Position summary

BDO is hiring a Director to lead the growth and delivery of its sustainability regulatory advisory services. The role requires deep expertise in global ESG regulations, sustainability reporting frameworks, supply chain due diligence requirements, climate disclosure regulations and producer responsibility obligations, combining business development, subject matter expertise, hands-on project execution and thought leadership.

Why this role matters

ESG regulatory requirements are evolving rapidly, spanning the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), California SB 253 and SB 261 climate disclosure requirements and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. The role builds and delivers the advisory practice that helps BDO’s clients navigate this complexity and achieve compliance with confidence.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute market growth strategies for ESG, sustainability, ESG assurance and regulatory compliance services across priority industries including manufacturing, consumer products, retail, industrials, energy and technology.
• Lead proposals and pursuits including RFP responses, statements of work, pricing strategies and contract negotiations, and develop an annual sales pipeline against individual revenue and utilisation targets.
• Build executive-level relationships with sustainability, risk, compliance, finance, legal, procurement and supply chain leaders, and identify cross-selling opportunities with internal account teams.
• Lead and execute client engagements including governance structures, operating models, internal controls, compliance monitoring and reporting programs, and ESG software selection and implementation.
• Deliver regulatory assessments including applicability assessments, compliance gap analyses, readiness assessments, maturity evaluations, and materiality and double materiality assessments.
• Monitor emerging regulations and provide clients with actionable insights on regulatory changes, enforcement trends and compliance expectations.

Team and stakeholders

The role sets the vision and direction for the Sustainability Risk Advisory Practice, supervises the workload of RAS Managers, Senior Associates and Associates, reviews their work product, and acts as a mentor. It collaborates with Principals, Managing Directors and Directors across other service lines and industries, and represents the firm at industry events, conferences, webinars and client roundtables.

Key details

• Based in Chicago, with one additional location; travel of 25% to 50% as needed.
• BDO is an ESOP company providing assurance, tax and advisory services in the US and worldwide.

Requirements

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability and/or Accounting or Economics.
• Ten years of experience in sustainability consulting, assessing ESG regulatory requirements and disclosure obligations, developing climate risk assessment and GHG accounting, and performing ESG internal control assessments.
• Seven years of supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of sustainability reporting frameworks (international and domestic), climate disclosure requirements, GHG emissions accounting and decarbonisation strategy development.
• Deep, demonstrated experience across current ESG regulations and frameworks, including CSRD, ESRS, ISSB, TCFD, GRI, SASB, California SB 253 and SB 261, the GHG Protocol, SBTi, EUDR, EPR, supply chain due diligence legislation, human rights and responsible sourcing programs, supplier risk and traceability frameworks, ASRS, and circular economy reporting.
• Experience coordinating global and regional project teams, and in client marketing and multiple client pursuits and proposal efforts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Preferred

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
• Experience in a public accounting environment and with assurance applications and research tools.
• CIA, CPA, CFE, CISA, or equivalent certifications; and GRI, ESRS, SBTi or equivalent certifications.
• Experience with Power BI, and other European languages (Italian, Spanish or French).