Sustainability Reporting Director

SAGE GROUP PLC; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Wokingham is seeking a Sustainability Reporting Director to shape and lead its global non-financial reporting strategy. This senior leadership role will work closely with executive stakeholders and play a key role in Sage's sustainability and net zero ambitions. The ideal candidate must have deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks, excellent leadership capabilities, and the ability to drive impactful strategic outcomes. This role offers a generous compensation package, including a competitive pension scheme and extensive health benefits.

Benefits

Generous bonuses and pension scheme

25 days paid annual leave plus option to buy more

Paid volunteer days through Sage Foundation

Enhanced parental leave

Comprehensive health coverage

Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks per year

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks, including GRI, SASB, and CDP.
• Strong understanding of ESG regulatory and legislative processes.
• Proven track record in senior sustainability or environmental leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead Sage's sustainability disclosure strategy and reporting.
• Monitor and interpret global regulations and standards.
• Own the delivery of Sage's annual sustainability reporting suite.

Skills

Sustainability reporting frameworks expertise

ESG regulatory understanding

Data literacy

Analytical capability

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Job description

You will own the design and delivery of Sage's multi‑year sustainability disclosure strategy, ensuring our reporting meets evolving global standards, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations. You will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of Sage's non‑financial disclosures – from data governance and regulatory horizon scanning to content development, assurance, and board engagement. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will bring clarity, technical depth, and leadership to a fast‑evolving and strategically critical area of the business. You'll also play a key role in preparing Sage's disclosures for an AI‑enabled future, ensuring they are machine‑readable, credible, and ready to be interpreted by large language models (LLMs). This is a hybrid role that will work in the office 3 days a week and 2 from home.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Sage's sustainability disclosure strategy – Design and execute a pragmatic, forward‑looking sustainability reporting roadmap.
• Monitor and interpret evolving global regulations and standards (e.g. ISSB, CSRD).
• Lead regulatory horizon scanning and engagement with external stakeholders.
• Socialise and align disclosure strategy changes with senior governance forums.
• Own the delivery of Sage's annual sustainability reporting suite, including:
• Non‑Financial Statement
• Impact Book
• Pay Gap reports
• Sustainability content for the Annual Report & Accounts and website
• Lead cross‑functional data gathering and content development.
• Ensure robust legal verification, audit readiness, and pre‑assurance processes.
• Manage relationships with external partners (creative agencies, auditors, advisors).
• Champion high‑quality, consistent, and transparent ESG data.
• Enhance data collection and monitoring processes, including tooling and automation.
• Oversee internal controls related to impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs).
• Partner closely with Risk, Finance, Legal, and Internal Audit teams.
• Draft and present reporting and regulatory papers for the Audit & Risk Committee and Board.
• Support VP and EVP Sustainability in shareholder and investor ESG engagements.
• Advance sustainability literacy and accountability at ELT and Board level.
• Lead regular updates to Sage's materiality assessment using best‑in‑class practices.
• Establish an ESG horizon scanning and monitoring capability.
• Act as Sage's technical expert on sustainability reporting and assurance.
• Ensure disclosures are machine‑readable and aligned with AI requirements.
• Develop and execute an AI‑enabled reporting roadmap.
• Identify skills gaps and drive knowledge‑sharing across the business.
• Deliver measurable efficiency and quality improvements.
• Work closely with Public Affairs to engage with the UK Government, EU institutions, and OECD.
• Lead on consultations and advocacy for simplified reporting standards for SMEs.
• Sit on Sage's Sustainability Leadership Team.
• Lead and develop a small, international sustainability reporting team.

Essential experience

• Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks, including GRI, SASB, and CDP.
• Strong understanding of ESG regulatory and legislative processes.
• Proven track record in senior sustainability or environmental leadership roles within complex, global organisations.
• Extensive experience delivering high‑quality sustainability disclosures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire beyond direct reporting lines.
• High level of data literacy, analytical capability, and attention to detail.
• Clear business acumen, linking ESG strategy to commercial priorities.
• Active membership of a relevant professional body or evidence of ongoing professional development.

Preferred

• Postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field.

Job Description

At Sage, we're building a more sustainable future for small and mid‑size businesses worldwide. We're now looking for a Sustainability Reporting Director to lead our global non‑financial reporting strategy and shape how Sage is seen, trusted, and understood by regulators, investors, customers, and society. This is a senior leadership role at the heart of Sage's sustainability and net zero ambitions, with direct exposure to Executive Leadership Team and Board‑level stakeholders.

Benefits

• Generous bonuses and pension scheme: Up to 8% matched pension contribution plus 2% top‑up by Sage.
• 25 days of paid annual leave with the option to buy up to another 5 days.
• Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year.
• Access to various helpful memberships for finances, health and wellbeing.

Benefits video – https://youtu.be/TCMtTYUUiuU