New diploma from ACCA sets the global standard for sustainability in finance

In response to growing demand from businesses and professional accountants, ACCA has launched a pioneering Professional Diploma in Sustainability, designed for finance professionals at all levels who are looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability and accreditation to prove it.

Businesses often lack the essential skills to support the move to more sustainable business models and urgently need the skills to consider non-financial as well as financial business drivers, according to research by ACCA.

The professional diploma brings together high-quality learning support and assessment, aligning with the increasing demand from employers, as well as individuals, wishing to pursue the widening career opportunities related to sustainability, and emerging regulatory requirements around the world.

ACCA has been working closely with regulators globally on their requirements for sustainability auditors and this new professional diploma has been designed to meet their needs. Once completed, the professional diploma provides a comprehensive accreditation in the core areas of sustainability.

This leading-edge qualification builds on the increasing number of sustainability learning opportunities ACCA has added to its portfolio in recent years, as well as the addition of more sustainability content into the ACCA Qualification.

The Professional Diploma in Sustainability consists of a comprehensive, integrated learning programme, in-depth knowledge, a revision kit, and a three-hour exam. Offering over 60 hours of learning and practice across four certificates and one exam, learners will gain in-depth knowledge of sustainability frameworks and ethics, sustainability strategy and management, sustainability reporting and sustainability assurance.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said: 'The expertise of accounting and finance professionals in driving sustainable approaches to business is absolutely essential if we are to make the progress the planet so desperately needs.

'With their central role working in and for countless businesses and organisations across the world, professional accountants are well placed to play a key role in shaping the future we need. This new qualification is designed to help meet that increasing need and recognises that success is not now just about profits, but about sustainability and social value too.'

Enrollment is now open and learners can sign up through ACCA Learning, ACCA's dedicated continuing learning platform for finance professionals.

More information is available at www.accaglobal.com/ProDipSust

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About ACCA

We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a globally recognised professional accountancy body providing qualifications and advancing standards in accountancy worldwide.

Founded in 1904 to widen access to the accountancy profession, we've long championed inclusion and today proudly support a diverse community of over 252,500 members and 526,000 future members in 180 countries.

Our forward-looking qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical judgment to create, protect, and report the sustainable value delivered by organisations and economies.

Guided by our purpose and values, our vision is to develop the accountancy profession the world needs. Partnering with policymakers, standard setters, the donor community, educators and other accountancy bodies, we're strengthening and building a profession that drives a sustainable future for all.

Find out more at: www.accaglobal.com

About the ACCA Professional Diploma in Sustainability

Syllabus information and learning outcomes

The 60 hours of learning for the Professional Diploma in Sustainability breaks down into:

• The Certificate in Sustainability Frameworks and Ethics

Learners will gain a rigorous grounding in sustainability frameworks, how they differ globally, as well as ethical standards for organisations and individuals.

• The Certificate in Sustainability Strategy and Management

Learners will understand how to translate organisation's sustainability goals into business activities and policies - as well as measuring risks, monitoring performance, and setting up measurement systems.

• The Certificate in Sustainability Reporting

Learners will understand how to create compliant sustainability reports and understand what makes reporting useful to investors. They'll also understand how financial statements should account for sustainability.

• The Certificate in Sustainability Assurance

Learners will understand the need for assurance - as well as the challenges associated with it and understand the sustainability assurance cycle.

• Diploma exam

The Professional Diploma in Sustainability exam lasts three hours and 15 minutes. It presents an integrated case study, with different exhibits of information related to sustainability in an organisation. The full syllabus will be covered, with a focus on ethics. Questions will include a mix of computational and discursive tasks, and they're all compulsory.

A 10-hour revision kit

To help learners prepare for the exam, our Professional Diploma in Sustainability bundle includes a 10-hour revision module.

Key dates

First exam sitting will be in March 2025.

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