At a glance

You will be part of the Corporate Banking (‘CB’) Sustainability Expertise team and will work on the implementation and execution of SFR regulations and relevant UK equivalents. The department has a strong focus on facilitating the growth of the Sustainable Finance Portfolio, which includes, Sustainability Risk Advisory, Sustainability Metrics Reporting, Policies and Strategy. The position has a hierarchical reporting line to the UK Country Head of Legal and a functional reporting line to the head of CB Sustainability Expertise team.

ABN AMRO is active in the UK through three UK branches of three entities: ABN AMRO Bank NV, (AAB), ABN AMRO Asset Based Finance (ABF) and ABN AMRO Clearing Bank NV (AACB). Our business strategy is focused around deep client relationships, leveraging local product sales capability and Head Office based execution power. 

The UK client base is mature in ABF and AACB, with the Corporate & Institutional Clients segment growing rapidly since creation in 2014 and now servicing FIs, NBFIs and Corporates. In Corporate we target clients active in the our core sectors, referred to as the transition themes: energy, digital and mobility transition. In FIs we focus on UK high street and challengers banks and within NBFI we primarily focus on the insurance sector. 

Our model efficiently aligns Head Office based execution and operations capability with local expertise to service UK business needs. Local product capability includes DCM (Markets), Cash & Liquidity management (TBH), Project Finance, Lending, Loan Markets Origination & Syndication (Financing Solutions), Derivatives Clearing (AACB) and Lease & ComFin (ABF). AAB UK has local functional support including Risk, Compliance, Legal, HR, Finance and I&T. Functions are shared locally and aligned with NL to reduce local resourcing requirements where possible.

The Legal Department provides legal support to businesses, support functions and senior management within ABN AMRO UK and, thus supporting the effective management and control of legal risks taking into account the objectives of the ABN AMRO UK, relevant commercial issues and in proportion to the risks and values of ABN AMRO UK.
 

Your job

You’ll support CB with interpretation of Sustainable Finance regulations, with a focus on the local UK market, and the translation of regulation into reporting and business requirements. You’ll need to create an implementation plan and coordinate and execute some of the actions. Over time, your focus will also include coordination of some sustainability risk tools/processes within the corporate bank in the UK. Your role may also involve advising clients on the impact of the sustainability regulations on their business and ensuring the compliance with applicable ESG frameworks.

 
You will be working with multiple stakeholders; regulatory experts, external reporting and data experts, risk managers, business, risk and accounting teams of the corporate banking entities. This involves task such as:  

•    Acting as the subject matter expert on ESG matters within ABN AMRO UK
•    Monitoring, understanding and implementing ESG related regulation and practice in the UK within ABN AMRO  
•    Provide input on sustainability policies and procedures 
•    Find and interpret sustainability issues and help the business understand the regulatory issues across the portfolio in the UK 
•    Advising senior management and other internal stakeholders on the impact of the sustainability regulatory change on ABN AMRO’s business activities in the UK
•    Assisting ABN AMRO with the implementation and ongoing compliance with Sustainability regulation 
•    Raise awareness and provide training about sustainability regulations and their impact with UK colleagues 
•    Obtaining a clear view on requirements for the different Sustainability regulations and work with the business to proactively manage these
•    Act as a conduit between the users and suppliers of client, portfolio and regulatory data 
•    Gather sustainability-linked data of the portfolio and produce data led recommendations to the management team 
•    Be up to date with market trends, incorporate them into day to day expertise and share with UK colleagues 
•    Work closely with the wider Advisory and other Compliance teams 
•    Embed sustainability into other products  and services of ABN AMRO UK and participate in industry groups
•    Coordinating all initiatives with Head Office in Amsterdam to leverage on the existing knowledge and capability and be a conduit for sharing information locally

SFR is a dynamic program and new regulations for the UK are in the consultation process. In the future, this could mean a shift in focus in your responsibilities towards more reporting or more risk related topics.

Your working environment

ABN AMRO is an enterprising bank with a primary focus on Northwest Europe. We serve clients in the retail, private banking and corporate banking sectors. We are also present internationally in a number of specialist activities, such as Corporate and Commercial Banking, Asset Based Finance and Clearing.

At ABN AMRO we have a clear purpose: Banking for better, for generations to come. The shift towards sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. Supporting our clients at times that matter has always been our role and our responsibility. Together, we aim high and work towards lasting relationships that are relevant and responsible, both now and in the future. We want to be the bank that leads the way.

Our strategy goes far beyond financial value: we want to accelerate the transition to sustainability. We do this by supporting and advising our clients in order to facilitate their sustainability shift. Our commitment to clients, employees, investors and society calls for clear direction, focus and dedication.

We concentrate on our three strategic pillars:

•    Support our clients’ transition to sustainability
•    Reinvent the customer experience
•    Build a future-proof bank

Our strategy requires a culture of working together and permanent learning. It’s only with this mindset that we unleash the best in ourselves to deliver a high standard of performance. ABN AMRO’s culture is the catalyst for the evolution in which we find ourselves: our people are imaginative, trust each other and do just that little bit extra to help clients.

ABN AMRO UK is part of the Corporate Banking business line and operates the following businesses in the UK:

•    Corporate and Institutional Clients – which includes Corporate Lending, Project Finance, Clearing, Global Markets - Sales & Trading and Financial Institutions 
•    Commercial Clients - which includes Asset Based Finance and Transaction Banking Hub, which provides trade finance and transactional banking services


Our business lines are supported by a number of functions such as Risk, Compliance, Legal, IT, Finance (Including Tax), Business Management and Human Resources. We currently employ approx. 380 people in the UK.

Your profile

ABN AMRO is committed to diversity and employs staff from a range of backgrounds. We are open to applications from individuals who do not meet the required educations or experiences below but who can otherwise demonstrate their ability and promise.

We are looking for someone with strong demonstrable affinity with sustainability:

• Education: University Undergraduate Degree (Economics - Finance – Law - Sustainability) or comparable level
• Required Experience: Minimum of 5 year experience in a banking environment
• Preferred experience:
• Reporting related activities
• Risk and data management experience 
• Project management experience 
• Required knowledge: sustainability reporting and risk, or motivated to develop in depth knowledge in this area 
• An excellent & demonstrable track record in Sustainability 
• Ability to provide technical advice on ESG legislation
• In depth knowledge of Sustainability regulations and requirements in the UK  
• Sharing knowledge and ensuring a consistent approach in delivering advice 
• An ability to work with and manage expectations of senior management and key stakeholders
• Foreign languages - Dutch is most certainly an advantage
• Analytical, problem solving skills; ability to transfer knowledge. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 
• Proactive and motivated  
• A good networker and team player. 

What we offer

Joining ABN AMRO means working on meaningful projects. Projects that have an impact on our clients. Working with a wide range of people with different backgrounds, opinions and ideas. In the UK, in the Netherlands or elsewhere in our international network. We offer an environment where you will be challenged on a daily basis - professionally as well as on a personal level - so that you can grow to become the professional you want to be.

We have identified that the following types of flexible working may be suitable for this role in principle. 

Any requests will be determined in line with our Flexible Working Policy:

Type of Flexible Working    Likely to be suitable
Job Sharing                           Yes
Remote Working                   Yes
Part time                               Yes
Flexitime                               Yes
Unpaid leave                         Yes
Staggered hours                    Yes
Other                                      Yes

Interested?

Are you interested?   Please apply via the button below.

For more information please contact Niki Champion, Senior Resourcing Partner, UKrecruitment@uk.abnamro.com, +44 203 192 9342.