Senior Director, ESG Reporting – Policy

Job Summary

Job Description

What is the opportunity?

For forward-thinking and results-focused leaders, this is an opportunity to build and lead an ESG policy and advisory team within the Enterprise Finance & Controllership team of Canada’s largest company, frequently ranked as one of the top companies to work for in Canada. RBC is internationally recognized for its commitment to innovation, diversity, customer satisfaction and corporate social responsibility. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

The Enterprise Finance & Controllership function serves a critical role in telling the story of RBC’s financial results to the public through the quarterly and annual Report to Shareholders, providing advice on complex accounting issues through a strategic lens, maintaining strong financial reporting internal controls and data governance practices, and enabling strategic planning, forecasting, and management of financial performance to meet the Bank’s overall financial objectives. As part of the Enterprise Finance & Controllership group in our Toronto head office, you will be part of a collaborative team culture that strives to challenge ourselves to be our best, think progressively to keep growing, and work together to deliver collective results.

This is a high-profile leadership role which offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of building critical ESG reporting infrastructure to prepare RBC for future ESG reporting standards and regulations, and to collaborate with and build relationships with senior members from across Finance, Corporate Citizenship, Law, Risk Management, Communications, Investor Relations, Human Resources, and Strategy. As the Senior Director, ESG Policy & Advisory, you will be a strategic leader with an opportunity to establish an ESG policy and advisory function from the ground up. You will lead your team and the organization in overseeing and preparing for future ESG disclosure regulations and standards, and shaping ESG disclosure requirements through advocacy efforts. You will also showcase your exceptional communication skills by leading the delivery of materials for senior executives and the Audit Committee. You will work in a dynamic environment that provides the opportunity to bring your unique perspective and approach to the role, including adapting the role to address evolving Finance priorities and operating models.

You would be a great match for this role if you have experience in accounting policy development, leading disclosure gap assessments, navigating, interpreting, and leading the implementation of new and complex accounting standards involving a variety of stakeholders, and familiarity with ESG reporting frameworks and regulations.

What will you do?

• Lead your team and the organization in assessing, evaluating and implementing ESG reporting standards and regulations impacting RBC, ensuring the impact of such standards is well understood by stakeholders across the bank, fully communicated to affected business units and senior executives, and that conclusions/positions are well-documented in line with control and governance requirements
• Lead the development of an overall project plan, timelines, and accountabilities for implementation of future ESG reporting standards and regulations
• Develop and set expectations with various content owners/contributors across the Bank with respect to future standards implementation, including approaches to materiality assessments, disclosure gap assessments, and documentation of sustainability accounting policies
• Monitor, assess, and evaluate the impact to RBC of relevant developments and guidance from key bodies, including the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), OSFI, and the European Union (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
• Partner with various internal stakeholders to develop and implement an approach to support subsidiaries’ ISSB/CSRD requirements and timelines, with the objective of ensuring subsidiary-level approaches, methodologies, policies, and frameworks are consistent with those at the group-level
• Communicate key sustainability matters to senior leaders at RBC using a risk-based commercial/business lens
• Contribute to a collaborative, team-first environment and bring your unique perspective and curiosity to set and implement ambitious goals and challenge the status quo while fostering strong relationships
• Review and provide advisory services to internal stakeholders across RBC on treatment of errors, changes in estimates, and changes in structural and reporting boundaries (i.e. acquisitions) impacting ESG metrics, including assessing disclosure impacts
• Shape future ESG-related disclosure requirements by leading advocacy efforts on developments impacting RBC’s ESG-related disclosures
• Liaise with industry peers on ESG disclosure matters as needed through industry associations (e.g., Canadian Bankers Association)
• Enable a one-team approach to CFO Group deliverables, including supporting our external reporting process for the quarterly and annual Report to Shareholders by performing detailed reviews of critical and complex sections of the MD&A
• Drive progress and contribute to strategic initiatives within the Chief Accountant’s Group and more broadly within the CFO Group
• Lead the preparation of ESG-related materials for senior executives, our CFO, and the Board/Audit Committee
• Develop strong business partner relationships to foster greater understanding of key disclosures standards and emerging methodologies
• Liaise with the external and internal auditors on ESG reporting policy issues and implementation of future standards, as needed

What do you need to succeed?

Must-have

• Chartered Professional Accountant designation
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in an accounting policy or similar role
• Strong understanding of ESG disclosure standards and regulatory requirements
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate effectively to executives
• Strong leadership and people management skills with ability to empower the team
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills; including ability to recommend practical solutions to complex challenges in a dynamic environment
• Excellent project management skills
• Proactive, pragmatic, and forward-thinking approach
• Excellent interpersonal skills; specifically able to act as change agent, facilitator and collaborator
• Excellent presentation skills
• Agile mindset and ability to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty
• A “one team” mindset and willingness to support and contribute to broader Finance goals and objectives

Nice-to-have   

• Solid understanding of financial institutions, including all facets of RBC’s business and other activities with strong business acumen
• ESG-related experience and/or familiarity with ESG-related frameworks such as TCFD, ISSB, SASB, GRI, CSRD, etc. is highly desirable

Job Skills

Communication, Consulting, Decision Making, Finance, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Financial Processes, Organizational Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Team Management

Additional Job Details

Address:

20 KING ST W:TORONTO

City:

TORONTO

Country:

Canada

Work hours/week:

37.5

Employment Type:

Full time

Platform:

Office of the CFO

Job Type:

Regular

Pay Type:

Salaried

Posted Date:

2024-05-21

Application Deadline:

2024-06-05

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we embrace diversity and inclusion for innovation and growth. We are committed to building inclusive teams and an equitable workplace for our employees to bring their true selves to work. We are taking actions to tackle issues of inequity and systemic bias to support our diverse talent, clients and communities.
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We also strive to provide an accessible candidate experience for our prospective employees with different abilities. Please let us know if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process.

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