Financial Sustainability and Reporting

Understanding the role of sustainability in the financial sector and economy involves leveraging reporting to effectively manage sustainability efforts. This includes gaining insight into different sustainability reporting frameworks and standards, as well as understanding sustainable development and integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business strategies.

Course Objectives

Understanding the role of sustainability in the financial sector and economy involves leveraging reporting to effectively manage sustainability efforts. This includes gaining insight into different sustainability reporting frameworks and standards, as well as understanding sustainable development and integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business strategies. Developing the ability to assess environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and performance metrics is crucial, along with learning how to report on these aspects using established frameworks and standards. Mastering the fundamentals of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards is essential, which includes determining material topics, meeting reporting requirements, and integrating the SDGs into sustainability reporting. Understanding the principles and benefits of integrated reporting is also important, as it helps in creating comprehensive reports that connect financial and non-financial performance, enhancing stakeholder engagement and transparency.

Benefits Of Attending

  • Learn impactful preparation and reporting of sustainability according to international standards.
  • Understand how sustainability reporting manages sustainability in the financial sector and economy.
  • Explore various sustainability reporting frameworks and standards.
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability and sustainable development, with focus on the UN SDGs.
  • Develop skills to assess ESG risks and performance metrics, and effectively report using established frameworks.

 

Master the basics of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, including material topic determination, reporting requirements, and integrating UN SDGs into reports.

Who Should Attend

The course is ideal for senior executives and professionals who are involved in preparing, and supporting the preparation of sustainability reports including:

  • A current or aspiring C-suite executive or business leader needing to drive strategic, sustainable change in your corporation
  • CFO’s/Accounting/finance professionals
  • Sustainable Finance professionals such as Sustainability Reporting and Investor Relations

TRAINER PROFILE

Dr Ashraf Elbakry is presently a senior lecturer of Accounting at University of Doha for Science and Technology, Qatar. He has a teaching experience of more than 30 years at the university level. He taught in several universities across the UK; namely, the University of Plymouth, Aston University, The University of Sunderland, Newcastle University, University of Salford, University of Huddersfield and Swansea University. In addition to his present academic role, he has delivered specialist and forensic Accounting & Finance courses for many years to senior executives of Blue chip corporations in the city of London. He has vast expertise in teaching Accounting & Finance professional courses for ACCA and CIMA qualifications at London School of Business and Finance, UK. Ashraf's research interests include Financial Reporting, especially under International Financial Reporting Standards, and its impact on the stock market; accounting in the Public Sector; Management Accounting practices in Emerging markets, non-interest Accounting and Finance and sustainability accounting and reporting.

Learning Benefits

Course Outline

Financial Sustainability and Reporting

Introduction to Financial Sustainability

  • Sustainability and sustainable development
  • Why is sustainability important for finance professionals?
  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (USDGs)
  • The scope of environmental, social and governance risks

  • Sustainable business models and practices
  • Sustainable economies
  • Sustainability key performance indicators

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards

  • Sustainability reporting
  • GRI standards fundamentals
  • Reporting requirements and principles
  • Determining material topics
  • Reporting on material topics and GRI content index
  • Reporting on the SDGs
  • Integrating the SDGs into sustainability reporting

Integrated Reporting

  • Introduction to integrated reporting
  • Principle-based framework
  • Relationship with stakeholders
  • Real world examples of integrated reporting

IFRS Sustainability Standards

  • IFRS S1: General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
  • IFRS S2: Climate-related Disclosures
  • Analysis on how outputs from risk assessments and scenario analyses could impact the future financial performance of an organisation
  • Analysis on how financial reporting implications for assets and liabilities may arise from sustainability and climate-related risks and opportunities
  • Explain the relevance of organisational sustainability and climate risk and opportunity assessments to financial statement preparation