*** GreenTech Skillnet is proudly collaborating with Chartered Accountants Ireland to deliver this Programme with a 30% discount. To register for the course and receive your discount code, please contact the Life Long Learning team at LLL@charteredaccountants.ie, referencing GreenTech. ***

Date: From 03 October to 27 November 2024 (see below for full schedule)
Venue: Online 

Course Overview 

While nations made pledges about emissions targets, the IFRS launched the International Sustainability Standards Board focussed on integrated sustainability into financial reporting. As sustainability issues (or ESG: Environmental, Social and Governance) become increasingly relevant to reports, risk management and strategy development, accountants need to understand what this means for their organisations and their roles.

Sustainability considerations can be dauntingly wide-ranging: mitigating the impact of the climate crisis, managing risks associated with the gig economy and social inequality, and even efforts to tackle modern slavery are all ESG issues that can affect your organisation in unexpected ways. Corporate reporting for sustainability can no longer be seen as a voluntary option or a niche interest: it is firmly part of the mainstream and evolving at an increasing pace.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes 

The Certificate has been designed to provide a strong foundation in sustainability and ESG issues and how they are relevant to their business, organisation or practice. On successful completion of this Certificate, you will be able to:

• Understand global sustainability challenges and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues
• Explain the drivers behind sustainability and its relevance to businesses and corporate entities
• Understand how climate-related financial risks and opportunities are identified, evaluated and addressed
• Effectively communicate the financially material impact of sustainability and ESG issues to key stakeholders
• Understand key EU and national sustainable finance policies impacting the financial and real economy alike
• Understand the state of play on current sustainability reporting frameworks e.g. Non-Financial Reporting Directive/Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive, Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures, International Sustainability Standards Board etc.
• Identify qualitative and quantitative ESG reporting metrics and be able to compile, analyse and interpret them
• Understand what ESG criteria and data is relevant to, and used by, different stakeholders
• Recognise how sustainability already impacts your role as an accountant and how that is likely to evolve

Course Content 

The content focuses on building core knowledge required to understand and approach the sustainability and ESG issues that affect accountants and their organisations. Each of the four modules consists of a mix of live online delivery and self-paced study materials.

Participants will study and be examined on the following modules:

• Module 1: Sustainability, business and finance
• Module 2: Deep dive on climate
• Module 3: From strategy to reporting I
• Module 4: From strategy to reporting II 

Who Should Attend 

The Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting is for accountants in both practice and industry who need to understand sustainability and how it will impact their role and organisation. This will enable participants to constructively address the sustainability opportunities and challenges that the modern accountant faces.

How You Are Assessed 

Assessment is by:

• Four MCQs, one after each module (80%)
• Learning journal, one after each module (20%)

The pass mark is set at 50%. To certify attainment of the qualification, participants who successfully complete the Certificate will receive both a hard-copy Certificate and a Digital Badge. The Digital Badge will be shareable on social media including LinkedIn to confirm and actively verify your award.

Entry Criteria

This programme has been designed to meet the needs of professionals who require an understanding of sustainability in business, and is open to:

• Members of Chartered Accountants Ireland and other recognised professional accounting bodies including ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, or CPA, 
• holders of a degree at NFQ Level 8 or equivalent qualification, 
• those who have experience in finance, business, or another relevant field.

Applicants other than members of Chartered Accountants Ireland must provide proof of their membership of another professional body (where applicable), or details showing how their experience or qualifications are relevant. Our team is happy to discuss any queries you may have regarding eligibility.

Certification 

The Certificate is awarded under the statutory authority of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Members of Chartered Accountants Ireland will be awarded a Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting from Chartered Accountants Ireland under the ‘1966 ICAI Charter Amendment Act’.

Other participants will be awarded the Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting by Chartered Accountants Ireland Executive Education DAC.

Can I Use The Course Towards my CPD Hours? 

This programme offers structured and unstructured CPD with 20 hours contact time. The exact number of hours that can be claimed as CPD will vary for each individual depending on time expended and the regulations of their professional body.

How You Will Study

The Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting is delivered online, mixing on-demand, self-paced learning materials with interactive Virtual Classroom sessions and Q&As. Our learning management platform Moodle will host all your course materials and activities, such as links to pre-recorded videos, course notes and slides, links to your live classroom session, and information on your lecturers and timetable. This platform also allows you to network and share your questions and experiences with your fellow participants. Course material is released on scheduled dates, including short recorded lectures and a reading list to complement each module.

Each module is also supported by online Virtual Classroom sessions where you will engage with our industry-leading subject matter experts - and your fellow course participants - in an interactive format build around real-world case studies. Each session will be followed by a one-hour Q&A with the lecturer on a specific topic selected by participants. The live sessions will also allow the opportunity for discussion relevant to the material. Sessions will be streamed live.

The content focuses on building core knowledge required to understand and approach the sustainability and ESG issues that affect accountants and their organisations. Each of the four modules consists of a mix of live online delivery and self-paced study materials. Live session dates take place over eight consecutive weeks, as follows: