Senior Manager, Sustainability Policy & Advisory

Royal Bank of Canada•Toronto, ON

17h•Onsite

About The Position

This role is an opportunity to join the Enterprise Finance & Controllership team of Canada’s largest company, frequently ranked as one of the top companies to work for in Canada. RBC is internationally recognized for its commitment to innovation, diversity, customer satisfaction and corporate social responsibility. The Enterprise Finance & Controllership function serves a critical role in telling the story of RBC’s financial results to the public through the quarterly and annual Report to Shareholders, providing advice on complex accounting issues through a strategic lens, maintaining strong financial reporting internal controls and data governance practices, and enabling strategic planning, forecasting, and management of financial performance to meet the Bank’s overall financial objectives. As part of the Enterprise Finance & Controllership group in our Toronto office, you will be part of a collaborative team culture that strives to challenge ourselves to be our best, think progressively to keep growing, and work together to deliver collective results. This role will help advance priority sustainability initiatives across the bank, including supporting the evolution of a sustainability policy and advisory function and preparing for future sustainability disclosure regulations and standards. This role also helps shape RBC’s sustainability disclosure strategy, and through close collaboration with partners in Finance, Strategy, Law, Risk Management, Communications, Investor Relations and Human Resources, helps in preparing and delivering RBC’s core sustainability report. You will work in a dynamic environment that provides the opportunity to bring your unique perspective and approach to the role, including adapting the role to address evolving Finance priorities and operating models. This is an ideal position from which to develop an understanding of the sustainability matters that impact RBC, build technical and leadership skills, and develop strong relationships across the Bank. You would be a great match for this role if you have experience in accounting or sustainability policy development, disclosure gap assessments, preparation and review of financial or sustainability disclosures, navigating, interpreting, and implementing new and complex accounting or sustainability standards involving a variety of stakeholders, and familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks and regulations. You might describe yourself as a self-starter, are able to investigate issues in detail, step back and understand the business and risk lens at a bird’s eye view, and effectively communicate complex concepts to stakeholders.

Requirements

Chartered Professional Accountant designation
5+ years of relevant work experience
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively to executives and draft clear, succinct and appropriate correspondence and documents
Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and lead independently, while knowing when to escalate and ask for support
A proactive, pragmatic, and forward-thinking approach; including the ability to recommend practical solutions to complex challenges in a dynamic environment
Curiosity to learn new ways to do things, willingness to challenge the status quo, and ability to drive process improvements and efficiencies
Strong interpersonal skills; specifically, the ability to act as change agent, facilitator and collaborator in a cross-functional setting
A self-starter mindset, including enthusiasm and willingness to learn to get up to speed and stay abreast of constantly evolving developments
A “one team” mindset and willingness to support and contribute to broader Finance goals and objectives

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of sustainability regulatory disclosure requirements and risk landscape
Solid understanding of financial institutions
Sustainability-related experience and/or familiarity with sustainability-related frameworks such as ISSB, CSRD, ESRS, OSFI B-15, SASB, GRI, etc. is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Help shape RBC’s external sustainability disclosure strategy and deliver best–in-class disclosures through effective partnership with key stakeholders, industry research and benchmarking, and identification of emerging disclosure trends
Assist in the preparation and delivery of RBC’s core sustainability reporting, including assisting in relevant coordination and planning activities and providing effective challenge over sections to support the accuracy and quality of sustainability disclosures
Support the design and implementation of project plans, timelines, and accountabilities for implementation of future sustainability reporting standards, regulations and other initiatives
Monitor and keep abreast of relevant developments and guidance from key bodies, including the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), and the European Union (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
Complete gap assessments comparing RBC’s current sustainability disclosures against future sustainability reporting requirements, including impact-assessing new and evolving requirements and developing and setting expectations with various content owners/contributors across the Bank
Support the design and implementation of enterprise sustainability reporting policies in accordance with relevant standards / regulations
Review and provide advisory services to internal stakeholders across RBC, and support the development and implementation of materiality frameworks/assessments and measurement methodologies
Develop strong business partner relationships to foster greater understanding of key disclosure standards and emerging methodologies
Shape future sustainability-related disclosure requirements by supporting advocacy efforts on developments impacting RBC’s sustainability-related disclosures
Liaise with industry peers on sustainability disclosure matters as needed through industry associations (e.g., Canadian Bankers Association)
Assist in the preparation of sustainability-related materials for senior executives, our CFO, and the Board/Audit Committee
Liaise with the external and internal auditors on sustainability reporting policy issues and implementation of future standards, as needed
Support strategic initiatives within the Chief Accountant’s Group and more broadly within the CFO Group
Contribute to a collaborative, team-first environment and bring your unique perspective and curiosity to set ambitious goals, drive process improvements, and challenge the status quo