Job Description

Job Title: Sustainability & Governance Manager

Location: Hybrid Working – London N3 / EC4M

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hour week (Flexitime)

Reporting to: Head of Regulatory Compliance & Ethics

Part Time Considered: Yes

Salary: £55,000 - £65,000

About BKL

BKL is a Top 40 accountancy and advisory business supporting a diverse client base, from entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals to ambitious owner-managed businesses and multinational groups. With a legacy spanning over 130 years, we’ve evolved into a modern, purpose-driven business that balances profit with impact.

We are proud to be a certified B Corp, reflecting our commitment to sustainability, transparency, and responsible governance. As a member of DFK International, we support clients locally and internationally with cutting-edge expertise and a personal touch.

We believe all clients deserve the same level of care, innovation, and excellence.

Your Opportunity

At BKL, we are committed to doing the right thing for our people, our clients and our wider communities. As our Sustainability & Governance Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring the firm operates responsibly, effectively and sustainably.

Setting a sustainability ambition is the easy half. This role does both halves: you will own BKL’s ESG and Net Zero strategy, our carbon reporting and our B Corp recertification, advise the Board on ESG risk and performance, and then use our governance, policy and professional standards frameworks to build it into how the firm works day to day - all at a Top 40, B Corp-certified accountancy firm.

About the Team

You will sit within BKL’s wider governance team, reporting to the Head of Regulatory Compliance & Ethics, who in turn reports to the Chief Governance & Sustainability Officer. You will have experienced colleagues around you who lead our regulatory and professional standards work, while owning the sustainability agenda yourself. Working closely with them, and with the Board and senior leaders across the business, you will bring structure, insight and a practical approach to help BKL grow with confidence, manage risk effectively and maximise its positive impact.

BKL is on a growth trajectory, organically and through acquisition. As the firm grows, this role and the team around it will grow with it - responsibility here is earned on merit, and there is real scope to take on more as the business expands.

A Message from the Hiring Manager

This is a broad and varied role with a clear centre of gravity. You will lead BKL’s sustainability agenda - owning the continued development of our ESG and Net Zero strategy, our carbon reporting and our B Corp commitments - and provide practical support to the governance, risk, compliance and quality frameworks that sit alongside it.

That combination is deliberate. In our experience the G in ESG is what makes the E and the S happen: good decisions and ethical business practice only take hold once they are built into everyday policies, procedures and controls. As an ICAEW-regulated business we are also required to act in the public interest, which sets the standard we hold ourselves to. This role exists at that junction; setting the sustainability ambition and then building it into how the firm actually runs.

How You’ll Make a Difference

In this role, you will:

ESG, Sustainability & B Corp

• Lead the ongoing development and delivery of BKL’s ESG and Net Zero strategy.
• Act as a trusted adviser to the Board and senior leaders on ESG risks, opportunities and performance.
• Lead BKL’s B Corp certification and recertification activities, including benchmarking and improvement plans.
• Ensure ESG considerations are embedded within business processes, policies and decision-making.
• Oversee supplier onboarding and due diligence processes, ensuring sustainability, ethical and governance standards are considered when engaging and reviewing third-party suppliers, and helping to build and embed those systems in conjunction with the Finance and Operations teams at BKL.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including B Lab UK and other sustainability partners.
• Drive engagement initiatives that strengthen ESG awareness and participation across the firm.

Data, Reporting & Insight

• Own carbon calculation and reporting for BKL, including data collection, methodology and year-on-year performance, in conjunction with BKL’s Finance team.
• Deliver carbon calculations for BKL clients, supporting client teams with methodology and interpretation.
• Collect, analyse and interpret governance, risk and ESG data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce and present governance, risk and ESG information for Board and Executive Committee reporting.
• Develop BKL’s data collection and impact measurement frameworks.
• Create clear and engaging reporting that communicates performance and progress to internal and external stakeholders.

Governance, Regulation & Professional Standards

• Coordinate and collate data for internal compliance checks, including DPB, Client Money and Probate, and undertake some of these checks directly.
• Support BKL’s ICAEW annual returns, regulatory submissions and day-to-day liaison, working alongside the colleagues who lead this activity.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of governance frameworks across the firm.
• Help ensure governance processes remain effective, proportionate and aligned to business objectives.

Policies, Controls & Quality

• Support the drafting and maintenance of firm-wide policies and procedures, ensuring they remain practical, clear and fit for purpose.
• Support the development and delivery of communications and training to support policy awareness and compliance.
• Analyse complaints to identify root causes and help reduce repeat issues.

Strategic Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead ESG and business improvement projects from planning through to implementation, and support governance projects led elsewhere in the firm.
• Establish clear project plans, milestones and success measures.
• Coordinate stakeholders across multiple teams and disciplines.
• Monitor progress, manage dependencies and proactively address risks and issues.
• Support change management activities to ensure new processes, systems and ways of working are successfully embedded.
• Monitor delivery of the sustainability and governance strategies against agreed objectives, and report on progress.

You’ll Be Ideal for This Role If You Have:

Experience

• Experience leading sustainability, ESG or responsible business activity, ideally within professional services.
• An understanding of working within regulated environments; exposure to ICAEW regulation is an advantage rather than a requirement.
• Experience supporting and leading cross-functional projects and implementing organisational change.
• Experience developing policies, frameworks and reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Carbon reporting knowledge and Net Zero delivery experience. Knowledge of B Corp certification advantageous but not essential.
• Experience supporting Board, leadership or committee reporting.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn complex data into meaningful insights and recommendations.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to create clear policies, reports and presentations.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and influencing at all levels of the organisation.
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of balancing risk, compliance and business growth.
• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with the ability to bring people together around shared goals.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with sound judgement and attention to detail.
• Passionate about responsible business and creating positive impact.

We know you have a lot to offer, which is why we give you the freedom to thrive, no matter who you are or what your background is.

Our Values

At BKL, we live by five core values:

• Think Big – Be curious, brave, and open to new ideas.
• In It Together – Collaborate, care, and build an inclusive culture.
• Take Pride – Strive for excellence and believe in your impact.
• Do the Right Thing – Act with integrity, honesty, and fairness.
• Enjoy It – Bring your whole self to work and have fun doing it.

Take Your Next Step

Ready to grow your career with a company that balances ambition with purpose? Apply today and discover how far you can go at BKL.

Our recruitment process typically involves three stages:

1. An introductory Teams call with our Talent Acquisition team.
2. A first-stage interview with two team members.
3. A final interview at our London office, including a tour to give you a feel for our working environment.

Compliance & Equal Opportunities

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, you will be required to undertake GDPR training in order to fully understand the regulations and ensure all work is carried out in a compliant manner.

As part of any recruitment process, BKL collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. BKL is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations.

BKL is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates eligible to work in the UK.

Inclusion, diversity, and talent development are a fundamental aspect of who we are, and we welcome applications from candidates who share and champion these values. You will play an integral part in helping to make BKL a great place to work with a sense of belonging for everyone.

High challenge, high support

If you enjoy problem-solving and a fast-changing environment, you will thrive in this role.

As in all BKL roles, you will be able to take a flexible approach: balancing independent work with teamwork, and remote working with time in the office with colleagues.

You can get an insight into life at BKL here.

We’re proud to be one of the few Certified B Corporations in the accountancy sector. In joining us, you’ll become part of a business that’s committed to balancing profit and purpose.

Take your next step

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d be delighted to discuss the career you could build at BKL.

By applying, you consent to the processing of your personal data for recruitment purposes, in line with UK GDPR. Your information will be used securely, only for recruitment, and won’t be shared without your consent. For details, see our Privacy Policy - BKL

Our Accreditations