Technical Research Analyst

The Sustainability Accounting Standards BoardTM (SASB) is a non-profit organization engaged in the development and dissemination of industry-specific sustainability accounting standards.

SASB is establishing an understanding of material sustainability issues facing industries and creating sustainability accounting standards suitable for disclosure in standard filings such as the Form 10-K and 20-F.

SASB addresses the unique needs of the U.S. market, establishing standards for integrated reporting that are concise, comparable within an industry, and relevant to all ~13,000 publicly listed companies in the U.S.

Position Overview:

The Technical Research Analyst is responsible for creating SASB's industry-specific Technical and Assurance Protocols. The Technical Protocol is SASB's guidance to corporations on how best to quantify and measure the metrics associated with each accounting standard. Each industry will have a set of metrics representing the required minimum sustainability disclosures for that industry. The Assurance Protocol is SASB's guidance regarding how to audit a corporation's sustainability disclosures, as per the Sustainability Accounting Standard for each industry.

The analyst is expected to be or quickly become fully proficient analyzing industries from accounting, financial and sustainability perspectives. He/she must then quickly understand the various existing technical methods for measuring and quantifying sustainability information, and improve upon them or develop new methods.

Many of the methods will be scientific in nature, so candidates must have the commiserate skillset to read, understand, and create such methodologies. The analyst must do the same for assurance methodologies, quickly identifying existing best practices and improving upon them or developing new methods as needed. The nature of assurance methods are quite different from that of technical methods, characterized by testing the validity of information disclosed, enabling an independent and professional opinion to be provided in order to reduce information risk.

The work involves quantitative research, data mining, harvesting existing technical and assurance related information, improving upon existing methods and creating new ones. The analyst is expected to develop relationships with industry analysts/researchers/experts that can assist with providing useful information and resources.

The position requires great tenacity, organization, and logic to conduct research, draw insights, and synthesize large amounts of data. It's essential that the analyst quickly identify the most salient methods within an industry, understand their tradeoffs, and establish SASB's recommended technical and assurance methods. The analyst must do this for multiple industries within a sector simultaneously. Ultimately the analyst is responsible for writing the protocols (technical and assurance) for each industry.

Responsibilites and Essential Duties:

Technical Protocol and Assurance Protocol

• Create industry specific Technical and Assurance Protocols. There are a total of 88 industries for which these protocols will be developed over the next 2 years. 
• Evaluate existing metrics and methodologies to determine the best in class for inclusion in the Technical and Assurance Protocols.
• Cultivate, develop and maintain new and ongoing relationships with numerous and diverse industry contacts in order to stay informed and participate in relevant thought leadership. 
• Leverage that network to accelerate the development of the two protocols, incorporating existing methodologies as appropriate. This is a key activity for this role.
• Partner with Stakeholder Engagement Managers to utilize industry stakeholders' feedback and ideas to improve the protocols.
• Produce research reports, presentations, and summary analysis for internal and external audiences.
• Recruit volunteers to assist with research and analysis in order to leverage up SASB's capabilities.
• Develop an expertise in sustainability accounting standards and sustainability as a factor in traditional corporate valuations (discounted cash flows, etc.).

Qualifications:

• This is a fast paced environment requiring self-direction, accountability, and high degree of personal initiative. The Analyst must be able to work independently and produce high quality output. We're looking for a leader to personally drive our research and standards to success.
• Strong self-starter with ability to initiate work, manage performance to fulfill responsibilities in the face of competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Ideal candidate will have 3 - 5 plus years' experience as an ESG research analyst or similar, performing quantitative research/analysis, data modeling, and data mining.
• Expertise in corporate sustainability, integrated reporting and/or assurance of non-financial data a plus.
• BA (required), MBA (or equivalent) and CFA a plus. Prefer finance and accounting related degrees.
• Superior research and analysis skills and comprehension/synthesis of complex information.
• Excellent writing skills across a range of formats and audiences. 
• Experience with Bloomberg Terminals a plus.
• High energy level with a sense of urgency and a results oriented approach.
• Positive, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and a collaborative work style.
• Excels at operating in a fast pace, community environment.
• Excellent people person, open to direction and suggestions.
• Collaborative work style and commitment to getting the job done.
• Ability to challenge and debate issues of importance to the organization, analyzing situations from several points of view.
• Persuasive with details and facts.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office.

To Apply:

Please click below: "Apply Here!" to begin the application process.