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Leading the ESG Charge: The CFO’s Role as Change Agent

Aug 20, 2025

Speaker/s

A WNS Perspective

Key Points

ESG has moved from a side note to a boardroom priority—and CFOs are in the driver’s seat. In this episode of Beyond Numbers | Leading the ESG Charge: The CFO’s Role as Change Agent, journalist Simon Brooke speaks with Krishnan Raghunathan, Chief Business Transformation Officer at WNS and Anu Chaudhary, Partner, Global Head of Sustainability & Climate Consulting at Uniqus Consultech, about how finance leaders can turn ESG into measurable value.

You’ll get insights into:

  • The macro trends pushing ESG to the top of the CFO agenda
  • Practical first steps to build an ESG-ready finance function
  • How to report with credibility and avoid greenwashing
  • Ways to engage employees, investors, and customers with clear storytelling
  • How the WNS × Uniqus partnership helps CFOs accelerate ESG and technical accounting

To learn more about WNS and UNIQUS's joint ESG and Technical Accounting initiatives, click here.

FAQs

1. What is the CFO’s role in driving ESG initiatives?

CFOs are increasingly acting as ESG change agents, integrating sustainability into financial strategy, reporting, and decision-making. They ensure ESG initiatives deliver measurable business value by aligning sustainability goals with corporate performance, managing ESG risks, and engaging stakeholders effectively.

2. How can CFOs make ESG reporting credible and avoid greenwashing?

CFOs can adopt standardized reporting frameworks, maintain transparent data, and collaborate with ESG experts to ensure accurate, verifiable, and trustworthy ESG disclosures. This approach helps companies build stakeholder trust, avoid reputational risks, and demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainability goals.

3. What practical steps can finance leaders take to become ESG-ready?

Finance leaders can start by assessing ESG risks and opportunities, integrating ESG metrics into financial planning, training teams, and establishing robust reporting mechanisms. They can also set clear targets, embed ESG in decision-making, and leverage technology for continuous monitoring and improvement.

4. How does WNS × Unquis support CFOs in ESG and technical accounting?

The partnership provides tools, consulting, and technical accounting solutions to help CFOs accelerate ESG adoption, streamline reporting, and create measurable value for stakeholders. It also offers guidance on ESG strategy, compliance, and storytelling to engage investors, employees, and customers effectively.

5. How can WNS help CFOs integrate ESG into their finance operations?

WNS helps CFOs embed ESG considerations into finance operations by providing advisory services, data-driven insights, and technology solutions. Their approach ensures ESG metrics are aligned with financial strategy, enabling CFOs to make informed decisions, track progress, and drive measurable business value effectively.

6. What ESG and technical accounting solutions does WNS offer to support CFOs?

WNS offers comprehensive ESG and technical accounting solutions, including reporting frameworks, sustainability audits, and analytics tools. These services help CFOs enhance reporting credibility, ensure regulatory compliance, and communicate ESG performance transparently to investors, employees, and stakeholders while minimizing the risk of greenwashing.