Esg jobs in South Africa

Position Overview

The Carbon Accounting Lead will be responsible for overseeing the measurement, analysis, and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the bank’s value chain, with a particular focus on financed emissions. This role ensures alignment with global carbon accounting standards such as the GHG Protocol and Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), supporting the bank’s climate strategy and sustainability disclosures.

Key Responsibilities

GHG Emissions Accounting

• Drive the development and refinement of methodologies for GHG emissions accounting, ensuring alignment with GHG Protocol and PCAF standards.
• Oversee the end-to-end accounting of Scope 3 emissions, with a primary focus on Category 15 (Investments), but inclusive of other relevant categories (e.g., purchased goods, business travel).
• Serve as the carbon accounting SME and partner for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, supporting operational teams in accurate data capture, estimation, and reporting.
• Apply GHG Protocol and PCAF methodologies to quantify financed emissions across asset classes (e.g., corporate lending, sovereign bonds).

Data Management & Model Risk

• Own and maintain emissions quantification models, ensuring they are robust, transparent, and aligned with internal model governance standards.
• Document model assumptions, methodologies, and limitations in line with model risk management frameworks.
• Collaborate with data teams to integrate emissions metrics into enterprise systems and dashboards.

Framework Alignment & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with emissions disclosure frameworks and guidelines such as CSRD and TCFD.
• Prepare emissions disclosures for annual sustainability reports and regulatory filings.

Internal Stakeholder Engagement

• Work cross-functionally with sustainability, finance, and operations teams to embed emissions data into BAU data and control processes.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on carbon accounting for internal and external stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead process improvement initiatives, including thedesign, documentation, and refinement of emissions-related workflowsto improve efficiency, transparency, and assurance readiness.
• Monitor updates to carbon accounting standards and integrate new methodologies (e.g., for sovereign debt, securitization-associated emissions).
• Ensure process controls are in place to maintain data integrity and audit readiness.

Skills & Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Finance, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience in carbon accounting or sustainability reporting, preferably in the financial sector.
• Deep expertise in GHG emissions accounting, including GHG Protocol and PCAF methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement initiatives, with a focus on documenting and optimizing emissions data workflows.
• Strong Excel skills, including data aggregation and automation techniques; ability to work with or adapt macros is a plus, but not essential.
• Proven ability to apply analytical thinking and make logical assumptions for proxy data and estimation methods.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy and integrity.
• Skilled in pre-assurance readiness and preparing data/processes for external review or audit.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while also being highly collaborative.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage with internal stakeholders, identify pain points, and clearly explain processes and models.

Desirable

• Familiarity withemerging ESG regulationsand disclosure standards (e.g., IFRS S2, EU Taxonomy, CSRD).
• Understanding offinancial products and portfolios, including corporate lending, project finance, and investment banking.
• Experience leading decarbonization planning and assessments, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Knowledge ofclimate scenario analysistools (e.g., NGFS, IEA, IPCC pathways).
• Experience withdata visualization tools(e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to communicate emissions insights.
• Proficiency inprogramming or scripting languages(e.g., Python, R, SQL) for advanced data manipulation and automation.
• Exposure tointernal audit or assurance processesrelated to sustainability or ESG data.
• Prior involvement inindustry working groups(e.g., PCAF, UNEP FI, GFANZ) or sustainability networks.

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

Our promise to maintain an environment where every employee feels valued and able to meet their full potential infuses our company values. It’s also part of our commitment to inclusion, development and engagement, and corporate social responsibility. You’ll have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you. Join us.

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