ESG Strategy and Stewardship: The CFO's Role in Sustainable Value Creation

Created by

ISCA Academy

2 CPE Hours

3 Enrolled

English

Last updated

Mon, 30-Jun-2025

Course Description

Synopsis:

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are transforming corporate strategy, financial decision-making, and risk management. CFOs play a crucial role in embedding ESG principles into business operations, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and positioning their organizations for sustainable long-term growth.

This module provides CFOs and senior finance professionals with the knowledge, frameworks, and practical tools to navigate ESG reporting, climate finance, carbon management, and corporate ESG recognition. Participants will develop the expertise needed to integrate ESG into financial strategies, drive sustainability initiatives, and enhance business resilience.



Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the business case for ESG and its financial impact, risks, and opportunities for corporate strategy.
  2. Understand global and Singapore-specific ESG frameworks (e.g., IFRS ISSB S1 & S2, ISSA 5000, ISO 14064) for sustainability reporting
  3. Evaluate climate finance disclosure requirements and implement GHG accounting methodologies (Scope 1, 2, and 3) to enhance ESG reporting.
  4. Implement carbon management strategies by assessing carbon pricing mechanisms, tax regimes, and emissions trading systems.
  5. Adopt corporate ESG recognition frameworks (e.g., SGTI, NVPC Company of Good, B Corp) to enhance corporate reputation and stakeholder trust.

Topics:
1. Introduction: Why ESG is Critical for CFOs (Vincent)

  • The ESG Imperative in Business Context
  • Greenhouse gases and its implication
  • The role of CFOs in driving ESG initiatives
  • Key ESG Terms and Their Implications for Financial Leadership

2.⁠ ⁠ESG Frameworks and Standards: Navigating the Landscape (Vincent)

  • Governing Frameworks for Singapore Companies.
  • Roadmap of the reporting requirement
  • Sustainability reporting standard: IFRS ISSB S1 and S2
  • Sustainability assurance standard: ISSA 5000, ISO 14064

3.⁠ ⁠ESG reporting frameworks (Alan)

  • Climate Finance Disclosure and Frameworks
  • Governance, strategy, risk management, and target setting
  • Understanding Greenhouse Gas calculations (Scope 1, 2, and 3)
  • Climate Resilience and Scenario Planning
  • Adapting business strategies to climate impacts

4.⁠ ⁠Carbon Management and targets (Vincent)

    • Carbon Pricing Act Singapore 
    • Tax Regimes in other countries
    • Carbon Economy and Exchanges
    • Voluntary and compliance carbon credits

    5.⁠ ⁠Corporate ESG Recognition and Trends (Alan)

    • Pathways to Corporate Recognition
    • Singapore Government Transparency Index ( SGTI ) - SGX, NUS business school, CPA Australia
    • National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) - Company of good ( 1 to 3 hearts ) - SBF and SID
    • B Corp certification ( make business a force for good )
    • Future Trends

    Instructor Image

    Vincent Lim

    Vincent is an advocate for sustainability with over 30 years of experience in finance, including 12 years as Chief Financial Officer across organisations. He teaches courses related to sustainability at Singapore Management University’s Master of Science in Accounting programme. He is certified in ISO 14064, ISO 14068, ISCA Sustainability Professional Certification, holds a PhD from SMU and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountant of Singapore.
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    Instructor Image

    Alan Wong

    Alan Wong is currently CFO of Olive Tree Estates (SGX Catalist and B Corp certified) since 2020.  He was CFO of Halcyon (via acquisition of GMG) and GMG Global (listed SGX company majority owned by Sinochem International) from August 2015. Alan Wong held VP finance positions in Telkomsel (JV between Singtel and Telkom) and Singtel international operations. He was appointed as board director in the SingTel Bangladesh, Pakistan JV and Innoventures. Prior to joining SingTel, Alan was with Neptune Orient Lines Ltd (NOL), a well-established global transportation company as Director of Regional Finance, Asia & Middle East, where he leads a team at the regional office and has responsibility for over 17 country Finance Controllers and 200 finance staff in the region. He was also a Board member in the JV ventures in India and Vietnam. Alan spent 5 years with Compaq Computer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd / Hewlett Packard. Other companies that Alan had previously worked with include General Motors Asian Pacific Operations where he was awarded the President Council award for being part of a pilot SAP implementation and Deloitte & Touche. Alan holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor Degree of Accountancy from National University of Singapore. He had also attended the Supply Chain Management Program with INSEAD, Corporate finance program with Singapore Management University and the IT project management from Singapore Institute of Systems Science. He is a Fellow CPA member of CPA Australia and ISCA. He is an accredited director with Singapore Institute of Directors and serve on the Board of Singapore Gymnastics (IPC status charity). He has received the ISCA ESG certification as well as ACLP V2. 
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    2 CPE Hours

    Lesson

    1

    Quizzes

    1

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