bits of microplastic every year. Data compiled from a series of studies found that we may be consuming as much as 52,000 [GS2] particles a year, a figure that could increase up to 121,000 particles when air inhalation is taken into account.
How are some companies encouraging sustainability?
Adidas has taken a big green stride forward in its sustainability plan by making one million shoes from recycled plastic (retrieved from the ocean) and manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble are introducing recycled plastic to the bottles in their haircare range.
Nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute around the world. In 2015, Americans purchased about 346 bottles per person—111 billion plastic beverage bottles in total. Here in the UK, many coffee shops are encouraging customers to buy a reusable cup or pay less for a coffee if they supply their own cup from home. We all need to act on these UK sustainability issues. Isn’t it time we all woke up and smelled the coffee (and then reused the cup, of course)?
2. Water Shortages
We are only a couple of weeks into a proper summer and already ‘water shortage’ are the words on the street. Hosepipes and sprinklers will be made temporarily redundant again if the heatwave continues. Schools have been forced to close as a result of a lack of water already.
Rainfall during summer could also come in the form of shorter, bigger downpours, due to climate change, causing an unusual situation where flooding and drought could exist at the same time.
In recent years, the threat of long-term water shortages has become one of the biggest environmental issues in the UK, although a large proportion of the population are unaware of the full extent of the problem.
Will the water shortage problems worsen?
The Environment Agency has warned that England is facing water supply shortages by 2050 unless rapid action is taken to curb water use and wastage. The agency has said enough water to meet the needs of 20 million people is lost through leakage every day (approximately three billion litres of water).
It is expected that population growth, unsustainable land use and the impact of climate change will add to supply pressures and so people are being urged by the agency to use sensible amounts of water at home and have a personal water target.
In 2016, 9.5 trillion litres of freshwater were extracted from the country’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, among others. However, both groundwater and surface water usage were seen to be at unsustainable levels.
Why will England's water supply be under increased strain in the future?
It is expected that by 2026 in England alone (not including the rest of the UK), the population is expected to be made up of 58.5 million people, which will create new pressures in areas where water availability is already under strain.
An Environment Agency report warns: “Projections suggest that if no action is taken to reduce demand and increase supply of water, most areas will not meet demand by the 2050s.
“Even low population growth and modest climate change scenarios suggest significant water supply deficits by the 2050s, particularly in the south-east.”
3. Biodiversity
Plants, sea creatures, bees…these are all crucial to a healthy ecosystem, which is boosted by each species on our planet.
We will enjoy a greater variety of crops if there is a larger number of plant species on our planet but this is only one reason we need to protect biodiversity.
There are many environmental challenges to overcome, according to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which invests public money in world-leading science to help us sustain and benefit from the natural resources. NERC works closely with policymakers and industry to ensure our knowledge can support sustainable economic growth and wellbeing in the UK and around the world.
What are some of the threats to biodiversity?
One such threat to biodiversity is vitamin deficiency in some species of fish and birds which is linked to population decline. Low vitamin B1 can impair their immune system and change reproductive behaviour. Possible causes include low intake due to changes to algae that produces thiamine (vitamin B1), or exposure to pollution.
Another biodiversity threat is the underestimation of soil carbon emissions, that are released as the Earth warms. It is less clear about the effect of warming deeper down, despite loss of carbon in shallow soil being understood, and the fear is that if a substantial amount of soil carbon is missing from the projections, global warming could progress more rapidly than anticipated, with serious impacts on humans and our environment.
How does deep water fishing affect biodiversity?
Deep water fishing with the use of lasers is another problem. This is new technology which could be adopted instead of bottom trawling the sea for high volumes of wild seafood, as the latter damages marine environments and catches unintended animals and plants.
A targeted approach using wider nets and precision lasers could deliver a bigger catch with minimal damage and lower carbon but according to the Marine Conservation Institute, the best policy would be to end economically wasteful deep-sea fisheries, redirect subsidies to help displaced fishermen and rebuild fish populations in productive waters closer to ports and markets.
In a report published in the journal Marine Policy, marine ecologists, fisheries biologists, economists, mathematicians and international policy experts show that, with rare exceptions, deep-sea fisheries are unsustainable.
4. Climate Change
The earth’s temperature has increased noticeably over the past half century and more than nine out of ten climate scientists agree carbon emissions – that we create – are the main cause of global warming.
Some of the hot weather we are currently experiencing is typical of the season, but if it becomes too out of character, we can’t avoid hearing about the perils of climate change. And it’s a real problem.
What unique challenges does climate change present in the UK?
Our UK weather is infamously unpredictable and we are all only too aware of the four seasons in one day possibility. Easter brought snow and warm sunny days almost simultaneously, leaving us unsure whether we needed don Raybans or snowboots. It was a crazy combination of ice lollies and building snowmen, just weeks apart.
Now we are enjoying a “proper” summer but climate change is impacting the timing and nature of rainfall in England, causing hotter summers and warmer, wetter winters. It is a culprit for the water shortage issue we’ve already mentioned.
Why will global warming be so detrimental to our climate?
While it may appear that summer has arrived as normal and we can all enjoy the long, hot days of bright sunshine, the rising temperatures pose a deadly threat to life on our planet. It adds to the long list of environmental problems in the UK and is one of the main causes of concern about how dramatically our day-to-day lives could be impacted in the very near future.
Global warming is expected to be the greatest cause of species extinctions this century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says a 1.5°C average rise may put 20-30 per cent of species at risk of extinction. If the planet warms by more than 3°C, most ecosystems will struggle.
We have to take responsibility for this, considering the amount of fossil fuels we have burnt, and the meat we have consumed (cows contribute 3 per cent of Britain’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and 25 to 30 per cent of its methane).
Whilst at first it may be difficult to understand how eating a piece of meat could damage the planet, when you take a closer look at the food supply chain, including growing livestock numbers, storage issues and transportation requirements, it quickly adds up to one of the Earth’s major environmental issues.
5. Air Pollution
Sometimes you just want a breath of fresh air but it’s not always as simple as that. Toxic air is a major cause of many ailments in the UK.
While polluted air doesn’t kill people directly, it shortens the lives of approximately 40,000 people a year in the UK via heart or lung problems and worsens symptoms for asthma sufferers. In fact, analysis by Asthma UK found that poor air quality is responsible for triggering around 337,500 asthma attacks [GS3] in those registered with the condition in London.
How bad is the air pollution in the UK?
Actually, air pollution in the UK has been slowly dropping (excluding ammonia as a result of farming) but nitrogen oxide (NOx) and harmful particulates limits are still being breached in major UK cities like London. Not good, as it causes the environment to be acidic and corrosive. London’s air is one of the dirtiest in Europe and in 2016 the government was ordered by the High Court to come up with a plan to clean up air across the UK in the shortest possible time.
Buses, taxis, machinery and industry are contributors to the pollutants in the air we breathe and the biggest proportion of pollution in UK cities comes from road transport in general.
Why are diesel cars a massive problem for sustainability?
Sustainability has become the new buzz word in recent years, with brands and organisations all seemingly eager to search for new solutions. However, the continued use of diesel remains one of the biggest sustainability issues in the UK, threatening to undermine the good work being done elsewhere, and alternative sources are desperately needed on our roads to reduce our over reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
Diesel car manufacturers were accused of cheating emissions tests, when once upon a time we bought diesel cars because they were believed to be the greener option.
A 2016 study by the Department for Transport confirmed this, finding that all diesel cars tested produced more pollution on the road than in the laboratory – some emitted up to 12 times the EU maximum and Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to phase-out diesel vehicles by 2025.
Diesel vehicles are much more polluting than petrol cars on a local scale and while a more sustainable way to travel is to walk or cycle where possible, this isn’t always doable.
How does air pollution affect the health of the population?
This week a study revealed pollution is to blame for nearly 15,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes in Britain each year. Figures have trebled for the number of people in the UK with type 2 diabetes over the last twenty years, costing the NHS around £14 billion a year. Our sustainability recruiters are world leading. Get in touch to discuss our latest opportunities.
[GS1]https://phys.org/news/2022-08-marine-species-extinction-greenhouse-gas.html
[GS3]https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/londons-toxic-air-is-triggering-asthma-attacks
Energy & InfrastructureCase StudyThe Value of a Growth Mindset at CBRE
If you don’t often find yourself immersed in the professional development space, you may not be overly familiar with the concept of a growth mindset. So, you might be wondering, what exactly is this?
Think: Someone who is not only open to new ideas and concepts but actively makes decisions and achieves outcomes based on them.
Enter: Dave Dite, QHSE Director at CBRE.
Dave is no stranger to the idea of a growth mindset. Having worked with him here at Acre for the better part of the last 8 years, we’ve seen him continue to raise the bar for himself and those around him when it comes to abandoning ‘the way we’ve always done things’ and opting for new ways of achieving the desired outcomes.
When he was tasked with building a team at CBRE, the UK leader in commercial property, he recognised that the traditional professional development programmes that had historically been delivered within CBRE were a little dated, and he wanted something more innovative.
Then, by coincidence, Dave had two separate interactions in quick succession with the Acre Frameworks team and these showed him that he’d found what he’d been looking for - engaging content and delivery, focusing on impact and change in purpose-driven roles.
As we all know, in business, the bigger and more complex an organisation is, the more difficult it can be to get key stakeholders to engage. Over the following months, Dave strove to get the right people onto his team. He decided to take more ownership of that process and used Frameworks initially as a programme for his team which worked incredibly well.
The process began with everyone in the team undergoing our ‘Discovery’ process. This involves the completion of our market-leading non-technical skills assessment, followed by a 1-1 feedback session with an Acre Frameworks development coach to discuss the findings of the report; a process that Dave found fascinating.
After his original team had completed Discovery, Dave spent the afternoon with a couple of the Frameworks coaches going through all the results and they then mapped the results to gauge how the whole team worked together. “What really startled me was a couple of things - firstly, when you mapped the data together, it formed quite a nice picture. In other words, it said to me that the team is actually quite strong as a group because their strengths and weaknesses seem to counterbalance each other.”
"The second thing I found really interesting was that I could recognise quite a few members of my team from their Discovery results - so essentially, I could look it on the screen, and say ‘That's Person A. And that's Person B’ - but not for every single one of them. I’d probably say I recognised 60 per cent. But strangely enough, the one person that I didn't recognise from Discovery was myself.”
Dave then started a journey into his own personal development with Frameworks, which he says uncovered some fascinating high-level things about himself. Prior to his coaching, he states that he used to put on an avatar to come to work. i.e. get ready to leave the house, find his keys, grab his wallet, walk out the front door. At that point, he assumed the character of Dave the QHSSE lead. “That was why I didn't recognise myself on the Discovery map - and that is what the coaches at Frameworks and myself have been working on for the past couple of years. At that point, I felt able to throw the avatar in the bin and it was like a breath of fresh air.”
Dave has moved around quite a bit within CBRE since the avatar was discarded. Not only is he personally happy, but he is also professionally fulfilled which not many people can genuinely say. It’s been a great process for him to be part of but it has been hard work, and has kept Dave on his toe for five years.
Dave has built a team over the past couple of years that complement each other, who meet regularly, and whom he believes are now confident in their own skin. However, none of that would have been possible without the group working together as a team, and that is a direct result of them being part of the Frameworks product.
“Ultimately, it's been a fantastic journey.”
At Acre Frameworks we are passionate about facilitating the non-technical growth of purpose-driven professionals within the realms of health, safety and sustainability - we know that each journey is unique but equally as rewarding to the teams that embrace the process.
Interested in how we might assist you with a people development strategy? Get in touch with us today.
Professional Services Jobs
ESG Practice Lead
Professional Services
London, Greater London, England
Hybrid
A dynamic and impact-driven organisation is seeking an experienced ESG Practice Lead to shape and grow its ESG advisory services.
This is a high-growth opportunity for a visionary leader to define strategy, lead client projects, and build a top-performing team.
Using your expertise, you will play a key role in helping organisations navigate ESG challenges, develop tailored sustainability strategies, and implement regulatory frameworks. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, leveraging cutting-edge technology and data to drive transparency, accountability, and real-world impact.
Responsibilities:
• Define and lead the strategic direction of ESG consulting services, aligning with evolving industry trends and regulations
• Manage multiple client projects, offering expert guidance on ESG strategy, sustainability reporting, risk assessments, and regulatory compliance
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of consultants, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation
• Represent the organisation at industry events, strengthening its thought leadership and market presence
• Drive business growth by identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and expanding the ESG network
• Customise ESG solutions to client needs, ensuring alignment with their corporate vision and values
• Advise clients on ESG regulations, frameworks, and reporting standards, supporting sustainability disclosures
• Help clients measure and communicate the impact of their ESG initiatives and track progress against goals
• Integrate ESG principles, including diversity and inclusion, into investment and business strategies
• Continuously explore innovative ways to incorporate ESG principles with emerging technologies and data analytics
Person Specification:
• 8-10+ years of experience in ESG consulting, sustainability, or corporate social responsibility
• Strong expertise in global ESG frameworks, regulatory standards, and reporting requirements
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive strategy, and manage client relationships in a dynamic environment
If you are a highly skilled and experienced ESG professional looking to make a real impact, please get in touch and send your CV to Tiana Thomas at tiana.thomas@acre.com
Business Development Manager
Natural Resources
Paris, Île-de-France, France
On-Site
Are you a sales professional passionate about a net-zero carbon future? Do you want to work at the forefront of the Voluntary Carbon Offset market?
Removall Carbon is a Paris-based firm that specialises in impact carbon finance services, enabling organisations to achieve ambitious climate goals, while developing and structuring collaborative and tailored carbon funds and implementing rigorous and ambitious carbon offset programs.
The organisation brings deep knowledge of carbon offsetting projects and mechanisms, coupled with strong experience in financing ecological transition projects. The team strives daily to push the market towards greater impact and transparency by only supporting projects that have real, measurable co-benefits and equitable profit-sharing.
They aim to become a market leader in the provision of carbon solutions, designing innovative carbon funds and implementing rigorous carbon offset programs. The business development and client team play an important role by growing the client base across Europe.
To bring high-level expertise on carbon markets and nature-based solutions into the team, we're looking for a Business Development Manager with a track record of generating leads and new commercial opportunities in a B2B context.
As a Business Development Manager, you will be working on:
Lead generation and fostering client relationships
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Proactively engaging with the market to generate new leads and business opportunities for Removall.
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Leading on client management, ensuring that the business relationships you foster remain long-term, strategic, and commercial.
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Working on innovation; listening to clients and developing new products and service offerings that position Removall ahead in their field.
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Representing the company at high-profile national and international events to network with leading professionals in the field.
Extending global influence
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Contributing to the marketing strategy to spread Removall's voice in a rapidly expanding marketplace
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Developing understanding by implementing certain services and participating in key meetings with existing clients
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Contributing to the organization of professional events with global reach
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Developing market intelligence by conducting strategic, technical, regulatory, and competitive watches
As the ideal candidate you will possess:
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Solid business development or sales experience towards the corporate/ financial markets.
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Track record of generating new leads and new business opportunities for the organisations you have worked with. Structured approach to business development.
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Experience in carbon markets is not required, however exposure to sustainability-focused markets would be highly appreciated.
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Excellent credibility and presentation skills - you'll be working with prominent key clients and expected to represent Removall towards senior stakeholders.
Interested?
Acre is supporting Removall Carbon in the hiring process for this position. If you would like to apply, please do so online, or direct any questions you have to Canace Wong at canace.wong@acre.com.
ESG Data & Performance Manager
Consumer Markets
London, Greater London, England
On-Site
Are you passionate about sustainability, data-driven decision-making, and creating lasting impact? Join a dynamic team at the forefront of ESG in the Build to Rent (BTR) sector.
In this newly created role, our client is looking to identify an ESG Data & Performance Manager to drive sustainability initiatives across a diverse and growing portfolio of neighbourhoods across London.
This role offers the chance to shape how ESG data is collected, analysed, and used to drive real change across their portfolio.
Some of the most impactful areas you'll lead include:
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Owning ESG Data & Reporting - Managing and centralising ESG data, ensuring it's not just used for reporting but to drive operational improvements. You'll be responsible for annual ESG disclosures, quarterly investor reporting, and key submissions like GRESB, EPRA, and CSRD.
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Driving Performance Through Data - You'll set sustainability performance targets across energy, carbon, and efficiency metrics, helping teams track and achieve real-world impact.
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Engaging Stakeholders - Collaborating with operations, asset management, and investor teams to make ESG performance a core part of their business strategy.
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Innovating & Improving ESG Systems - Managing our ESG data platform (Measurabl) and driving automation to improve the accuracy and efficiency of sustainability tracking.
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Implementing BREEAM In-Use Across their portfolio - Supporting site teams and working with external consultants to secure green building certifications that improve the efficiency and sustainability of assets.
This role is perfect for someone who loves working with data, engaging stakeholders, and making a tangible impact on sustainability.
The ideal candidate will have:
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Experience managing ESG data in a real estate, property, or sustainability-focused role.
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Strong knowledge of sustainability metrics such as carbon accounting, energy intensity, and Scope 3 emissions.
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A passion for driving change, someone who doesn't just report data but actively uses it to improve sustainability performance.
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Confidence working with stakeholders across different teams, from asset managers to site teams, to embed ESG best practices.
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A structured, detail-oriented approach to project management and data reporting, with experience in frameworks like GRESB, EPRA, or CSRD (desirable).
Make a genuine impact by leading sustainability initiatives across a growing BTR portfolio and help shape the future of urban living.
If you're ready to turn ESG data into action and drive sustainability at scale, we'd love to hear from you!
Please apply directly or reach out to Ben Flint at ben.flint@acre.com for more information
HSE Business Partner
Professional Services
England, United Kingdom
On-Site
Are you working in health & safety because you want to make a difference? Do you have a desire to create meaningful change and be part of a well-performing team?
This organisation, a national residential developer, knows that its future must be a safe and sustainable one. Day to day, you'll be putting your experience and expertise into setting realistic and meaningful health & safety objectives. You'll work closely with regional leadership teams to ensure a collective vision that extends beyond systems and compliance to focus on people and behaviour, helping to create a positively reinforced learning culture.
You'll be joining an excellent team, and as the HSE Business Partner for the North East region, you will be:
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A confident and experienced influencer - You'll be the functional H&S lead on all developments in the North-East region, responsible for embedding continuous improvement into the company strategy and engaging with the senior leadership team.
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Organised and happy to be hands-on - You'll work closely with the regional leadership teams to ensure H&S is a key factor in the lifecycle of a development, from design through to completion.
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Commercially aware - You will be making sure that you're positioning the business in line with local partners and their H&S objectives.
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An innovator - You'll thrive on new ideas and challenging traditional methods of working. You'll win the hearts and minds of a variety of stakeholders, both internally and externally, to ensure operational teams take accountability and ownership of H&S performance.
The organisation's aim is simple: to deliver more of the high-quality, multi-tenure, new homes the UK needs - at prices people can afford, in places where they want to live.
This business is delighted to have achieved 5-star builder status in the National Home Builders Federation (HBF) Awards. This is only awarded to homebuilders who receive a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey- demonstrating the commitment to a high quality service.
In terms of experience:
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It's important that you have experience working in a HSE function and ideally understanding of the construction sector.
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If you can demonstrate that you'll able to build relationships at every level, that will go a long way.
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Some creativity and evidence of collaboratively solving problems in your current health & safety role is welcome.
You will be based in the North East of England, ideally within Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hebburn, or surrounding areas, and there will be 10 developments in your region. That will mean some driving, so a license is essential!
If this has piqued your interest, get in touch with Ruth Smith on ruth.smith@acre.com to discuss the role. Don't worry if your CV isn't ready yet - we can work with what you've got.
ESG Accounting Leader
Professional Services
New Jersey, United States
On-Site
Acre is seeking a Director, ESG Accounting & Internal Controls for a leading pharmaceutical company to drive ESG reporting, data governance, and internal controls. This role ensures the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of ESG disclosures while aligning with CSRD, SASB, GRI, and TCFD regulations. Reporting to the VP of Accounting, this position collaborates cross-functionally to strengthen ESG governance and financial transparency.
Description
The Director, ESG Accounting & Internal Controls will lead the development, implementation, and oversight of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) accounting and internal control framework. This role requires analytical skills, flexible thinking, experience working with ambiguity, and judgment in determining materiality.
You will ensure the integrity of financial and non-financial ESG data, manage the ESG internal control environment, and drive regulatory compliance across ESG disclosures. This position will partner closely with cross-functional teams, including ESG, Finance, Legal, Investor Relations, and Operations, to support the effective management and control of ESG data and ensure compliance with current and future global regulations.
This position will play a critical role in overall ESG governance, ensuring a robust control environment and audit-readiness for ESG reporting. You will also drive continuous improvement of internal processes and systems to strengthen ESG data governance and reporting accuracy. This position reports directly to the Vice President, Accounting and has accountability to the Vice President, Environmental Social & Governance Programs & Reporting.
Essential Functions
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Develop, implement, and maintain an effective ESG internal control framework to ensure compliance with current and future global ESG reporting requirements.
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Ensure ESG data governance policies and procedures are rigorously followed across all ESG initiatives, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of non-financial performance metrics.
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Lead and manage risk assessments for ESG data collection, focusing on risk mitigation and continuous improvement of controls related to ESG disclosures.
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Identify opportunities for process optimization and system enhancements to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ESG data gathering, analysis, and reporting.
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Ensure adherence to mandatory ESG disclosures under current regulations (e.g., CSRD, SASB, GRI, TCFD) and monitor voluntary disclosures as applicable.
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Ensure the company is fully prepared for limited and reasonable assurance obligations, including overseeing the preparation, review, and gap closing for ESG audit requirements.
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Manage relationships with internal and external auditors, audit timeliness, and budgets. Prepare audit status materials for senior management and the Audit Committee.
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Foster a strong control mindset within the ESG team and across the broader organization, promoting a culture of transparency, compliance, and accountability in ESG data management.
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Act as a liaison between ESG, Finance, Audit, Legal, Investor Relations, Operations, and others to ensure the proper integration of ESG control requirements into key business processes.
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Provide subject matter expertise on ESG controls, governance, and regulatory requirements to internal teams and senior management, guiding the development and implementation of policies and procedures to enhance ESG data integrity.
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Partner with IT and data management teams to integrate ESG controls and reporting tools into broader financial and operational systems, enabling better data visualization, analysis, and decision-making.
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Collaborate with key stakeholders across the business, including ESG, Finance, Investor Relations, Legal, HR, and Operations, to align ESG controls with broader corporate governance objectives.
Required Education
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Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) in Finance, Business Administration, Sustainability, Environmental Science, or a related field.
Experience
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10+ years in Audit, internal controls, or ESG data governance, with a deep understanding of ESG frameworks, non-financial reporting requirements, and audit processes.
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10+ years of experience working with ESG-related assurance engagements and limited assurance reviews, as well as coordinating with internal and external auditors.
Advanced Skills Required
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex ESG data, provide insights, and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
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Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ESG and regulatory information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
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Leadership and relationship management skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence senior stakeholders to align with ESG goals and regulatory compliance.
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Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize tasks, and effectively lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Preferred Certifications
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CPA, CIA, CISA, or similar certifications.
For more information, please apply and get in touch with Anna Bene at anna.bene@acre.com
Director Global Sustainability
Professional Services
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Hybrid
Acre is proud to partner with TMS in the search for a Director, Global Sustainability, Product Lead (Americas)
The Director, Global Sustainability Product Lead (Americas) role will sit within TMS's Global Sustainability team. The Sustainability team supports the delivery of client Sustainability strategic objectives, focused on product and supply chain, through operations, reporting and legislation tracking. To do so, the team collaborates with key stakeholders across various internal and client cross-functional teams, Suppliers, Consultants and external organizations. The global Sustainability team sits across 3 geographic regions, supporting global, regional and market activities.
This is a senior level role within TMS's Americas Sustainability function, supporting the regional Client in development and delivery of their sustainability strategy. This role provides expert guidance and knowledge on legislation, andsupplier engagement while managing internal and external stakeholder expectations to deliver on the client's sustainability ambitions. This role will also manage a Senior Manager, Sustainability (Americas) role initially, with a view tomanage a broader team as we continue to grow this team.
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Develop & lead the strategic direction for sustainable packaging
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Provide subject matter expertise and leadership-level support for initiatives led by the Client and other TMS functions.
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Ensure robust understanding of legislation and emerging trends
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Manage effective partnerships with key external stakeholders
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Lead the Client relationship for sustainable packaging and manage Client KPIs
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Develop and leverage supplier relationships
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Defining external engagement strategy and direction for NA markets
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Specify recommendations in support of client sustainability requirements for NA
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Manage resources effectively to support regional needs
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Drive and specify systems and process enhancements for the NA region
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Manage delivery of NA Sustainability Budget, and oversight of third party provider budgeting process
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Provide input on Global budget setting and maintenance for the TMS Sustainability function
Qualifications
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In excess of 8 years of relevant experience with sustainable packaging
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Degree qualified in a relevant discipline
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Experience of leading the sustainable packaging Strategic Direction for a major brand
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Client management expertise
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Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
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People management experience
About TMS
TMS unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world's leading brands. With 1,200+ employees across 26 countries, TMS offers an impressive range of solutions - from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.
Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, TMS engages with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald's, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and Adidas.
Most importantly, tms is a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.
TMS Diversity Statement
Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.
TMS is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice!
Apply directly and reach out to Shannon Lewis at shannon.lewis@acre.com for more information
Market Analysis
At Acre, our deep expertise in sustainability sets us apart from other recruitment agencies. Clients and candidates alike trust us for our comprehensive insights into industry trends, talent demands, and emerging challenges. Our in-depth market knowledge allows us to provide strategic guidance and data-driven solutions, helping organisations and professionals navigate the evolving ESG landscape with confidence. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this dynamic market.
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