The transformation of ESG from a communications initiative into a regulatory responsibility is well underway. With the implementation of frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the expectations for how companies collect, manage, and disclose ESG data are becoming more concrete, and far more demanding.
At the heart of this shift lies a tension: sustainability commitments are public, forward-looking and often aspirational. But the reporting processes behind them remain largely manual, fragmented and ad hoc. Many companies find themselves navigating this complexity without the infrastructure or accountability mechanisms needed to support it.
This is where finance comes in, not to take over the ESG agenda, but to stabilize it.
A familiar set of challenges
Finance leaders may not have set out to own ESG reporting, but few teams are better equipped to manage its complexities. ESG, at its core, is data. And the discipline required to manage financial data, traceability, auditability, version control, governance, is precisely what ESG reporting now demands.
The challenges ESG presents are familiar ones:
- Working across siloed departments
- Collecting and validating large volumes of non-financial data
- Aligning reporting with evolving standards
- Preparing for third-party audits
- Communicating performance transparently to external stakeholders
In many ways, the current state of ESG reporting resembles where financial reporting was 20 years ago. It’s inconsistent, manual, and far too dependent on spreadsheets. But that also means it’s ready for transformation.
Where Regulation Meets Opportunity
CSRD represents a structural change in how companies are expected to think about performance: financial, environmental and social as well.
That means scenario planning, forecasting, and investment modeling, all areas where finance already plays a central role, must now account for sustainability impacts as well. Whether it’s evaluating the cost of carbon, understanding exposure to supply chain risk, or modeling the financial implications of decarbonization strategies, ESG is increasingly inseparable from strategic financial planning.
Modern ESG platforms like CCH® Tagetik ESG & Sustainability are being adopted by forward-looking companies to address precisely this need: integrating ESG into enterprise planning and reporting. These systems go beyond dashboards, they handle granular data collection (including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions), automate calculations using frameworks like GRI and the GHG Protocol, and ensure that reporting is not just compliant, but also consistent and repeatable.
But technology only works when it’s embedded in the right processes, and finance, with its experience in building scalable, defensible systems, is uniquely positioned to lead that integration.
A conversation that needs to happen
This shift raises important questions:
- Who should “own” ESG reporting?
- How can finance and sustainability teams collaborate more effectively?
- What does a scalable ESG reporting process actually look like in practice?
These are the questions that will be explored in the webinar hosted by Inulta, titled:
The session includes practical examples from companies already navigating this transition, and offer a grounded look at what’s working, and what isn’t, when it comes to ESG data. Watch our webinar and discover how to turn complex ESG data into meaningful, transparent disclosures.