As environmental and social issues rise in importance to the general public and investors, the AICPA and CIMA are offering a new certificate that provides foundational knowledge on critical topics related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and assurance.

“The growing demand for ESG data – driven by investors, lenders, customers and, increasingly, policymakers – makes this a high priority category for skills development within the accounting profession,” the organizations said in a statement.

The Fundamentals of ESG Certificate is available globally and is appropriate for CPAs, management accountants such as CGMAs, and finance professionals looking to obtain a baseline knowledge of ESG topics. The 9-hour course offers a grounding in the fundamental concepts of and latest developments within the ESG field. Upon completion, certificate holders can display a digital badge in their online profiles.

Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!

Subscribe for free to get personalized daily content, newsletters, continuing education, podcasts, whitepapers and more...

Already registered? Login

Need more information? Read the FAQ's

“When we talk about preparing the accounting profession for tomorrow, ESG is a core component,” said Susan S. Coffey, CPA, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA’s CEO of public accounting. “Business reporting and the underlying concepts of enterprise value are evolving rapidly, and no group is more essential to instilling trust and integrity into that process than accountants. Our obligation as a profession is to make sure we develop the necessary skills and expertise to lead the integration of ESG into the organization and deliver on high-quality reporting and assurance of ESG information.”

AICPA & CIMA are developing a detailed learning roadmap for ESG. As the first step on that journey, the Fundamentals of ESG Certificate program will provide course takers with the ability to:

Identify the key aspects in each area of Environment, Social and Governance
Recognize the expectations of investors and the impact on business
Assess the responsibility of businesses for key ESG issues
Recognize the business case for implementing sustainable practices
Identify the role of the accounting and auditing profession in sustainability
Recognize the current sustainability reporting frameworks and reporting requirements

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, together form the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Pricing and further details of the program are available on the certificate home page. For an array of other resources on sustainability and ESG, please visit aicpa.org/esg.