Assistant Manager – ESG

BDO UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO UAE is seeking a senior ESG advisory professional to lead sustainability engagements, including materiality assessments and reporting, with emphasis on regulatory alignment and client value.

You will advise on GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, Integrated Reporting, and perform ISAE-based assurance while mentoring junior staff and contributing to business growth and risk management.

Qualifications

• Five years of post-education experience in sustainability/ESG fields, including reporting and assurance.
• Undergraduate or master’s degree in sustainability, engineering, business, environmental studies or related program.
• Professional ESG/sustainability certification required.
• Strong understanding of frameworks such as GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, and GHG Protocol.

Responsibilities

• Lead ESG engagements, including materiality assessments, strategy development and reporting.
• Advise clients on ESG frameworks (GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, Integrated Reporting).
• Conduct climate risk assessments and identify ESG risks and opportunities.
• Perform sustainability assurance per ISAE 3000/3410, including planning and reviews.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members; ensure quality outputs.
• Support business development through proposals, presentations and client meetings.
• Ensure timely, high-quality delivery and manage project risks and client expectations.
• Assist in managing engagement finances, billing and collections.
• Build strong internal relationships within Risk Advisory Services and other divisions.
• Develop people through coaching and mentoring; contribute to thought leadership.

Skills

Communication skills

Planning & leadership

Analytical skills

Time management

Project management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in sustainability-related field

Professional ESG/Sustainability certification

Job description

BDO provides audit and assurance, advisory, tax and business outsourcing services to companies across all sectors of the economy.

As one of the world’s leading audit and accounting organizations, we have clients of all types and sizes, from large corporate organizations to private businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals across various industry sectors.

From a global beginning in 1963 with five firms, today BDO extends across 166 countries and territories, with 115,661 people working out of 1,776 offices.

At BDO, we understand that being the leader in exceptional client service begins – and ends – with exceptional regard for our people. Relationships matter in our work and interactions with clients and how we work and interact with each other. What differentiates BDO as an employer is our focus on relationships.

About the Role

• Lead ESG engagements, including materiality assessments, ESG strategy development, and reporting, ensuring alignment with client objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Advise clients on ESG frameworks such as GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, and Integrated Reporting, helping them navigate evolving disclosure requirements.
• Conduct climate risk assessments and support clients in identifying ESG risks and opportunities, contributing to the development of resilient business strategies.
• Perform sustainability assurance procedures in line with ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3410, including planning, execution, and review of non-financial disclosures.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members; review their work and provide feedback to support their development and ensure quality outputs.
• Contribute to business development through proposal writing, presentations, and client meetings, helping to grow the ESG advisory portfolio.
• Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of client engagements and maintain project documentation, while proactively managing risks and client expectations.
• Assist in managing the financial aspects of engagements such as billing and collection, ETD and client meetings and communicating issues to project leaders.
• Build strong internal relationships within the BDO Risk Advisory Services Division and across other Service Divisions.
• Develop people through effectively supervising, coaching and mentoring staff.
• Contributing to BDO’s sustainability and risk management thought leadership.

Key Attributes:

• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
• Highly refined planning, leadership, relationship building and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple engagements and competing priorities in a rapidly growing, fast- paced, interactive, results-based team environment is required.

• Attention to detail, analytical mind and commitment to delivering high-quality work
• Strong project management techniques, time management and analytical skills.

Key Experience Parameters:

• At least five (5) years of post-education work experience in sustainability / ESG-related fields,

including experience developing sustainability strategies, reporting and assurance, sustainable

finance and climate risk analysis.

• Undergraduate or master’s degree from a reputable institute on sustainability, engineering, business, environmental studies, or another related program, preferably related to ESG and sustainability.
• Must possess a professional certification in ESG / Sustainability.
• Strong understanding of industry reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative

(GRI), SASB, TCFD, and the GHG Protocol.

• Experience in UAE region is mandatory.
• Exposure to GCC – Good to have
• Candidates with broader international experience across regions will be an added advantage

BDO's Story:

The BDO story is truly remarkable one, built on solid foundations laid by our visionary founder. BDO is fundamentally a people-centric business with a proven track record of exceptional client service.

In 2018, we unveiled our leadership ambition: “Our Dream” - emphasizing that it’s time for BDO to lead— for our people to lead, each of us in our own right. Whether in our markets, through innovation, or as future advisors, our purpose, or “WHY,” drives us forward.

Our WHY is “People helping People achieve their Dreams”. Our “WHY” defines our identity – serving as our motivation and guiding principle. This principle is at the heart of BDO because people’s dreams matter to us.

We are driven to help our colleagues, clients, and communities become their fullest. At BDO, a career is distinguished by our unique culture—a fusion of people, passion, and results that defines and shapes everything we do.

What It's Like to Work at BDO:

While many accounting firms offer professional services, few match our rich culture of opportunity, personal fulfillment, and long-term growth.

We are dedicated to the sustainable development of our people, respecting their talents and fostering their growth. Accountability and personal responsibility are encouraged at all levels, supported by structured career planning and training.

Our global culture respects local cultural nuances and strives to be ethical, socially, and environmentally responsible everywhere we operate. At BDO, our diverse team is united by a shared ambition to make a meaningful impact and become the industry’s top choice.