Accounting at the ESG–AI Crossroads

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

• I’ve spent my career in finance roles across large retail and consumer businesses.
• My focus has consistently been on scaling financial processes, improving visibility for business leaders, and using data and technology to drive better decision-making.
• I’ve worked across FP&A, business partnering, controllership support, reporting, and automation — which gives me a complete line of sight into how money actually moves in a retail organisation.

Q2. How do ESG reporting requirements and sustainability-linked disclosures affect accounting and control processes in retail?

• ESG is essentially turning non-financial data into “financial-grade” data — and that shifts responsibilities toward accounting.
• Retail is especially affected by large footprints: stores, supply chains, packaging, and vendor networks.
• The most significant impact is the need for clear data definitions, ownership, and auditability.
• Sustainability reporting is moving from “nice to have” to assured, regulated disclosure, so accounting teams are now building controls around carbon data just like they do for revenue and inventory.

Q3. How are emerging technologies like AI, ML, and RPA reshaping the way accounting operations manage…