Consultancy
We specialise in sourcing sustainability and ESG experts for leading consultancies. Whether it’s strategy, reporting, or climate advisory, our candidates bring the technical skills and leadership required to deliver impactful solutions. With increasing demand for specialist knowledge, we connect firms with professionals who drive measurable results for their clients.
Technology, Media & Telecomms
In the rapidly growing TMT sector, we recruit professionals who embed sustainability into innovation. From energy efficiency in data centres to ESG strategy in digital operations, our candidates help organisations align technological progress with environmental and social responsibility, meeting stakeholder expectations in an increasingly competitive sector.
Insurance
We connect insurers with talent who specialise in ESG risk management, sustainable underwriting, and climate resilience. As the insurance sector faces growing environmental and regulatory pressures, we source professionals who help organisations adapt, mitigate risk, and build strategies that align with both sustainability goals and business performance.
Legal and Law Firms
We support law firms in hiring ESG and sustainability specialists, from advisors to leaders driving responsible governance and compliance. As ESG regulations become increasingly complex, we place professionals who bring deep expertise, enabling firms to guide clients effectively and strengthen their own sustainability strategies.
Accountancy
Sustainability in accountancy requires professionals skilled in ESG reporting, climate risk analysis, and regulatory compliance. We find candidates with the technical expertise and industry knowledge to help firms meet evolving client demands, deliver transparency, and embed sustainability into financial practices, ensuring measurable progress and long-term impact.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
The SaaS industry is driving digital transformation, and we place sustainability professionals who help businesses integrate ESG into their platforms and operations. From emissions tracking tools to ESG data solutions, our candidates bring technical proficiency and innovation to create scalable products that meet the demands of a sustainable economy.
World-leading ESG and Sustainability Recruitment
Acre’s professional services team partners with B2B organisations, consultancies and advisory firms to build ESG-focused teams that drive sustainability transformation.
Leveraging our cross-sector expertise, we help firms source top talent across risk, compliance, and sustainable finance, ensuring they can support clients in meeting ambitious ESG goals.
Connect with our Team
Meet the Professional Services Team
Professional Services Insights
Consumer Markets
Thought Leadership5 Sustainability Issues Affecting the UK
At our sustainability recruitment agency and in our daily lives, sustainability issues are a subject at the forefront of our minds when we look at the impacts everyday living has on the environment.
Ultimately, we are responsible for ensuring we do not deplete our precious supply of natural resources and must work collectively and harmoniously to keep our planet spinning with minimal damage inflicted.
From eating less meat to reducing our carbon footprint when travelling, there are many ways we can live more sustainably. But there are many environmental issues in the UK and Acre has taken a look at five of the culprits.
1. Plastic Pollution
Plastic is not fantastic, environmentally, as we’re all too aware. We’ve ditched the plastic straws and gone back to basics with more environmentally friendly retro-style paper versions (which, let’s face it, were good enough for us when we were milk guzzling kids at school) and now many firms are leaping onto the eco bandwagon and using recycled plastic or alternative materials in their products. But currently, it’s not enough.
With only a third of the UK’s annual 1.5m tonnes of recyclable plastic waste being recycled, plastic pollution is big news this year and we have a large battle on our hands to protect the longevity of our planet.
Why is plastic catastrophic for marine life?
This year’s World Environment Day chose plastic pollution as its theme and it’s no wonder. As much as 40 per cent of plastic produced is packaging, used just once and then thrown away and as we know, the plastic crisis is catastrophic for marine life (eight million tonnes of waste plastic ends up in the sea each year).
Plastic is killing mussels, dolphins, turtles – the list goes on. Last year, a report for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that, by 2050, the amount of plastic in the seas will outnumber the fish.
A 2022 study [GS1] published in Nature Climate Change found that as much as 90% of marine life are at risk of extinction by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not dramatically reduced. This would impact as many as 25,000 species living in the top 100 metres of the world’s oceans, including fish, plants, bacteria and protozoans.
When you also factor in rising water pollution from the dumping of chemicals and trash into the ocean, which is affecting the health of all water-based ecosystems, the number of marine environmental issues that need to be tackled appears to be ever growing.
How are humans affected by plastic?
But we hardly come out unscathed ourselves. Humans are digesting plastic, via fish we consume (who have eaten the plastic that we’ve discarded). It’s a lose lose situation unless we all ditch the plastic, use alternatives where possible and are mindful about the packaging of the products we buy.
For example, crisp packets are made from a laminate of polypropylene and foil, developed to keep crisps fresh and crunchy by making the packet air tight. The material, which can be multi-layered, is difficult to recycle and slow to degrade. But people will of course continue to eat crisps so the packaging, unless manufactured using alternative materials, will carry on polluting our streets, countryside and sea.
The widespread use of plastic is one of the most prominent environmental issues that needs to be resolved, as it is now estimated that we could be eating thousands of bits of microplastic every year. Data compiled from a series of studies found that we may be consuming as much as 52,000 [GS2] particles a year, a figure that could increase up to 121,000 particles when air inhalation is taken into account.
How are some companies encouraging sustainability?
Adidas has taken a big green stride forward in its sustainability plan by making one million shoes from recycled plastic (retrieved from the ocean) and manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble are introducing recycled plastic to the bottles in their haircare range.
Nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute around the world. In 2015, Americans purchased about 346 bottles per person—111 billion plastic beverage bottles in total. Here in the UK, many coffee shops are encouraging customers to buy a reusable cup or pay less for a coffee if they supply their own cup from home. We all need to act on these UK sustainability issues. Isn’t it time we all woke up and smelled the coffee (and then reused the cup, of course)?
2. Water Shortages
We are only a couple of weeks into a proper summer and already ‘water shortage’ are the words on the street. Hosepipes and sprinklers will be made temporarily redundant again if the heatwave continues. Schools have been forced to close as a result of a lack of water already.
Rainfall during summer could also come in the form of shorter, bigger downpours, due to climate change, causing an unusual situation where flooding and drought could exist at the same time.
In recent years, the threat of long-term water shortages has become one of the biggest environmental issues in the UK, although a large proportion of the population are unaware of the full extent of the problem.
Will the water shortage problems worsen?
The Environment Agency has warned that England is facing water supply shortages by 2050 unless rapid action is taken to curb water use and wastage. The agency has said enough water to meet the needs of 20 million people is lost through leakage every day (approximately three billion litres of water).
It is expected that population growth, unsustainable land use and the impact of climate change will add to supply pressures and so people are being urged by the agency to use sensible amounts of water at home and have a personal water target.
In 2016, 9.5 trillion litres of freshwater were extracted from the country’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, among others. However, both groundwater and surface water usage were seen to be at unsustainable levels.
Why will England's water supply be under increased strain in the future?
It is expected that by 2026 in England alone (not including the rest of the UK), the population is expected to be made up of 58.5 million people, which will create new pressures in areas where water availability is already under strain.
An Environment Agency report warns: “Projections suggest that if no action is taken to reduce demand and increase supply of water, most areas will not meet demand by the 2050s.
“Even low population growth and modest climate change scenarios suggest significant water supply deficits by the 2050s, particularly in the south-east.”
3. Biodiversity
Plants, sea creatures, bees…these are all crucial to a healthy ecosystem, which is boosted by each species on our planet.
We will enjoy a greater variety of crops if there is a larger number of plant species on our planet but this is only one reason we need to protect biodiversity.
There are many environmental challenges to overcome, according to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which invests public money in world-leading science to help us sustain and benefit from the natural resources. NERC works closely with policymakers and industry to ensure our knowledge can support sustainable economic growth and wellbeing in the UK and around the world.
What are some of the threats to biodiversity?
One such threat to biodiversity is vitamin deficiency in some species of fish and birds which is linked to population decline. Low vitamin B1 can impair their immune system and change reproductive behaviour. Possible causes include low intake due to changes to algae that produces thiamine (vitamin B1), or exposure to pollution.
Another biodiversity threat is the underestimation of soil carbon emissions, that are released as the Earth warms. It is less clear about the effect of warming deeper down, despite loss of carbon in shallow soil being understood, and the fear is that if a substantial amount of soil carbon is missing from the projections, global warming could progress more rapidly than anticipated, with serious impacts on humans and our environment.
How does deep water fishing affect biodiversity?
Deep water fishing with the use of lasers is another problem. This is new technology which could be adopted instead of bottom trawling the sea for high volumes of wild seafood, as the latter damages marine environments and catches unintended animals and plants.
A targeted approach using wider nets and precision lasers could deliver a bigger catch with minimal damage and lower carbon but according to the Marine Conservation Institute, the best policy would be to end economically wasteful deep-sea fisheries, redirect subsidies to help displaced fishermen and rebuild fish populations in productive waters closer to ports and markets.
In a report published in the journal Marine Policy, marine ecologists, fisheries biologists, economists, mathematicians and international policy experts show that, with rare exceptions, deep-sea fisheries are unsustainable.
4. Climate Change
The earth’s temperature has increased noticeably over the past half century and more than nine out of ten climate scientists agree carbon emissions – that we create – are the main cause of global warming.
Some of the hot weather we are currently experiencing is typical of the season, but if it becomes too out of character, we can’t avoid hearing about the perils of climate change. And it’s a real problem.
What unique challenges does climate change present in the UK?
Our UK weather is infamously unpredictable and we are all only too aware of the four seasons in one day possibility. Easter brought snow and warm sunny days almost simultaneously, leaving us unsure whether we needed don Raybans or snowboots. It was a crazy combination of ice lollies and building snowmen, just weeks apart.
Now we are enjoying a “proper” summer but climate change is impacting the timing and nature of rainfall in England, causing hotter summers and warmer, wetter winters. It is a culprit for the water shortage issue we’ve already mentioned.
Why will global warming be so detrimental to our climate?
While it may appear that summer has arrived as normal and we can all enjoy the long, hot days of bright sunshine, the rising temperatures pose a deadly threat to life on our planet. It adds to the long list of environmental problems in the UK and is one of the main causes of concern about how dramatically our day-to-day lives could be impacted in the very near future.
Global warming is expected to be the greatest cause of species extinctions this century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says a 1.5°C average rise may put 20-30 per cent of species at risk of extinction. If the planet warms by more than 3°C, most ecosystems will struggle.
We have to take responsibility for this, considering the amount of fossil fuels we have burnt, and the meat we have consumed (cows contribute 3 per cent of Britain’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and 25 to 30 per cent of its methane).
Whilst at first it may be difficult to understand how eating a piece of meat could damage the planet, when you take a closer look at the food supply chain, including growing livestock numbers, storage issues and transportation requirements, it quickly adds up to one of the Earth’s major environmental issues.
5. Air Pollution
Sometimes you just want a breath of fresh air but it’s not always as simple as that. Toxic air is a major cause of many ailments in the UK.
While polluted air doesn’t kill people directly, it shortens the lives of approximately 40,000 people a year in the UK via heart or lung problems and worsens symptoms for asthma sufferers. In fact, analysis by Asthma UK found that poor air quality is responsible for triggering around 337,500 asthma attacks [GS3] in those registered with the condition in London.
How bad is the air pollution in the UK?
Actually, air pollution in the UK has been slowly dropping (excluding ammonia as a result of farming) but nitrogen oxide (NOx) and harmful particulates limits are still being breached in major UK cities like London. Not good, as it causes the environment to be acidic and corrosive. London’s air is one of the dirtiest in Europe and in 2016 the government was ordered by the High Court to come up with a plan to clean up air across the UK in the shortest possible time.
Buses, taxis, machinery and industry are contributors to the pollutants in the air we breathe and the biggest proportion of pollution in UK cities comes from road transport in general.
Why are diesel cars a massive problem for sustainability?
Sustainability has become the new buzz word in recent years, with brands and organisations all seemingly eager to search for new solutions. However, the continued use of diesel remains one of the biggest sustainability issues in the UK, threatening to undermine the good work being done elsewhere, and alternative sources are desperately needed on our roads to reduce our over reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
Diesel car manufacturers were accused of cheating emissions tests, when once upon a time we bought diesel cars because they were believed to be the greener option.
A 2016 study by the Department for Transport confirmed this, finding that all diesel cars tested produced more pollution on the road than in the laboratory – some emitted up to 12 times the EU maximum and Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to phase-out diesel vehicles by 2025.
Diesel vehicles are much more polluting than petrol cars on a local scale and while a more sustainable way to travel is to walk or cycle where possible, this isn’t always doable.
How does air pollution affect the health of the population?
This week a study revealed pollution is to blame for nearly 15,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes in Britain each year. Figures have trebled for the number of people in the UK with type 2 diabetes over the last twenty years, costing the NHS around £14 billion a year. Our sustainability recruiters are world leading. Get in touch to discuss our latest opportunities.
[GS1]https://phys.org/news/2022-08-marine-species-extinction-greenhouse-gas.html
[GS3]https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/londons-toxic-air-is-triggering-asthma-attacks
Energy & InfrastructureCase StudyThe Value of a Growth Mindset at CBRE
If you don’t often find yourself immersed in the professional development space, you may not be overly familiar with the concept of a growth mindset. So, you might be wondering, what exactly is this?
Think: Someone who is not only open to new ideas and concepts but actively makes decisions and achieves outcomes based on them.
Enter: Dave Dite, QHSE Director at CBRE.
Dave is no stranger to the idea of a growth mindset. Having worked with him here at Acre for the better part of the last 8 years, we’ve seen him continue to raise the bar for himself and those around him when it comes to abandoning ‘the way we’ve always done things’ and opting for new ways of achieving the desired outcomes.
When he was tasked with building a team at CBRE, the UK leader in commercial property, he recognised that the traditional professional development programmes that had historically been delivered within CBRE were a little dated, and he wanted something more innovative.
Then, by coincidence, Dave had two separate interactions in quick succession with the Acre Frameworks team and these showed him that he’d found what he’d been looking for - engaging content and delivery, focusing on impact and change in purpose-driven roles.
As we all know, in business, the bigger and more complex an organisation is, the more difficult it can be to get key stakeholders to engage. Over the following months, Dave strove to get the right people onto his team. He decided to take more ownership of that process and used Frameworks initially as a programme for his team which worked incredibly well.
The process began with everyone in the team undergoing our ‘Discovery’ process. This involves the completion of our market-leading non-technical skills assessment, followed by a 1-1 feedback session with an Acre Frameworks development coach to discuss the findings of the report; a process that Dave found fascinating.
After his original team had completed Discovery, Dave spent the afternoon with a couple of the Frameworks coaches going through all the results and they then mapped the results to gauge how the whole team worked together. “What really startled me was a couple of things - firstly, when you mapped the data together, it formed quite a nice picture. In other words, it said to me that the team is actually quite strong as a group because their strengths and weaknesses seem to counterbalance each other.”
"The second thing I found really interesting was that I could recognise quite a few members of my team from their Discovery results - so essentially, I could look it on the screen, and say ‘That's Person A. And that's Person B’ - but not for every single one of them. I’d probably say I recognised 60 per cent. But strangely enough, the one person that I didn't recognise from Discovery was myself.”
Dave then started a journey into his own personal development with Frameworks, which he says uncovered some fascinating high-level things about himself. Prior to his coaching, he states that he used to put on an avatar to come to work. i.e. get ready to leave the house, find his keys, grab his wallet, walk out the front door. At that point, he assumed the character of Dave the QHSSE lead. “That was why I didn't recognise myself on the Discovery map - and that is what the coaches at Frameworks and myself have been working on for the past couple of years. At that point, I felt able to throw the avatar in the bin and it was like a breath of fresh air.”
Dave has moved around quite a bit within CBRE since the avatar was discarded. Not only is he personally happy, but he is also professionally fulfilled which not many people can genuinely say. It’s been a great process for him to be part of but it has been hard work, and has kept Dave on his toe for five years.
Dave has built a team over the past couple of years that complement each other, who meet regularly, and whom he believes are now confident in their own skin. However, none of that would have been possible without the group working together as a team, and that is a direct result of them being part of the Frameworks product.
“Ultimately, it's been a fantastic journey.”
At Acre Frameworks we are passionate about facilitating the non-technical growth of purpose-driven professionals within the realms of health, safety and sustainability - we know that each journey is unique but equally as rewarding to the teams that embrace the process.
Interested in how we might assist you with a people development strategy? Get in touch with us today.
Professional Services Jobs
ESG Compliance & Reporting Lead FTC
Professional Services
London, Greater London, England
Hybrid
12-month FTC, part-time (3 days a week)
We are working with a global sustainability consultancy who are seeking a Compliance and Reporting Lead to oversee environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance and reporting across their global operations. This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and strategic individual to lead compliance initiatives, ensure the timely submission of mandatory reports, and manage global sustainability data.
In this role, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining compliance processes, managing internal ESG data, and ensuring adherence to global policies. You’ll collaborate closely with local teams to verify compliance, manage ESG-related queries, and support the delivery of high-impact sustainability outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Oversee global reporting requirements, ensuring timely and accurate submissions to meet regulatory demands.
- Manage adherence to policies across the organisation, including water usage, anti-slavery, and sustainability-related areas.
- Collaborate with local teams to verify compliance with global standards and policies.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation and processes for ESG compliance activities.
- Respond to ESG-related queries and support internal engagement efforts.
- Liaison between internal teams to ensure smooth integration of ESG data and processes.
- Assist in preparing and conducting quarterly governance processes to review data and compliance progress.
- Support the creation of internal and external engagement materials through research and analysis.
- Collaborate with the ESG team to implement best practices and drive continuous improvement in sustainability efforts.
Person Specification
- Strong expertise in ESG data management, including data collection, validation, and analysis.
- Solid understanding of global compliance reporting requirements and regulations.
- Familiarity with ESG data platforms.
If you are a highly skilled ESG professional with a passion for sustainability and a strong background in compliance and reporting, we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV to Tiana Thomas at tiana.thomas@acre.com
Account Director - 12 Month FTC
Professional Services
West Sussex, UK
Hybrid
12-Month Maternity Cover
We are working with a consultancy who are seeking a dynamic Account Director for a 12-month maternity cover. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced relationship manager to oversee strategic client accounts, lead service delivery, and drive operational excellence across cross-functional teams.
In this role, you'll take charge of managing high-value customer relationships, ensuring that all services are delivered on time, within budget, and in line with contractual expectations. You’ll collaborate with internal teams to optimise processes, identify new growth opportunities, and represent the business at key industry events.
Responsibilities
• Lead the delivery of services to key accounts, ensuring strategic alignment and timely execution
• Manage client relationships, understanding their drivers and translating them into actionable deliverables
• Oversee projects from start to finish, coordinating with internal teams and managing resources effectively
• Support business development efforts through upselling and client growth strategies
• Coach, mentor, and support the Operations team, contributing to training and skills development
• Collaborate on contract negotiations and ensure adherence to customer agreements
• Monitor and report on project performance, customer satisfaction, and account KPIs
• Represent the company at industry events and forums, promoting brand visibility and thought leadership
• Support financial processes, including accurate invoicing and assisting with credit control where needed
• Lead onboarding for new customers, working cross-functionally to ensure a seamless handover and setup
• Advise clients on strategic water management options and promote sustainability-focused services
Person Specification
• Proven experience in client management, project delivery, and strategic account leadership
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage budgets and drive performance
If you are a highly skilled and experienced Client Manager looking to make a real impact, please get in touch and send your CV to Tiana Thomas at tiana.thomas@acre.com
Principal Consultant - Financial Services
Financial 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'.
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
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'.
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.
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 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 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
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'.
Principal Consultant - Industry & Infrastructure
Professional 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, Acre has been a global pioneer in sustainability recruitment. We work with trailblazing organisations to build teams that drive environmental and social progress. As a certified B Corp with offices in London, New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore, we've placed leaders in over 55 countries, led the development of global thought leadership like the Sustainability Census, and built the largest sustainability-focused search business in the world.
Our Industry & Infrastructure practice works with the world's most influential organisations in sectors such as construction, logistics, manufacturing, and the built environment - helping them transition toward a low-carbon, circular, and resource-efficient future.
The Role: Principal Consultant - Infrastructure & Industrial Sustainability
We're looking for a purpose-led, commercially savvy Principal Consultant to lead retained search assignments in the infrastructure and industrial sectors. You'll support organisations undergoing deep operational change - from decarbonising supply chains and modernising logistics, to embedding ESG across construction and engineering projects.
You'll be empowered to shape your niche, own your market strategy, and develop long-term partnerships with leaders who are redefining sustainability in hard-to-abate sectors.
What You'll Do
- Lead your market: Define and grow a dedicated vertical within infrastructure and industry, focusing on ESG, net-zero transformation, and operational sustainability.
- Deliver impact through hiring: Manage executive search mandates across sustainability strategy, climate risk, responsible sourcing, and beyond.
- Build powerful partnerships: Engage with senior decision-makers in global infrastructure firms, consultancies, and manufacturers.
- Champion career journeys: Build deep relationships with candidates - not just for roles today, but for a future of ongoing impact.
- Lead by example: Mentor others, contribute to a values-led team culture, and support the evolution of Acre's industrial practice.
What We're Looking For
- Executive or senior-level recruitment experience - ideally with exposure to infrastructure, industry, or sustainability.
- A track record of retained search delivery and commercial success.
- A consultative style with the ability to engage credibly at C-suite and board level.
- Knowledge or curiosity around sustainable infrastructure, carbon management, or ESG in complex supply chains.
- A mission-aligned mindset: you believe business can be a force for good and want your work to reflect that.
- A growth mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaborative approach to work.
Why Join Acre?
- Make commercial impact with purpose: Every placement helps reshape business for a more resilient, sustainable world.
- Work on the frontline of industry transformation: Infrastructure is at a tipping point - your work will help guide legacy organisations into the future.
- Global platform, local focus: With a strong international brand and in-house research, data, and marketing, we empower you to lead your space.
- People-first culture: Our team thrives on ambition, care, and integrity. We succeed together - and we enjoy the journey.
- Growth and ownership: Alongside competitive pay and commission, you'll access Acre's long-term incentive plan, which rewards shared success through equity-style rewards.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We believe diverse teams drive greater impact. At Acre, we're building a team that reflects the diversity of the industries we serve and the planet we work to protect. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.
Ready to shape the future of Industry?
If you're commercially driven and purpose-led, with the energy to drive change in one of the world's most critical sectors - let's talk. To find out more, click through to our internal recruitment brochure here.
Principal Recruitment Consultant - Industry & Infrastructure
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 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
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.
Estate Energy Manager
Professional Services
London, Greater London, England
Hybrid
Acre is delighted to be supporting a leading real estate organisation with the recruitment of an Estate Energy Manager to oversee and optimise energy operations across a high-profile mixed-use estate in London.
This is a pivotal role, with responsibility for ensuring the cost-effective procurement, accurate tenant billing, and overall performance of the estate-wide energy infrastructure – while contributing to the broader sustainability ambitions of the business.
As part of a collaborative and forward-thinking operational team, the successful candidate will lead efforts to drive energy efficiency, monitor utility usage, and identify optimisation opportunities through data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and industry best practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the energy operations across the estate, with a strong focus on utility procurement, metering infrastructure, monitoring, and accurate tenant rebilling.
- Oversee the deployment and optimisation of technologies to support accurate data collection, validation, and cost allocation.
- Support and improve processes for occupier billing in collaboration with the finance team.
- Conduct regular audits and analysis of energy consumption across the estate to drive cost savings and carbon reductions.
- Define, monitor, and report on energy-related KPIs, contributing to estate-wide sustainability and performance targets.
- Support compliance with regulatory frameworks and energy-related accreditations (e.g. NABERS), ensuring the business is aligned with best practices.
- Prepare internal and external sustainability and performance reports, using insights to engage stakeholders and shape future strategy.
- Facilitate collaborative working groups with tenants and service providers, driving collective action on energy performance.
- Act as the primary point of contact for energy-related queries, and represent the estate in engagement with industry bodies, energy advisors, and government agencies.
About You
- Experience in energy management, ideally within real estate or mixed-use developments, with a strong understanding of UK energy regulations and sustainability frameworks.
- Proven track record in utility procurement, metering systems, energy cost allocation and performance reporting.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills – able to translate complex energy data into accessible insights.
- Analytical and financially literate, with confidence managing budgets and investment cases related to sustainability.
- Familiar with tools and platforms for energy data monitoring, reporting and compliance tracking.
- Experience with energy certification schemes such as NABERS is advantageous.
- Self-starter with a problem-solving mindset and the ability to build positive working relationships across departments and occupiers
This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of one of London’s most iconic destinations, shaping the energy and sustainability strategy across a diverse and ambitious estate. If you're driven by impact, performance, and collaboration – we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply directly or reach out to Ben Flint at ben.flint@acre.com for more information.
Junior Sustainability Consultant
Professional Services
Milton Keynes, UK
Hybrid
Are you passionate about sustainability and the food industry?
Acre is partnering with a dynamic consultancy firm who are looking for a highly motivated Junior Consultant to join their team. In this exciting role, you will support the development and execution of sustainability strategies, healthy sustainable diets programme, climate and nature initiatives, and communication strategies for their clients.
You’ll work closely with consultants, strategic partners, and project managers to deliver high-quality research, data analysis, and industry insights. Your work will support companies in navigating the evolving sustainability landscape and driving positive environmental and social outcomes. As part of the team, you will help deliver transformative change in the food industry.
Reporting in to the Associate Director Senior Lead, you will conduct research and insights, consisting of
- Monitoring sustainability trends in the food industry (climate, nature, health).
- Analyse data and insights to identify key trends and findings.
- Support the creation of the insight report.
- Stay updated on sustainability and ESG developments in the food industry.
Support with projects and client work
- Help develop sustainability frameworks and strategies for clients.
- Support stakeholder engagement
- Assist in preparing proposals.
Get involved in Project/Account Management
- Collaborate with project leads to set up client projects, including defining scope and developing project kick-off materials.
- Support progress reports and updates for projects.
- Over time, manage small projects.
- Conduct post-project reviews, sharing both learnings and case studies to showcase project success.
Knowledge, requirements, and profile
- 1-3 years’ experience, ideally within a consultancy or a sustainability-related role.
- A passion for sustainability and the food industry.
- Clear and effective communicator, with the ability to build relationships with clients and teams.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines efficiently.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Compensation and benefits
- Competitive salary (£30,000-£35,000 dependent on experience).
- 21 days bank holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas shutdown.
- Mostly remote- office is in Milton Keynes.
Interested? Please apply directly or reach out to Imogen Mattick at imogen.mattick@acre.com
Experienced Recruitment/Search Consultants
Professional Services
London, Greater London, England
Hybrid
Businesses are responding to governmental mandates, consumer and shareholder expectations, and the urgent need to address climate change. Consequently, organisations increasingly require sustainability-minded employees across all roles, departments, and skill sets. We fulfil our purpose by sourcing individuals who empower their organisations to achieve net-zero goals, finance sustainable infrastructure and technology, and align more effectively with nature.
As a global recruitment business focused on sustainability, we tackle issues such as climate change, habitat loss, and human rights. With over twenty years of experience, we understand our clients' goals and provide the solutions needed to achieve them.
What are your ambitions?
We’re expanding our team across our four global locations and want to speak with recruitment and executive search professionals with extensive business development and delivery experience, who can represent our brand professionally and deliver exceptional recruitment processes.
What will your core responsibilities be in this role?
- Revenue generation: You’ll be motivated to achieve ambitious targets that inspire those around you. You’ll think strategically about how to get the greatest return on your time, utilising Acre’s talented Research Team and other functions to enable your success.
- Creating and delivering a commercial market strategy: You’ll create a market strategy that articulates a clear vision for growth and aligns with our wider business goals.
- Identifying & winning new business: You’ll be tenacious about building and nurturing senior-level relationships.
- Building your brand alongside Acre’s: You’ll engage in strategic marketing initiatives that align with your market strategy, helping to position you as the recruiter of choice in your industry.
What will you get in return?
You’re a valued team member
As the only search firm in the world with the depth of experience to tackle humanities biggest challenges, we operate as a trusted advisor to our clients. Our team is built on passion and integrity and the value you’ll add goes far beyond numbers.
You’ll grow with us.
We’ve experienced quick growth over the past three years, and despite a challenging economic climate we have been ambitious with our plans, including the launch of our Singapore office in 2022. We are re-entering a phase of growth and need great people to be part of our success.
If you’re ambitious to be both commercially successful, but also to create an inspiring legacy; you’re in the right place. Let’s create change, together. To find out more, click through to our internal recruitment brochure 'here'
Sales and Structuring Associate
Professional Services
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Remote
EU - Remote working, work authorisation required
Are you passionate about using commercial skills to improve livelihoods?
VNV Advisory has been leading project development of community powered carbon programs, in areas of sustainable agriculture, social forestry, mangroves restoration, clean cooking, rural energy access and waste management for over 18 years.
These programs are focused on people collectives who are at the forefront of the climate crisis and are aimed at enabling livelihoods and adaptation at scale. Our work encompasses over 7+ million rural households and approximately 3-5 million hectares of agricultural land & forest areas across 15+ countries in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
They are looking for a talented sales professional to lead commercial activities and structure sell-side carbon transactions.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct thorough market research to explore and evaluate market trends and potential client opportunities, providing crucial insights to guide sales strategy decisions.
- Structure sales models for client presentations.
- Proactively build a client portfolio by approaching potential leads, establishing strong relationships and attending events to network
- Identify sales opportunities by closely monitoring markets, analysing data, and devising effective strategies for successful sales execution.
- Contribute to the development of sales strategies and implement processes to achieve team goals. Account management of key clients
- Prepare detailed analyses and project presentations that regularly update clients and stakeholders on project status.
- Provide bi-monthly pricing information to clients, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of updates.
- Structure sell-side carbon transactions using various financial and commercial instruments.
- Work closely with the legal team to draft commercial agreement of projects under execution.
- Daily activities would include Liaising with sales support and lead gen to come up with a framework for market research for a list of potential clients/investors, understanding the current position of various projects to understand financing needs, and monitoring daily inventory reports to understand the liquidity position of the firm.
Key Requirements
- 2-5 years’ experience in B2B sales, business development, or similar roles involving direct client interaction and previous evidence of executed transactions
- Relevant experience and understanding of sustainability, environmental and carbon reduction products
- Excellent written and spoken English is required; proficiency in additional European languages is preferred
- Must be based in the EU region and have work authorisation.
- A bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance, or a related field
- Good understanding of Excel and financial arrangement methods in general
- Flexibility for frequent travel is required
- Demonstrated commercial mindset with solid sales and negotiation skills
- Strong commitment to climate action and the betterment of underprivileged communities’ livelihoods
- Familiarity with CRM software is a plus
What VNV offer
- Collaboration with global partners and organisations to address climate challenges
- The opportunity to make lasting impact by contributing to large-scale emission reduction and the promotion of a sustainable future
- Ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills in carbon sales and sustainability practices
- Remote working with 30 days paid leave per annum
If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply directly or reach out to Aysen Naylor at aysen.naylor@acre.com for further information
Market Analysis
At Acre, our deep expertise in sustainability sets us apart from other recruitment agencies. Clients and candidates alike trust us for our comprehensive insights into industry trends, talent demands, and emerging challenges. Our in-depth market knowledge allows us to provide strategic guidance and data-driven solutions, helping organisations and professionals navigate the evolving ESG landscape with confidence. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this dynamic market.
Meet the teamWhat are the key hiring trends in professional services for ESG and sustainability?
How is ESG shaping hiring strategies in professional services?
What skills are most in demand for ESG professionals in professional services?
Why is specialist recruitment essential for professional services firms?
How does Acre support executive search for leadership roles in professional services?