Financial Services

Allegra Andreacchi

Principal Recruitment Consultant

AmericasFinancial Services

Gloria Mirrione

Executive Director, Head of Financial Services - Americas

AmericasFinancial Services

Helen Pradas-Page

Client Director, Private Markets & Real Assets, EMEA

EMEA

Jenny Han Simon

Senior Research Consultant

Americas

Kate O'Rourke

Director, Professional Services, Banking & Insurance - EMEA

EMEA

Katy Quicke

Head of Investment Management

EMEAFinancial Services

Lucy Chapman

Principal Research Consultant

EMEAFinancial Services

Nick Georgiou

Head of Private Markets & Real Assets

EMEA

Peter Vos

Associate Director

EMEAFinancial Services

Zac Cinnamond

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Asia & PacificFinancial Services

Meet the Team

Financial Services Insights

Earlier this year, Georgina Sell, Principal Consultant, EMEA - Industry & Infrastructure, shared a paper ‘The Green Recovery and Beyond: How exactly are industries working to combat climate change?’, inspired by Project Drawdown’s roadmap.

Showcase

Providing clarity around sustainability and AI for a brighter future

Recently, Georgie spent time with Lorenzo Saa, Chief Sustainability Officer at sustainable technology company Clarity AI, to learn about the key tech drivers accelerating sustainability and yield a better understanding of AI and the opportunities associated with its ability to address climate change.

Can you tell us a bit more about Clarity AI?

Lorenzo: We provide sustainability data and insights to investors, consumers and companies to bring societal impact to markets.

Our approach is evident in our name: Clarity. The intention is to bring transparency to the traditional black box ESG data and insights offering, to ensure there is a level of traceability regarding data and the underlying methodologies, so investors can focus on driving their own sustainability investment choices. In fact, compared to when I started my career 20+ years ago, investors today are much more competent and knowledgeable on sustainability and make decisions by looking at the underlying data rather than just relying on an external service provider’s ratings.

As for AI, which is also reflected in our name, we recognised that it could be a powerful tool for enhancing scale and speed while addressing the complexities of sustainability data. AI is not the end goal but a means to achieve it, complementing a data-driven approach rather than relying solely on analysts.

Why do you think AI could be a significant force in addressing sustainability?

The world has made some big sustainability commitments. However, we're very far from the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees today as we are currently on the trajectory of a 2.8 degrees world compared to pre-industrial times. Moreover, only 15 per cent of the SDGs achieved. Finally, we are quite behind the Global Biodiversity Framework “30 by 30” conservation target, with only 17 per cent protected area on the terrestrial side and eight per cent protected area on the maritime side.

With all this in mind, we need the right level of speed and scalability to address these complex problems hence the importance of technology and AI.

We believe any consumer, company or investor makes decisions along the ‘knowledge pyramid’. Data is at the bottom of the pyramid and as you move up there is information, knowledge, wisdom and action. We drive action by bringing AI and subject matter experts together at each step of the pyramid.

How can we use AI to help strengthen ESG data?

I think there are four elements - the first is coverage. AI can collect data on web pages or PDF documents and read free text, graphs, and images; combining humans and AI can simplify and expand this process and significantly expand data coverage.

The second element is reliability. Ensuring the quality of the data is still a huge challenge, but machine learning reliability models can perform specific checks to drastically enhance accuracy.

The third one is alternative data sets. When reported data is not available, we have different alternative data sets to leverage on. In this context, AI enables us to transform unstructured data (like satellite data or news streams) into structured data, providing deeper insights.

Finally, estimates play a crucial role. Finally, when data just isn’t there the estimation capabilities of AI are particularly strong: Estimation helps investors move ahead on climate issues which is important from a scope 3 perspective. These indirect emissions represent around 70 per cent of the average corporate value chain’s total emissions. As 42 per cent of companies report on scope 3 and usually on only one of its factors, estimation is a critical element to address a significant part of the transition to net zero.

Where do you feel ESG data estimations and AI may not work?

That's a great question and I think we should be first and foremost encouraging the market to drive the reported data. The fact that companies are still not reporting certain issues is a challenge and I think there's a lot of initiatives to drive that change.

However, when data is not available, you need to ensure that using estimation is appropriate by assessing a few key elements: Firstly, looking at the methodology and how critical that estimation is and secondly, evaluating the assumptions behind the estimation - are they transparent and do you fully understand them?

The third is the confidence level of that estimation. Whether it’s high, low or medium, this will help you determine if using a lower-confidence estimate might be too risky.

The final point is ensuring estimations start from a validated data set for comparison. I think sometimes there's this feeling of ‘let's not do estimations, it's not the right thing’. The reality is estimations are used a lot in financial accounting and we don't see why we shouldn’t look at them from a climate perspective.

Once these aspects are critically reviewed, then we should remind ourselves that the issues that we're trying to address are so significant that an 80/20 rule should be used to move forward. Like we do in financial accounting, estimations are not perfect, but they can still be close enough and practical to take action against them.

How does this fit with the needs of SFDR/CSRD for asset managers and corporates?

As the reporting landscape becomes more complex, with directives such as the CSRD and SFDR, AI can help simplify the process. For example, in the case of the SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation), which mandates that market participants report on the sustainability impacts of their investments, Clarity AI offers a tool that allows you to automatically generate your Article 8 periodic reports using a simple questionnaire, our data and previous reports.

This is important to us as it allows investors and corporates to focus on the ‘doing’ versus the ‘reporting’.

How do you think AI can make life easier for investors, companies and consumers to help them report and progress on their own sustainability journeys?

Transition plans are critical in climate and require a lot of review to see if they are credible. We are now capable of looking at these reports through AI and assessing if the targets they set are accompanied by quantifiable measures that can achieve those targets.

We recently found for example, that only 40% of the higher emitting companies have these credible transition plans.

Additionally, AI assistants, like the one we’ve developed at Clarity AI, use advanced algorithms to interpret and contextualize ESG data, providing insights and trend analysis. This enables investors to “converse” with their portfolio, finding sources, trends and potential areas of improvements in a much easier and efficient format. These are just two examples of how life can be much easier with the leverage of AI.

How can we counter risks associated with AI?

I like to think there is an ESG of AI. Governance is probably the critical starting point and a good way of looking at it is how we manage our controversy solution. It runs on discriminative AI, not generative AI, to avoid hallucinations, it removes names of companies at the beginning of the process to avoid any bias towards certain names, and any controversy deemed at a high severity level must go through one of our subject matter experts to ensure that we best manage the combination of AI and humans in the loop.

On the environmental side, there's a need to consume electricity to run the algorithms and to cool facilities, which uses a lot of water consumption. These issues need to be addressed, starting by using renewable energy, but also by designing efficient models better aligned to their use cases, and investing in further hardware efficiency innovation.

There are different ways to look at the social aspects, for example in terms of what's going to happen regarding labour. As in climate, AI will also require a just transition, with companies and governments taking their part in addressing it.

How do you believe AI can help empower consumers to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy?

We're working with ING Spain to provide over four million customers with the possibility to see their carbon footprint on their banking app based on their activity.

How you act as a consumer to ensure that your footprint gets reduced will become part of the way we think of our activities, if we have something in our pocket that informs us of our sustainable actions.

What do you foresee as the most essential skills to drive what is needed in AI?

I would argue everyone will need to have a balance of technical, analytical and soft skills, and - depending on the role - the weighting of these will change.

Not everybody needs to know the details of NLP machine learning (cloud computing), but a general understanding will probably be needed by everyone. How to use these tools will be quite critical alongside wanting to continue to learn.

A great quote that I heard was that AI is not going to take your job, but someone that knows about AI will take your job.

And so being open, willing to see where the world is going and wanting to learn new things will make a difference in terms of success.

But you don't all need to be technicians – we have a huge data science team, but we also have a significant number of subject matter expertise. The ability to collaborate between data scientists and sustainability expertise is what we believe drives our success.

Clarity AI recently won the Impact Investing Platform of the Year, you were also selected as technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum and named one of the most innovative companies. Why do you think Clarity AI is so award-winning?

We are very honoured by these recognitions and most recently, we were also named a leader in Forrester's Q3 2024 ESG and analytics provider assessment. We are driven by two things: One is the desire to stay on top of innovation, which is critical in today's world. I think being able to know how to leverage tools and technology to drive scalability is what investors are particularly keen to see. We are creating waves in the sustainability space, and we're excited about that, but we don't just offer data, methodologies or tools, we combine the three which is quite unique in the market, so we find players extremely excited to work with us.

What is your biggest call to action?

Three things spring to mind. The first is we are all a force of change and have a role to play, so it’s important to recognise this, take responsibility, and act.

Secondly, I think the world has this simplistic view of how to address climate change with black and white approaches. I think a more nuanced engagement with companies, governments and people will make the difference.

And the last thing is embracing technology. There's no way we will meet the Paris Agreement target if we don't use our intellect, creativity and innovation to drive change. A lot of the solutions are out there but they need to be scaled.

Instead of thinking of AI as the Terminator that's going to inform us, the way I look at it is that we're all Skywalkers and the Force is with us. But Skywalker had R2D2 with him.

And that's what AI is for us.

Georgina Sell

Resources

The Power of Partnering with Indigenous Peoples within Climate Finance

Indigenous communities are the stewards of biodiversity and cultural heritage. They possess invaluable knowledge and practices that contribute significantly to global sustainability. Yet, despite their vital role in maintaining 80% of the Earth’s remaining intact ecosystems, less than 1% of climate finance reaches Indigenous communities - a funding gap that threatens both environmental and social stability.

Why this matters

Direct funding to Indigenous communities enables them to pursue self-determined development and fosters economic stability, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. However, structural barriers in the global climate finance system often prevent funding from reaching these communities directly.

During London Climate Week in June 2024, Acre’s Georgina Sell, Associate Director, hosted a workshop in collaboration with Rainforest Foundation UK, New Animal, and Nia Tero titled:

“Shaping the Future: The Power of Partnering with Indigenous Peoples in Climate Finance.”

The workshop brought together senior decision-makers and organisations to explore the intersection of:

Nature-based Solutions
Human Rights
Climate Finance

This was a pivotal opportunity for Indigenous representatives and corporate leaders to engage in a robust dialogue about what effective climate action looks like — and to identify actionable solutions for increasing direct funding to Indigenous communities.

Key insights from the workshop

Indigenous peoples sustain at least 80% of Earth’s remaining intact ecosystems — yet less than 1% of climate finance reaches these communities.
Direct funding is essential for fostering economic resilience and environmental stewardship in Indigenous communities.
Collaborative models between Indigenous communities and corporations present a unique opportunity to accelerate progress in the fight against climate change.
Alternative funding mechanisms — such as blended finance and community-based funding — are emerging as promising solutions to close the funding gap.

“We wanted this workshop to be as dynamic and impactful as possible, and for our Indigenous representatives to be actively involved in curating the event. This was a vital moment for knowledge sharing between corporates and Indigenous representatives — a powerful event where we explored alternative funding mechanisms and nature-based solutions to see if we could expedite funding to the front lines quicker and, in doing so, accelerate progress in the fight against climate change.”

Georgina Sell

Associate Director

Acre

Why you should download the write-up

Following the workshop, we compiled a detailed write-up — “Mobilising Direct Funding to Indigenous Peoples: Strategies for Global Sustainable Development” — to capture the essence of the discussions and provide a resource for continuing these important conversations.

Understand why direct funding is critical for Indigenous-led climate action.
Discover practical opportunities to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Explore innovative funding models to increase the flow of capital to Indigenous communities.
Gain insights into best practices for building more equitable and effective climate finance systems.

Georgina Sell

Thought Leadership

Insurers, thematic and impact funds drive sustainability hiring

^{Featuring Acre's Paddy Balfour for}AsianInvestor, published on 10.06.2024, Original Source: Insurers, thematic and impact funds drive sustainability hiring, Author: Indira Vergis

Some roles in the sustainability arena are seeing demand even amid broader economic and job market uncertainty, according to recruitment and investment industry experts.

Demand for sustainability-focused hires is growing in some parts of the financial services industry in Asia, even as sustainability became a politically charged term in other parts of the world such as the US.

Hiring for certain sustainability roles remains robust in Asia even amid broader job market uncertainty, according to recruitment and investment industry experts.

“Insurance as a sector is experiencing significant growth having been slower to develop adequate levels of expertise internally and now seeing both the imperative and opportunity”, Paddy Balfour, Singapore-based executive director for Asia Pacific at Acre, a sustainability hiring consultancy, told AsianInvestor.

Insurers such as AIA, Ping An and Prudential have told AsianInvestor over the past six months that they are actively increasing their sustainability investments.

“We are also seeing huge growth in specialist funds. This includes thematic funds around decarbonisation, sustainable infrastructure, energy transition, natural capital and climate, as well as more specialist impact funds,” he added.

RISING REGULATORY PRESSURES

The main driver of ESG [environment, social and governance] adoption in the Asia Pacific, nevertheless, is still an increasing web of regulations.

“Financial institutions now have mandatory disclosure requirements in various jurisdictions across the region,” said Jules Bottlaender, Head of Sustainable Finance for APAC at BNP Paribas Securities Services.

“Most of them are related to climate financial disclosure aligned with TCFD, which require specific teams to collect climate data and analyse the related risks and opportunities.”

This has resulted in the creation of numerous reporting roles, although mostly for traditional buy-side clients.

“The alternatives can often avoid those regulatory requirements by justifying non materiality of these risks due to their strategy (high frequency, FX, long-short, derivatives, etc). There is no sign of easing as new regulations coming in will extend to broader sustainability topics (ISSB) or other reporting requirements (taxonomy, fund labelling, etc),” Bottlaender told AsianInvestor.

He also noted the emergence of specific investment strategies such as thematic investing and impact investing, both of which require investment managers with sustainability expertise.

The world’s largest climate finance fund, Green Finance Fund, also told AsianInvestor recently that it plans to invest in up to 40 investments in 2024, and Asia is expected to play a key role in that.

Other specialised entities focused on decarbonisation and nature-based solutions operating in the region include GenZero and Pentagreen Capital.

Family offices have also emphasised the importance of impact investing and how they see that as investing for profit and doing good.

TRADITIONAL INVESTOR’S DEMAND

Many financial institutions are increasingly also integrating ESG factors into investment decisions.

“This is driven by fiduciary duty and other frameworks such as the UNPRI [United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment]. This task requires both ESG data roles and ESG analysts.

“Traditionally, ESG factors have been integrated for equity investments since the relationship with risk/return is more obvious. However, the practice has been broadening to other asset classes such as corporate bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity,” Bottlaender said.

Gabriel Nam, partner leading the ESG, strategy and transformation practice in Asia for Page Executive, said the recruitment consultant recently helped a private equity fund find a sustainability expert for the real estate portion of the fund’s portfolio.

While the market is a little uncertain right now, companies continue to hire at junior levels for data crunching and data analysis or some reporting and coordination/alignment work (which is also a core part of sustainability function).

“Many people are starting to show a passion for sustainability and the barriers to entry are lower at this point,” said Singapore-based Nam.

Shortlisted candidates for sustainability roles can have very different backgrounds – from communications and accounting to marketing research, Nam said.

“Picking up the skills required for reporting is not considered very hard so it’s not a must to have prior functional background in finance, accounting, compliance or legal (that are traditionally strong in compliance, reporting) etc.”

Increasingly they also have a certification qualification, which can range from a CESGA [Certified ESG Analyst], CFA ESG Investing, Master’s degree in sustainability related subjects or at least some short-term sustainability-related courses offered by renowned organisations, he added.

“However with certain specialised topics like climate change or nature-based solutions, candidates tend to have a stronger academic background in certain subjects like environmental science, environmental engineering, geography etc.”

TALENT SHORTAGE AMID GREENWASHING

All three experts that AsianInvestor spoke to said there is an ongoing talent shortage in this space.

The financial sector is seeing a proliferation of ESG-related roles, such as sustainable finance investment bankers, green bonds specialists, and ESG portfolio managers and chief sustainability officer, said BNP Paribas’s Bottlaender.

He noted that due to the talent gap, some companies are offering premiums for individuals with ESG expertise.

Negative publicity around greenwashing has resulted in organisations in some cases reducing their sustainability commitments, yet “the regulations, risk and opportunities are only increasing and therefore we don’t see a reduction in roles,” said Acre’s Balfour.

“Teams are undoubtedly being asked to deliver more with less as part of the challenges experienced more broadly in the economic outlook.”

“The key trend that we are seeing in sustainability hiring in Asia-Pacific is a focus on value.

“Large, costly, centralised teams are being repositioned to be better aligned with business needs resulting in a smaller number but a higher value of hire.”

This includes professionals that can generate alpha through research, coverage and sector bankers who can drive deal flow through as part of the transition, and product specialists who can bring knowledge and expertise to the LP discussion.

“If anything we are seeing more specialised senior hiring from firms looking for real commercial value from their sustainability teams that they weren’t getting from larger but less qualified teams,” Balfour added.

Paddy Balfour

👉 Listen to The Sustainable Finance Podcast and gain insights from industry leaders today.

Showcase

Exploring Sustainable Finance Talent: Acre x The Sustainable Finance Podcast

Acre has partnered with The Sustainable Finance Podcast to deliver a thought-provoking six-episode series that provides deep insights into the evolving sustainable finance talent market. Hosted by Paul Ellis, the podcast features expert voices from leading global organisations—including Schroders, FTSE Russell, The London Stock Exchange Group, Gitterman Wealth Management, and more.

Each episode unpacks critical challenges and opportunities in sustainable finance, covering themes like the transition to a sustainable economy, nature-based solutions, and climate risk management.

Meet the Experts

The series features some of the most respected professionals in the field, including:

• Andy Cartland – Founder & Interim Managing Director, APAC at Acre

• Gloria Mirrione – Executive Director, Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing, Americas at Acre

• Ellen Rutherford – Managing Director, Americas at Acre

• Paul Ellis – Host of The Sustainable Finance Podcast

Together, they discuss the latest trends shaping the sustainable finance industry and the skills required to drive meaningful impact.

Episode Breakdown

Episode 1: Talent and the Sustainable Economy

Talent is at the core of the sustainability transition. In this opening episode, Andy Cartland and Gloria Mirrione explore the vital role that financial services—and the professionals within them—play in accelerating a more sustainable economy. They discuss:

• How organisations can attract and develop top sustainability talent

• The skills needed to lead change in the financial sector

• The increasing importance of sustainability expertise in investment strategies

“We know that the more impact we can catalyse, the more successful we are going to be. We also know that to succeed commercially in this market, you have to be passionate.”

– Andy Cartland, Founder, Acre

Episode 2: Nature-Based Solutions Combine Science & Investment Strategy

Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer significant opportunities for net-zero strategies and climate resilience. In this episode, Gloria Mirrione speaks with:

• Charlotte Kaiser (Head of Impact Finance, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group)

• Chris Larson (CIO, Alder Point Capital Management)

They discuss the intersection of investment and conservation, focusing on how NbS can provide financial, social, and environmental returns.

Episode 3: Investing in Water Propels Prosperity and Climate Resilience

Access to clean water and sanitation is a global challenge—but could financial markets be the key to a sustainable solution?

This episode features Paul O’Connell, President of WaterEquity, and Gloria Mirrione, as they explore:

• How capital markets can drive water infrastructure investments

• The importance of sustainable finance in ensuring global water security

• The role of investors in tackling one of the world’s most pressing issues

Episode 4: Leadership in Sustainability Joins the C-Suite

Sustainability leadership is becoming a core component of corporate governance. In this episode, Paul Ellis speaks with:

• Chrissa Pagitsas, a strategic advisor and author on ESG & sustainability

• Gloria Mirrione, Acre’s Head of Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing

Together, they discuss how sustainability has moved from a niche concern to a boardroom priority, influencing corporate decision-making, risk management, and long-term business success.

Episode 5: Capital Meets Purpose in Community Economic Development

Financial inclusion is a critical part of sustainability. This episode explores how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are playing a crucial role in ESG-aligned investments.

Paul Ellis is joined by:

• John Holdsclaw IV (President & CEO, Rochdale Capital)

• Harold Pettigrew, Jr. (President & CEO, Opportunity Finance Network)

• Gloria Mirrione, Acre

They discuss how CDFIs are enabling economic growth, reducing wealth inequality, and driving impact investment strategies.

Episode 6: Ownership Works & Private Equity Join Forces for Employee Opportunities

Can shared ownership models create financial security for employees while driving better business outcomes?

In this final episode, Paul Ellis speaks with:

• Anna-Lisa Miller (Executive Director, Ownership Works)

• Gloria Mirrione, Acre

They explore how private equity firms and corporations are integrating ownership models to empower employees, improve productivity, and enhance financial well-being.

Why This Series Matters

The world of sustainable finance is rapidly evolving. Businesses and investors alike are facing increasing pressure to align financial strategies with ESG principles—and finding the right talent is crucial to making this transition a success.

At Acre, we understand that people drive impact. Our expertise in sustainable finance recruitment ensures that organisations can find and develop the leaders, strategists, and innovators needed to shape a more sustainable world.

This article is optimised for Acre’s website, providing a professional and engaging breakdown of the podcast series. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!

Gloria Mirrione

News

HSBC partners with sustainable farming charity for food supply chain resilience

HSBC UK has joined forces with LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) to launch an initiative to support farmers and help combat sustainability challenges in the sector.

The HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway is a joint venture between the bank and the sustainable farming charity to encourage a smoother transition towards more sustainable farming practices, enabling eligible LEAF Marque certified farm businesses (or those in the process of applying for LEAF Marque certification) to access discounted loan arrangement fees when applying for applicable products.

The bank found that 70 per cent of UK farms are taking up DEFRA approved agri-environmental schemes, to support nature and biodiversity enhancements.

Approximately one third (38 per cent) of farmers are regularly testing the soil in their fields to inform NPK applications (the three major nutrients required by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) while 28 per cent of dairy clients have undertaken a carbon audit.

Farmers have identified the areas of sustainability that they would like to invest in, such as renewables (54 per cent), slurry storage (22 per cent) and energy efficiency (20 per cent).

Grace O’Dwyer, Interim Head of Agricultural Banking at HSBC UK said: “We are delighted to launch the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway to help farming businesses transition to more sustainable techniques.

“HSBC UK is a significant lender to farms in the UK and our research shows around two-thirds (70 per cent) of farms are currently making commitments to transition to sustainable practices. By working with LEAF and future partners, we have the opportunity to directly support farmers who want to make sustainable choices.”

Canace Wong, Senior Recruitment Consultant (Professional Services) at Acre, said: “In the UK, many banks are seeing year-on-year growth on revenue in sustainable finance. The banking sector has a big part to play in unlocking sustainable practices, through providing capital to facilitate decarbonisation, nature and biodiversity, and social sustainability goals.”

“At Acre, we noticed that there is an uptake of opportunities in nature and biodiversity within the banking sector in 2024, with several banks recently hiring senior nature and biodiversity specialists, as well as amping up their nature and biodiversity teams.

“HSBC’s new partnership with LEAF is another example of latest financial schemes to support enhanced nature and biodiversity outcomes from the agricultural sector. We look forward to seeing more similar initiatives in the sector.”

If you are a financial institution and currently reviewing your talent needs for sustainable finance professionals, please get in touch with Acre.

Canace Wong

View all insights

Financial Services Jobs

Principal Consultant - Financial Services

Professional Services

New York, New Jersey, United States

Hybrid

Location: New York (flexible/remote working considered)

About Acre

We exist to create systemic change for our planet and society by activating people's potential.

Since 2003, we've been at the forefront of sustainability and impact-focused hiring. As a certified B Corp and global leader in our field, we partner with forward-thinking organizations to embed sustainability into the heart of business - especially in sectors where transformation is critical. With offices in London, New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore, we've placed purpose-driven leaders in over 55 countries and are proud to shape some of the most influential sustainability and finance teams globally.

Acre's Financial Services team operates at the intersection of capital and the sustainable transition

We support banks, asset managers, insurers, and private markets investors in building investment and corporate leadership teams, strengthening sustainable finance capabilities, and securing specialist talent. Our work spans a range of critical themes - from investing in energy transition solutions and mitigating physical climate risk to unlocking sustainable finance opportunities and accelerating a just transition.

The Role: Principal Consultant - Financial Services

We're looking for a strategic, commercially minded Consultant to join our high-performing Financial Services practice in North America. You'll play a pivotal role in helping leading financial institutions embed impact-led professionals at the core of their business.

This is a leadership-level role combining individual billings, mentoring, and ownership of a specialist market vertical. You'll partner with clients on high-impact mandates spanning sustainable finance and investing, stewardship, climate risk, and beyond - backed by our best-in-class research function and recognized global brand.

What You'll Do

Own your market: Lead on business development, client partnerships, and end-to-end delivery within a defined financial services vertical (e.g. investment management, private markets, banking, or insurance).
Shape impactful teams: Deliver executive search assignments that result in transformative hires - from portfolio leads and Chief Sustainability Officers to climate risk and impact investment specialists.
Drive revenue with purpose: Meet commercial targets with integrity, utilizing Acre's internal research, data, and marketing functions to amplify your reach.
Champion career journeys: Build deep relationships with candidates, supporting their long-term development and impact beyond the placement.
Lead and collaborate: Mentor junior team members, contribute to team culture, and help shape the evolution of our financial services offering.

What We're Looking For

A proven track record in executive or senior professional recruitment, in financial services.
Comfort with delivering retained search assignments and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
A strong grasp of how sustainability intersects with financial markets - and the curiosity to keep learning.
A values-led mindset: you care about the role of capital in building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Entrepreneurial energy: you're ready to build and scale your niche, backed by a high-trust, high-support environment.

Why Join Acre?

Impact Meets Commerciality: Our work directly supports the transition to a sustainable global economy. Every placement you make drives meaningful change.

A Leading Name in Financial Services Recruitment: Our dedicated Financial Services team is recognized globally, partnering with leading institutions from Wall Street to global development banks.

A Global Platform: With global reach, established partnerships, and market-leading infrastructure, you'll have the tools and network to thrive.

People-First Culture: Our values - Drive Impact, Achieve More Together, Show You Care, Stand Up - shape every part of how we work.

Growth & Ownership: You'll benefit from dedicated L&D support, leadership development, and a long-term incentive plan aligned with shared success.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We believe diversity drives better outcomes - for our clients, our candidates, and the planet. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. If you believe you can contribute to our mission, we'd love to hear from you.

Ready to build the future of finance with us?

If you're excited by the opportunity to lead high-impact searches and shape the sustainability agenda within the financial sector, you're in the right place. To find out more, click through to our internal recruitment brochure 'here'.

18 days ago

Principal Consultant - Financial Services

Financial Services

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Hybrid

About Acre

We exist to create systemic change for our planet and society by activating people's potential.

Since 2003, we've been at the forefront of sustainability and impact-focused hiring. As a certified B Corp and global leader in our field, we partner with forward-thinking organisations to embed sustainability into the heart of business - especially in sectors where transformation is critical. With offices in London, New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore, we've placed purpose-driven leaders in over 55 countries and are proud to shape some of the most influential sustainability and finance teams globally.

Acre's Financial Services team sits at the intersection of capital and climate action. We support banks, asset managers, insurers, and private markets investors in building the leadership teams, ESG capabilities and specialist talent required to manage climate risk, unlock sustainable finance solutions, and accelerate a just transition.

The Role: Principal Consultant - Financial Services

We're looking for a strategic, commercially minded Principal Consultant to join our high-performing Financial Services practice in EMEA. You'll play a pivotal role in helping leading financial institutions embed impact-led professionals at the core of their business.

This is a leadership-level search role combining individual billings, mentoring, and ownership of a specialist market vertical. You'll partner with clients on high-impact mandates spanning ESG investing, stewardship, sustainable finance, climate risk, and beyond - backed by our best-in-class research function and recognised global brand.

What You'll Do

Own your market: Lead on business development, client partnerships, and end-to-end delivery within a defined financial services vertical (e.g. investment management, private markets, banking, or insurance).
Shape impactful teams: Deliver executive search assignments that result in transformative hires - from ESG portfolio leads and Chief Sustainability Officers to climate risk and impact investment specialists.
Drive revenue with purpose: Meet commercial targets with integrity, utilising Acre's internal research, data, and marketing functions to amplify your reach.
Champion career journeys: Build deep relationships with candidates, supporting their long-term development and impact beyond the placement.
Lead and collaborate: Mentor junior team members, contribute to team culture, and help shape the evolution of our financial services offering.

What We're Looking For

A proven track record of executive or senior professional recruitment, in the financial services sector.
Comfort with delivering retained search assignments and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
A strong grasp of how sustainability intersects with financial markets - and the curiosity to keep learning.
A values-led mindset: you care deeply about the role of capital in building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Entrepreneurial energy: you're ready to build and scale your niche, backed by a high-trust, high-support environment.

Why Join Acre?

Impact Meets Commerciality: Our work directly supports the transition to a sustainable global economy. Every placement you make drives meaningful change.
A Leading Name in Financial Services Recruitment: Our dedicated Financial Services team is recognised globally, partnering with leading institutions from the world's major investment firms to global development banks.
A Global Platform: With global reach, established partnerships, and market-leading infrastructure, you'll have the tools and network to thrive.
People-First Culture: Our values - Drive Impact, Achieve More Together, Show You Care, Stand Up - shape every part of how we work.
Growth & Ownership: You'll benefit from dedicated L&D support, leadership development, and a long-term incentive plan aligned with shared success.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Ready to build the future of finance with us?

If you're excited by the opportunity to lead high-impact searches and shape the sustainability agenda within the financial sector, you're in the right place. To find out more, click through to our internal recruitment brochure 'here'.

18 days ago

Principal Consultant - Financial Services

Professional Services

London, Greater London, England

Hybrid

About Acre

We exist to create systemic change for our planet and society by activating people’s potential.

Since 2003, we’ve been at the forefront of sustainability and impact-focused hiring. As a certified B Corp and global leader in our field, we partner with forward-thinking organisations to embed sustainability into the heart of business - especially in sectors where transformation is critical. With offices in London, New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore, we’ve placed purpose-driven leaders in over 55 countries and are proud to shape some of the most influential sustainability and finance teams globally.

Acre’s Financial Services team operates at the intersection of capital and sustainable transition.

We support banks, asset managers, insurers, and private markets investors in building investment and corporate leadership teams, strengthening ESG capabilities, and securing specialist talent. Our work spans a range of critical themes – from investing in energy transition solutions and mitigating physical climate risk to unlocking sustainable finance opportunities and accelerating a just transition.

The Role: Principal Consultant – Financial Services

We’re looking for a strategic, commercially minded Consultant to join our high-performing Financial Services practice in EMEA. You’ll play a pivotal role in helping leading financial institutions embed impact-led professionals at the core of their business.

What You’ll Do

Own your market: Lead on business development, client partnerships, and end-to-end delivery within a defined financial services vertical (e.g. investment management, private markets, banking or insurance).
Shape impactful teams: Deliver assignments and team builds that result in transformative hires - from ESG portfolio leads and Chief Sustainability Officers to climate risk and impact investment specialists.
Drive revenue with purpose: Meet commercial targets with integrity, utilising Acre’s internal research, data, and marketing functions to amplify your reach.
Champion career journeys: Build deep relationships with candidates, supporting their long-term development and impact beyond the placement.
Lead and collaborate: Where required, mentor junior team members, contribute to team culture, and help shape the evolution of our financial services offering.

What We’re Looking For

A proven track record in executive or senior professional recruitment, ideally within financial services.
Comfort with delivering retained search assignments and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
A strong grasp of how sustainability intersects with financial markets is advantageous along with the curiosity to keep learning.
A values-led mindset: you care about the role of capital in building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Entrepreneurial energy: you're ready to build and scale your niche, backed by a high-trust, high-support environment.

Why Join Acre?

Impact Meets Commerciality: Our work directly supports the transition to a sustainable global economy. Every placement you make drives meaningful change.

A Leading Name in Financial Services Recruitment: Our dedicated Financial Services team is recognised globally, partnering with leading institutions from Wall Street to global development banks.

A Global Platform: With global reach, established partnerships, and market-leading infrastructure, you’ll have the tools and network to thrive.

People-First Culture: Our values - Drive Impact, Achieve More Together, Show You Care, Stand Up - shape every part of how we work.

Growth & Ownership: You’ll benefit from dedicated L&D support, leadership development, and a long-term incentive plan aligned with shared success.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Ready to build the future of finance with us?

18 days ago

Senior Procurement Manager - Gulf Region

Financial Services

Qatar

On-Site

Are you a procurement leader ready to make an impact in a fast-paced, strategic environment?

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Procurement Manager to join a high-performing team in Gulf Region, driving value across complex supply chains and major commercial contracts.

You’ll lead end-to-end procurement strategy, supplier negotiations, and compliance across key categories, ensuring operational excellence and sustainable outcomes.

What they're looking for

Proven senior-level procurement experience
Strong stakeholder management and commercial acumen
Knowledge of local and international procurement practices
CIPS qualification preferred

This is an exciting opportunity to influence procurement at scale in a dynamic market, a competitive package on offer.

Apply now or reach out to Shaqeeb Hussain at shaqeeb.hussain@acre.com to find out more

24 days ago

Director, Capital Markets

Energy & Infrastructure

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

On-Site

Acre is partnered with a global leader in the Data Center industry looking to hire a Director, Capital Markets. The Director, Capital Markets will play a key role in spearheading vital financing and capital markets activities to help the client strategically position itself for exponential portfolio growth.

This position also offers exceptional exposure to C-Suite and institutional level investors as you will be expected to present proposals and strategic opportunities the client can capitalize on.

What you'll do

Lead complex financial transactions from start to finish, managing key responsibilities for partnerships, negotiations, and execution.
Develop, optimize, and maintain key financial models for critical business ventures including loan structurings, credit facilities, and M&A opportunities
Create and present key analysis and findings to executive committees and investment committees.
Support other key strategic initiatives including complex M&A opportunities.
Become an in-house SME for the company's financial strategy, and look at innovative ways to unlock that potential.

Who you are

6+ Years of Capital Markets experience, with a clear track record of closing complex financial transactions (loans, credit facilities, securitization)
Strong financial modeler - clear ability to develop and build own independent models for various complex needs
Career path in either real estate, clean energy, or complex infrastructure
A desire to join a high-performing team in a fast-paced environment - whilst managing various key transactions simultaneously

If you believe you align well for this position, please apply directly or reach out to Oliver Haines at oliver.haines@acre.com or Alex Westacott at alex.westacott@acre.com

28 days ago

Finance Director

Energy & Infrastructure

United States

Remote

Acre is partnered with Eden: People +Planet, a non-profit focused on large-scale reforestation projects, in their search for a Director of Finance.

At Eden: People + Planet, they believe in a future where both people and the environment thrive together. Their work is rooted in the understanding that human well-being is inseparable from the health of our planet. By restoring landscapes, protecting biodiversity, and empowering communities, they create sustainable solutions that address the urgent challenges of climate change.

As they grow their impact, they are seeking a Director of Finance to lead global financial operations and drive strategic financial stewardship. This role is a unique opportunity for a visionary finance leader to build and optimize financial systems that support Eden's mission across multiple countries and diverse funding streams.

What You'll Do

Lead with Purpose - Provide people-first leadership that fosters cross-cultural collaboration and financial excellence across our global operations.
Shape Financial Strategy - Develop predictive financial models, oversee budgeting and forecasting, and guide key financial decisions to advance our mission.
Drive Operational Excellence - Ensure robust financial management, compliance, and reporting across multiple international entities, aligning operations with global best practices.
Innovate with Technology - Leverage financial platforms (NetSuite, QuickBooks, Concur) and AI-driven insights to enhance efficiency and decision-making.
Mitigate Risk & Ensure Compliance - Implement risk management strategies and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard our assets and reputation.

Who You Are

A finance expert with 10+ years of progressive financial management experience, including senior leadership in international finance.
A certified professional (CPA, CIA, or equivalent) with a deep understanding of multi-currency accounting and global financial systems.
A strategic thinker who can translate complex financial concepts into actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.
A collaborative leader with exceptional cultural sensitivity and the ability to build trust across international teams.
A problem-solver who thrives in dynamic environments and is passionate about mission-driven work.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, while leading the team to meet deadlines and objectives.
Meticulous attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and compliance, and the ability to identify errors, trends, and insights.

Why Join?

Make a Global Impact - Your work will directly contribute to restoring ecosystems, supporting communities, and combating climate change.
Lead with Innovation - Help shape the financial future of a fast-growing, mission-driven organization.
Collaborate with Purpose - Work alongside passionate, talented professionals dedicated to building a better world.
Enjoy a Flexible Work Environment - This is a remote role with the opportunity to travel internationally up to 10% of the time.

Legal authorization to live and work in the United States is a must.

Eden: People + Planet is an equal opportunity employer. Who are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

If you're ready to use your financial expertise to create lasting change, we want to hear from you! Apply today and be a part of Eden's mission to restore balance between people and the planet - reach out to Lewis Murray at lewis.murray@acre.com for more information

about 1 month ago