Senior Associate – Assurance (Sustainability)

PwC South Africa; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

PwC in Kuala Lumpur seeks a Senior Associate for the Financial Services Sustainability Assurance team to help clients build trust in sustainability disclosures. You will own workstreams, guide junior staff, and interact with banks, insurers and asset managers to evaluate data, controls and reporting requirements.

You will coordinate fieldwork, review work prepared by associates and communicate findings clearly to managers and partners, ensuring high-quality, compliant assurance engagements.

Qualifications

• Recognised degree in Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Economics, Business or a related discipline.
• A recognised professional qualification (such as ACCA, ICAEW, MICPA, CPA Australia or equivalent), or active progress towards one, is preferred.
• At least two years of experience in external audit, sustainability assurance, ESG reporting, risk management or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver assigned sections of sustainability assurance engagements for financial services clients.
• Understand client business models, sustainability strategy, governance, products and regulatory environment to identify reporting risks.
• Review sustainability reports against applicable frameworks and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate governance, processes and controls for collecting and reporting sustainability information.
• Test climate, environmental and governance metrics and supporting evidence.

Skills

Excel

Data analytics

Communication

English

Team supervision

Education

Degree in Accounting/Finance/Sustainability

Professional qualification (ACCA/ICAEW/MICPA/CPA Australia) or in progress

Tools

Audit software

Job description

Line of Service Assurance Industry/Sector Not Applicable Specialism Assurance Management Level Senior Associate Job Description & Summary

As a Senior Associate in our Financial Services Sustainability Assurance team, you will help financial services organisations build trust and transparency in their sustainability reporting. You will work with banks, insurers, asset managers and other financial institutions to assess sustainability information, evaluate reporting processes and support assurance engagements over sustainability disclosures. You will take ownership of assigned workstreams, guide junior team members and work closely with clients to understand their sustainability strategies, data, controls and reporting requirements. You will apply professional judgement, challenge information where appropriate and help deliver high-quality assurance services that meet regulatory and stakeholder expectations. You will support assurance engagements over sustainability disclosures prepared in accordance with applicable reporting requirements and market expectations, including the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, Bursa Malaysia sustainability reporting requirements and climate-related disclosures relevant to the Malaysian financial services sector. You will also work alongside specialists across sustainability, climate risk, actuarial, risk, technology and financial services to help clients navigate a rapidly changing reporting environment.

Key accountabilities

• Plan and deliver assigned sections of sustainability assurance engagements for financial services clients.
• Understand each client's business model, sustainability strategy, governance structure, products and regulatory environment, and identify sustainability reporting risks.
• Review sustainability reports and disclosures against applicable reporting frameworks, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Assess sustainability disclosures against applicable Malaysian and international reporting requirements, including Bursa Malaysia Sustainability Reporting Requirements and the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
• Evaluate the design and effectiveness of governance, processes and controls used to collect, calculate and report sustainability information.
• Test sustainability metrics and supporting evidence, including climate, environmental, social and governance information.
• Support assurance procedures over climate-related disclosures, greenhouse gas emissions, financed emissions, sustainable finance metrics and other sustainability information reported by financial institutions.
• Assess the completeness, accuracy and consistency of reported sustainability information and related disclosures.
• Evaluate governance, risk management, controls and data processes supporting sustainability reporting and climate-related disclosures.
• Understand sustainability and climate-related risks and opportunities affecting financial institutions, including sustainable finance, transition planning and climate risk management.
• Coordinate day-to-day fieldwork, monitor progress against agreed timelines and raise emerging issues promptly with the engagement manager.
• Review work prepared by associates, provide practical coaching and ensure review points are addressed appropriately and on time.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with client teams and prepare concise summaries of findings for managers, directors and partners.
• Use data analytics, digital tools and assurance technology to improve the quality, efficiency and consistency of assurance procedures.
• Monitor emerging sustainability regulations, reporting developments and market practices issued by Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia and international standard setters, and assess their implications for clients.
• Support engagement administration, including independence requirements, information requests, file completion and quality management procedures.
• Maintain compliance with PwC's quality, independence, risk management and ethical requirements.

Minimum years experience required

A recognised degree in Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Economics, Business or a related discipline. A recognised professional qualification (such as ACCA, ICAEW, MICPA, CPA Australia or equivalent), or active progress towards one, is preferred. At least two years of experience in external audit, sustainability assurance, ESG reporting, risk management or a related field. Experience working with banks, insurers, asset managers or other financial services organisations is preferred. Understanding of sustainability reporting and assurance frameworks, including: IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information. IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures. International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000 and other relevant assurance standards. Bursa Malaysia Sustainability Reporting Framework and sustainability disclosure requirements. Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG). Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations and their integration into IFRS S2. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and other commonly used sustainability reporting frameworks. Understanding of sustainability and climate-related developments affecting financial institutions, including: Bank Negara Malaysia Climate Risk Management and Scenario Analysis expectations. Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) initiatives. Sustainable finance and responsible investment developments. Financed emissions methodologies and transition planning. Emerging sustainability disclosure and governance expectations from Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. Strong understanding of risk assessment, controls testing, evidence gathering and assurance methodologies. Strong analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess both quantitative and qualitative information. Experience supervising or coaching junior team members and reviewing work. Strong stakeholder management, communication and relationship-building skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in Excel, data analytics and digital tools used in assurance engagements. Strong written and spoken English. Bahasa Malaysia and additional language skills would be an advantage.

Desired Languages (If blank, desired languages not specified) Travel Requirements Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? Government Clearance Required? Job Posting End Date March 31, 2027

Are you ready to make a difference? Want to unlock new value by applying your unique perspective and talents? You can grow exponentially at PwC. Here, you can uncover hidden talents, build lifelong relationships rooted in trust and empathy and turn challenges into opportunities for innovation. We’ll help you grow your skills through challenging, meaningful work so you can go further.