ESG consulting

We designed our ESG Rapid Assessment to meet you where you are in your environmental, social and governance (ESG) journey. This assessment can help you formalize and align your ESG mandate with corporate values and strengthen your stakeholder engagement strategy. It can also help define your current-state capabilities to track and report ESG information using relevant frameworks like The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Creating an ESG report can be daunting. The process may require additional support to ensure proper alignment to a recognized sustainability reporting framework such as TCFD, GRI or SASB. We have experience developing these reports for organizations of all sizes, industries and ESG maturity levels.

RSM helps your company navigate your greenhouse gas journey, leveraging industry-leading practices, guidance and frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to develop robust Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions inventories. We also prepare for disclosure and audit. RSM can create strategies for your global climate goals and align them to external organizations like Science Based Targets Initiatives or the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Not all companies are ready to hire a full-time chief sustainability officer (CSO), but they can still benefit from a CSO’s knowledge and skills. Our ESG program development and CSO outsourcing services leverage our experienced professionals to guide your ESG function, allowing you to achieve your goals and helping your team stay focused on core business activities.

Technology can improve or introduce new capabilities, like ESG data management platforms or sustainability performance management systems. Technology can also free up capacity and accelerate the integration of ESG into your operational processes. With ESG, however, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. RSM takes a provider-agnostic approach to determine the most value-accretive and fit-for-purpose ESG technology solutions for your organization. The examples below are not an exhaustive list, but solutions can include the following:

1. AuditBoard
2. Microsoft Sustainability Manager/Cloud for Sustainability
3. ESG reporting for NetSuite
4. Workiva
5. ServiceNow ESG
6. Equifax

Our methodology is founded on a risk-based, top-down philosophy. When SOX compliance efforts are focused on the areas of most significant risk of material misstatement of the financials, the benefits can include the following:

• A more efficient control environment in terms of the execution and assessment of those controls 
• Improved effectiveness of controls in preventing and detecting material misstatements
• A reduced independent external auditor effort and lower related fees

We take an implementation-focused approach that addresses your bottom line, working capital and risk mitigation. The goal is to strengthen every link in your supply chain, creating a more efficient and resilient system. Our consultants focus on key operational levers and innovative models to identify and close gaps, solidify interdependencies, and modernize processes. A comprehensive analysis of your supply chain looks at the following vital components:

• Strategic sourcing and procurement
• Logistics and distribution
• Manufacturing and operations
• Warehousing and order fulfillment
• Inventory issues
• Sales and operations planning 
• Network optimization
• E-commerce issues
• Third-party logistics
• Supply chain planning and risk
• Freight issues

Our actuarial services practice is distinguished by our adeptness at unraveling and resolving intricate business challenges. By harnessing robust risk management tools and drawing upon our extensive experience in the complexities of the property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and employee benefits sectors, we tailor our solutions to the specific challenges confronting your organization so you can respond with agility.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a European Union directive that replaces the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) as the standard for ESG reporting in the EU. It is part of the commitment the EU made under the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Finance Action Plan. The CSRD has undergone significant revisions in 2025 under the EU’s “Omnibus” simplification package narrowing the scope of mandatory reporting and delaying the implementation timeline.

RSM Catamaran delivers knowledgeable, experienced professionals to handle your most complex operations, keeping your business modernized and efficient. Through this premium service, you can tap into strategic business leaders in industries like life sciences, financial services, technology and media, nonprofit, and consumer products who dynamically adapt with you. We also scale to take on more as your business grows and your needs change.

ESG plays an increasingly important part in mergers and acquisitions–not only in terms of successfully completing transactions, but also in a business’s valuation and its perceived long-term potential.

Robust ESG due diligence is now a fundamental part of the deal process, and the risk management approach of private equity funds or potential acquirers. Similarly, to protect your future wealth and ensure that you receive the best price for your business, you will want to be able to provide the necessary information at the earliest opportunity. Our ESG specialists and our transactions team can assist before and during the transaction process by:

• Providing reports on your organization’s ESG performance
• Producing benchmarking information on policies and processes across each element of ESG
• Sharing insight into the evolution of ESG trends that are likely to affect your business’s operations and value
• Working with you to decide on the best valuation of your business
   

California’s Senate Bill 253 remains the most expansive climate disclosure law in the United States, requiring large companies doing business in California to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions.