Members Q+A: The Green Accountants
The Green Accountants on guiding and inspiring ESG best practice
Alex Alvey is the Head of Sustainability at The Green Accountants, an accountancy firm combining education and strategy to future-proof their clients in the new world of climate and ESG compliance. Alex shares his insights into the role of accountants in guiding ESG best practice with their clients, and how The Green Accountants embeds these principles into their own business approach.
ESGmark®: Tell us a bit about The Green Accountants and your approach to business?
Alex Alvey: The Green Accountants is a forward-thinking firm, we're dedicated to inspiring and empowering businesses to embrace greener, more sustainable practices. We know that sustainability isn't just a passing fad, but a crucial element for the future. Through our services, we don't just help our clients achieve their financial goals, but also ensure that they align with the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility.
Here at The Green Accountants, we hold ourselves to the same ESG principles that we advocate for. From reducing our own environmental impact to offering flexible working conditions, we strive to lead by example and demonstrate our strong values through accreditations like your ESGmark®. We truly believe that by nurturing sustainable growth—for both our team and our clients—we can create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society as a whole.
ESGmark®: Sustainability is a core part of your business practice – both internally and with regard to client work. Where did your personal interest in sustainability come from?
Alex: Everyone working here has always had a strong interest in sustainability and fighting the climate crisis. With regards to client work, the interest really grew once we started to identify the bigger role that our clients’ could have in trying to combat some of these issues and how accountants as a whole can be a huge catalyst in inspiring businesses within their network to do so.
ESGmark®: What role do you think accountants have in the green transition, and do you see the profession evolving with more focus on environmental performance?
Alex: We believe that accountants have an important role to play in inspiring businesses to go green and supporting them as they do so. As trusted business advisors, we are well-placed to help companies understand the value of sustainability in the long run. This could involve tasks such as building strategy, ESG reporting, or providing guidance on green investments.
The accounting profession is indeed evolving, with a greater emphasis not only on financial outcomes but also on environmental impact. As more regulations and standards emerge, accountants can and should start to adapt, strengthening their role as advisors and becoming champions for greener, more sustainable business practices.
ESGmark®: What do you see as the main business incentives for corporate social and environmental responsibility?
Alex: Whilst we think there are countless examples of incentives for businesses to adopt a higher focus on CSR, some of the main business incentives for corporate social and environmental responsibility we discuss with clients’ include things like cost savings, enhanced customer/employee engagement, and regulatory compliance.
Sustainable practices like energy efficiency and waste reduction can significantly reduce operating costs, boosting profitability. Additionally, companies that prioritize CSR attract customer and employee loyalty, as people increasingly favor brands that can demonstrate social and environmental responsibility. Lastly, staying ahead of environmental regulations can help businesses avoid penalties and benefit from potential tax incentives, while positioning them as proactive leaders in the green transition.
ESGmark®: The Green Accountants has impressively comprehensive sustainability goals and KPIs. What advice would you give other businesses wanting to set ESG targets that are both ambitious and attainable?
Alex: Our advice for setting ambitious yet attainable ESG targets is always to start with a clear assessment of your current impact and even compare it to your competitors. From there you can set specific, measurable goals that align with your core business operations.
Be sure to engage stakeholders early, and confirm everyone is committed to driving these efforts. Additionally, businesses should always stay adaptable—monitor progress regularly and adjust targets based on new insights and evolving best practices.
ESGmark®: What main challenges do you see facing ethical companies in the coming years?
Alex: As the government inevitably begins to place stricter regulations on businesses in regards to our impact on the climate, all businesses are undoubtedly going to face issues like increasing difficulty when it comes to supply chain transparency and the pressure of balancing profit and purpose, among others.
However, in my opinion, those that choose to adopt more ethical practices in the short term are much less likely to be affected by these issues.
ESGmark®: Who is your biggest business inspiration?
Alex: Personally, one of my biggest business inspirations would be the Better Business Network. A self-proclaimed and true to their word network of purpose-driven business owners seeking to grow their businesses and make the world a better place.
I find their commitment to and vision of a world where businesses are a force for good extremely inspiring. I’ve met lots of wonderful people within this network and they’re always around to offer great advice on how to make our own business and our clients’ businesses more sustainable and value led.
ESGmark®: What are you reading / listening to at the moment?
Alex: Unfortunately for me, I’m rather dyslexic, meaning I don’t tend to read when I can avoid it. The last book I read was ‘Biff, Chip & Kipper’, although I can confidently say it was a 10 out of 10.
I do however enjoy listening to a few podcasts, one of which is Leading, a political podcast that brings on a variety of different guests to discuss global issues, with climate change discussed frequently. A more accounting related podcast I’ve been listening to recently is Paul Shrimpling’s ‘Humanise The Numbers’.
For more on The Green Accountants, head over to their website.
Speaking to our founders is central to keeping the ESGmark® community connected - read our other interviews with The Sustainable Events Company on creating standout eco-friendly events, Disruptor London on reimagining personal care and impact-driven design, and Richard Irvin Facilities Management on ESG strategy and collaboration.
