Trois questions à David Wray, Président du groupe International de la DFCG
Publié le 24 mai 2023.
What are the major milestones in your career?
The major milestones in my career are perhaps a little unorthodox in the context of a finance executive! It started out traditionally enough but quickly morphed into digitalisation, transformation and then sustainability. Once I combined sustainability, digitalisation and data management – the doors to drive change flew wide open and it’s been an amazing experience since culminating in representing DFCG at the COP conference. The International Group within DFCG, for which I hold the current presidency, has very much embraced this intersection supporting the work our group has undertaken in responding to the ISSB’s consultation on the draft sustainability standards, supporting the EFRAG’s workstream on digitalisation and reporting and participating at Chatham House events in London. The platform provides a mechanism and springboard from which CFOs can engage with standard setting, regulation and peers in a transparent and collaborative way.
What are the priorities for the DFCG International Group for 2023?
Our priorities for the year are relatively simple.
Firstly, we actively engage in international initiatives including, for example, sustainability standard setting, digital data management development, digital taxonomies, digitalisation, transformation and international taxation.
Secondly, we build collaborative relationships and networks with finance peers to identify practical solutions for commonly shared business challenges. For example, we chair roundtable webinars and conversations on topics such as establishing a business in the US or accepting an international assignment in Switzerland.
Thirdly, we’ve been working tirelessly to establish an International CFO Alliance organization where twelve associations from 19 countries and 3 continents (Europe, Africa, and America) can come together under a common umbrella to solve complex issues affecting the wider finance communities around the world. One of our key priorities will be to collectively engage in international sustainability standard setting throughout 2023 and into 2024 as key regulators define their priorities for reporting entities.
All of this to say, we have a full year plan with tangible outcomes that benefit our members.
What are principal insights from the DFCG/BCG « Accounting for Climate & Sustainability: what CFOs & CSOs think » study?
The principal insights from the DFCG/BCG Sustainability study are the importance of connecting carbon management to true carbon accounting, the importance of bring the CFO into fold to fully engage with climate and sustainability and lastly when sustainability is integrated within the company’s management systems, reporting is a straightforward reflection of the company’s operations and actions. In other words, the survey illustrated the importance of embedding a sustainable mindset and approach to managing the business first and foremost which will result in an easier data management and reporting process.
I encourage all members to read the DFCG/BCG report and share your views with any of us in the International Group, or the ESG Group. We can and we will make a difference within our communities in the small things we do every day, and in the big things we do to influence international communities!