Senior Associate, Sustainability Reporting Advisory

Grant Thornton Australia Limited; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

CA/postgrad study support

Gym membership & health discounts

Structured learning & development

Job summary

Grant Thornton Australia is recruiting for a Senior Associate to lead sustainability reporting advisory engagements across Australia and beyond. You will work under senior leaders with a national team, delivering high‑quality outputs and practical guidance on regulatory requirements.

The role offers national scope with Sydney/Brisbane-based applications, flexible work options and strong focus on development within a collaborative, client‑facing environment.

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualified, or related tertiary qualifications.
• Experience in financial audit or ESG/sustainability assurance is beneficial.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and AASB standards.
• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks (TCFD, GRI) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sustainability reporting advisory engagements with clients.
• Coordinate defined workstreams, planning and inputs for timely delivery.
• Collaborate with assurance, tax and advisory teams to integrate sustainability considerations.
• Draft clear client deliverables, memoranda and external publications.
• Research and apply sustainability standards and regulatory guidance.
• Support readiness assessments and pre-issuance reviews of reports.
• Develop and deliver client/internal training and capability-building programs.
• Support proposal development and business development activities.
• Mentor junior team members and foster a collaborative culture.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Client delivery experience

Sustainability reporting interest

Regulatory guidance analysis

Education

CA or CPA qualification

Job description

• Enjoy excellent career progression in a ‘hands‑on’ role
• Work with Partners who are truly invested in your professional development
• Flexible working options available

Grant Thornton Australia is one of Australia’s leading professional services firms, providing audit, tax, and advisory services to a diverse range of clients. Our culture is underpinned by a commitment to our clients, people and communities, and our promise to ‘Reach for Remarkable’ by providing proven expertise, principled execution, and personalised experience. In Australia we’re proud to support the careers of more than 1,500 remarkable people. Backed by six Australian offices and a global network spanning more than 150 markets, we offer the scale, connections and opportunities to help you shape your future, wherever it takes you.

The opportunity

As part of Grant Thornton’s national Sustainability Reporting Advisory team, you will be at the forefront of sustainability reporting and regulatory change in Australia and globally. You will support engagements across all aspects of sustainability reporting regulations, working with organisations as they respond to rapidly evolving reporting expectations. The Sustainability Reporting Advisory team is on a strong growth trajectory, responding to increasing client demand driven by mandatory reporting requirements and heightened board‑level focus on sustainability and climate‑related risks. We support organisations to apply sustainability reporting standards and regulatory requirements – including AASB S1 and S2, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and related frameworks – in a way that is practical, proportionate and aligned to business strategy and decision‑making. Operating as a truly national team, we collaborate closely with assurance, tax and advisory specialists to deliver integrated, commercially focused sustainability reporting solutions. Our work spans the full maturity spectrum, from early‑stage readiness and education through to first‑time and ongoing reporting, helping clients embed sustainability considerations into broader business, financial and risk frameworks. With mandatory climate‑related financial disclosures now legislated in Australia, the team plays a critical role in education, capability building and technical leadership. We support clients as they prepare to report, while also strengthening sustainability reporting capability across Grant Thornton by contributing to the technical excellence of assurance practitioners and other service lines. Through this work, the team helps close the green skills gap both externally with clients and internally across the firm.

Your role

As a Senior Associate, you will play a key role in delivering high‑quality sustainability reporting advisory engagements while continuing to build your technical depth, client‑facing confidence and commercial judgement. You will work directly with clients under the direction of senior leaders and contribute to the broader growth and capability of the Sustainability Reporting Advisory practice.

Key responsibilities

• Support the end‑to‑end delivery of sustainability reporting advisory engagements, working directly with clients and internal teams.
• Manage defined workstreams, including planning, prioritisation and coordination of inputs, to support efficient and high‑quality engagement delivery.
• Collaborate across Grant Thornton service lines to integrate sustainability considerations into broader advisory and assurance engagements.
• Draft clear, well‑structured client deliverables, technical memoranda and internal and external publications.
• Conduct research and analysis of sustainability reporting standards, legislation and regulatory guidance, and apply these to client‑specific scenarios.
• Support readiness assessments and pre‑issuance reviews of sustainability reports, focusing on quality, clarity and technical compliance.
• Assist in the development and delivery of client and internal training, workshops and capability‑building programs.
• Support proposal development and other business development activities as required.
• Support and mentor junior team members, contributing to a strong, collaborative team culture.

About you

You have:

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex sustainability reporting requirements, including a sound understanding of financial reporting and accounting concepts, and translate them into practical, client‑ready advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proactive and confident approach to engaging stakeholders and experience producing professional, high‑quality outputs that stand up to assurance and governance scrutiny.
• Experience in a professional services, consulting or advisory environment, with exposure to client delivery and stakeholder engagement (internal and external) that requires clear, timely and pragmatic communication.
• A strong interest in sustainability reporting and its interaction with financial reporting, accounting standards, risk management and business strategy.
• The capability to independently analyse complex information (including regulatory, accounting and technical guidance) and present reasoned, well‑structured outputs for senior review.

You are:

• Naturally inquisitive, with a growth mindset and an interest in developing alongside a rapidly evolving sustainability reporting landscape.
• Proactive, adaptable and committed to continuous learning and technical development, with the confidence to work independently and the judgement to seek input when needed.
• Client‑focused and commercially aware, with an understanding of how high‑quality advice creates value.
• Self‑motivated and outcomes‑focused, able to take ownership of workstreams and manage priorities across multiple engagements with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic and evolving regulatory environment, balancing competing demands while maintaining quality and momentum.
• A collaborative team player, effective in multidisciplinary teams and contributing constructively to shared outcomes.

Qualifications and experience

• CA or CPA qualified, or tertiary qualifications in a related discipline.
• Experience in financial audit and/or demonstrable experience in ESG or sustainability assurance and advisory is beneficial.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and AASB standards, or the ability to quickly develop technical capability in these areas.
• Knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks such as AASB S1 and S2, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, TCFD, ESRS, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol or GRI is advantageous but not required.
• Familiarity with financial audit processes is beneficial but not essential.

Career development

Grant Thornton offers clear pathways for progression, with opportunities to develop toward Manager level through increasing technical leadership, client responsibility and contribution to practice growth. You will be supported through structured learning, coaching and access to national and global networks.

Location

This is a national role. Applications are open to candidates based in Sydney and Brisbane.

Reach your remarkable At Grant Thornton we do things differently because we understand that when you strive for better and care about what you do remarkable things are possible. We’re a dynamic and authentic mix of backgrounds, perspectives and ways of thinking. We’re driven by our shared purpose – we ignite the potential within our people and clients to create enduring success and positively shape the communities around us. With us, you’ll be exposed to challenging and rewarding opportunities – building your confidence and capabilities at every step. You’ll be supported, motivated and inspired by a team of passionate and caring collaborators and leaders. You’ll be empowered to build a career path that’s tailored to you and encouraged to make a meaningful difference. And we’ll make sure the excellence you deliver and the impact you make is always seen, felt and celebrated.

Remarkable perks that put you first:

• Flexible working options available
• Support to undertake CA or other postgrad study
• Structured learning and development at all career levels
• Fully funded gym membership | Health Insurance discounts
• And many more!

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for anyone who wishes to apply, and we warmly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, those in the LGBTQI+ community and individuals who identify as having disability or are neurodivergent.

#LI-Hybrid At Grant Thornton we do things differently because we understand that when you strive for better and care about what you do remarkable things are possible. We’re a dynamic and authentic mix of backgrounds, perspectives and ways of thinking. We’re driven by our shared purpose – we care for our people, clients and communities and support them to thrive. We set the bar high to deliver a strikingly different working experience – in what we do but also how we do it. We understand that everyone has different needs and responsibilities outside of work. Here, you can access a range of formal and informal flexible working options including adjusted work hours, part‑time roles and hybrid working. We are also the first professional services firm in Australia to trial and permanently implement a 9‑Day fortnight with no reduction in salary.