Global fund services provider: Embedding ESG into the fabric of a global financial services firm

1 min read

Financial Services

Wealth & Asset Management

Sustainability

A leading global corporate services and trust business wanted to embed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles across its culture, strategy and operations. We partnered with them to design a roadmap for lasting change: from aligning leadership around sustainability priorities to integrating governance, training, and carbon management. The result was a more resilient organization, a stronger reputation in the market and an ability to attract both clients and talent through a credible sustainability commitment.

Outcome 1: Achieved organization-wide alignment with leadership and global teams becoming unified behind a shared ESG strategy
Outcome 2: Integrated governance, training and policies into daily operations across multiple jurisdictions at scale
Outcome 3: Realized market impact with a strengthened reputation attracting new clients and top talent, while supporting existing clients on their own ESG

The challenge

Sustainability has shifted from being a nice-to-have to a business imperative in financial services. Regulators, investors and clients increasingly expect firms to demonstrate measurable ESG impact. For our client, it wasn’t enough to respond to external pressure. They wanted to take the lead in making ESG a defining part of who they are, not just what they do.

Our client recognized that while sustainability was on their agenda, it was not yet integrated into their culture or day-to-day operations. They needed a clear strategy, practical governance and the right capabilities across their global workforce to turn ESG ambition into real-world impact.

The approach

We began with discovery workshops across senior leadership and global teams to surface views on material issues and priorities. From this, we developed a strategic recommendations report and aligned the organization with the UN Global Compact. We set up governance structures, policies and tracking methods, while also training colleagues worldwide on ESG concepts and sustainable finance. Finally, we procured and project-managed a specialist partner to conduct a full analysis of global emissions, delivering clear recommendations and a roadmap for achieving Net Zero.

The impact

Our client now has ESG fully embedded across their organization – from the boardroom to frontline teams. They are seen as a leader in sustainable finance, attracting new clients and top talent, while also supporting existing clients on their own sustainability journeys. This cultural and strategic shift has positioned them ahead of peers and ensured ESG is not just a compliance exercise, but a source of long-term value creation