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ESG Manager

Macquarie Group • Australia • Added on Jul 25, 2026
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You will take ownership of the environmental and social risk management framework within Macquarie’s retail banking arm. This role focuses on conducting rigorous due diligence across various financial products and services to ensure they meet modern sustainability standards. Beyond risk assessment, you will coordinate essential reporting workflows and climate-related disclosures, acting as a technical advisor to business units to facilitate responsible decision-making.

This position is critical because it bridges the gap between high-level global climate goals and the day-to-day operations of a major financial institution. By embedding environmental and social risk reviews into the heart of banking, you ensure that capital flows support sustainable transitions while protecting the firm from regulatory and reputational hazards. It is a rare opportunity to influence the ESG landscape within a profit-driven, technology-led banking environment.

This suits someone who possesses a strong background in financial services and enjoys the analytical challenge of evaluating complex risk scenarios. You should be a clear communicator capable of translating technical ESG requirements into actionable business advice for senior stakeholders.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The ESG Manager is primary responsible for the integration of environmental and social risk management across the Banking and Financial Services division. This involves conducting detailed due diligence on various financial products and services to identify and mitigate potential ESG-related risks. You will also lead the coordination of sustainability reporting and climate-related disclosures. This requires gathering data and narrative from across the business to meet evolving regulatory standards and ensuring that all publicly shared ESG information is robust and accurate. A key part of the mission is providing strategic guidance and trusted advice to internal business units. You will help teams understand how to apply sustainability principles to their daily decision-making, ensuring that the bank's activities remain aligned with its long-term ethical and commercial goals.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in climate-related financial disclosures (such as TCFD or emerging ISSB standards) within a highly sophisticated and regulated environment. This provides a front-row seat to how global financial institutions translate high-level ESG commitments into granular operational policies. You will also have the opportunity to master complex risk assessment methodologies specifically tailored to banking products, from retail lending to commercial finance. This technical knowledge is highly sought after as the financial sector faces increasing pressure to report on financed emissions and social impact. Furthermore, being part of a technology-driven retail bank allows for exposure to how data and digital tools can be leveraged to track sustainability performance. You will likely develop skills in using ESG data providers and internal reporting software to streamline disclosure processes.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings significant tertiary qualifications in finance, accounting, or sustainability, coupled with practical experience in environmental and social risk management within the financial services sector. You should be intimately familiar with how banking products work and where ESG risks typically hide. Strong analytical and communication skills are paramount. You need the ability to take complex ESG frameworks and explain their commercial implications to stakeholders who may not be sustainability experts. A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail is required for the reporting aspects of the role. Candidates who demonstrate ownership and accountability will stand out. Macquarie values individuals who can navigate a fast-paced environment and manage multiple deliverables without losing sight of the strategic importance of their work.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

When applying, emphasize your specific experience with risk-based due diligence. Instead of just listing ESG acronyms, provide concrete examples of how you have assessed environmental or social risks in a commercial or financial context and how that assessment influenced a business decision. Tailor your cover letter to reflect Macquarie’s culture of innovation and broken profitability. Show that you understand the dual mandate of an ESG Manager in a bank: managing risk for the planet and managing risk for the business. Demonstrating this balanced perspective will mark you as a mature and professional candidate. Highlight your ability to collaborate across diverse teams. Since this role requires providing advice to various business units, evidence of your ability to influence senior management and build consensus around ESG topics will be a significant advantage.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The focus is heavily weighted toward environmental and social risk integration. This means identifying potential negative impacts associated with lending and banking activities, such as modern slavery in supply chains or high-carbon exposure in corporate portfolios. There is a major emphasis on climate-related disclosures. As global regulations tighten, this role will likely be tasked with improving the granularity of reporting around Scope 3 emissions (financed emissions) and the physical and transition risks associated with the bank's assets. Social governance, including responsible lending practices and alignment with community expectations, is also a core focus. You will ensure that the bank's retail operations remain consistent with its social impact goals and ethical standards.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges will be managing the pace of regulatory change. ESG reporting standards are shifting rapidly in Australia and internationally, requiring the candidate to constantly update their knowledge and adapt internal processes to maintain compliance. You might also face the challenge of influencing stakeholders in a high-pressure commercial environment. Convincing business leaders to prioritize ESG considerations over immediate short-term gains requires significant diplomacy, evidence-based arguments, and strong internal relationships. Data quality and availability can also be a hurdle. Collecting consistent ESG data from various business lines to produce high-quality climate disclosures often requires persistence and the ability to solve complex data-gathering puzzles.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a review of a new financial product or a complex loan application to assess its environmental and social risk profile. You would analyze the client or product against the bank's ESG policies and document your findings. Mid-day could involve a sprint meeting with the reporting team to coordinate the latest climate disclosure report. This might include checking figures, clarifying narrative sections with subject matter experts, or ensuring alignment with the latest regulatory guidelines from bodies like ASIC or the APRA. Your afternoon might be spent meeting with business unit leaders to provide guidance on upcoming sustainability initiatives. You might prepare briefing notes for senior management or attend a cross-functional workshop on how to better integrate ESG data into the bank's core IT systems.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Growth within Macquarie is often driven by internal mobility and global exposure. Success in this role could lead to more senior ESG leadership positions within the Banking and Financial Services division or even lateral moves into global ESG strategy roles across other business groups. You will have the chance to work on high-visibility strategic projects, such as the implementation of new international sustainability standards. These projects offer significant exposure to executive leadership, providing a platform to demonstrate your impact on the firm's long-term resilience. Additionally, the bank provides reimbursement for professional development, meaning you could pursue specialized certifications in climate finance or ESG data analytics, further enhancing your value as a specialist in the growing sustainable finance market.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

The most frequent interactions will be with Business Unit Leads and Frontline Bankers. These are the stakeholders you will be advising on risk management and responsible decision-making processes. You will also work closely with the Global ESG and Risk Teams to ensure that the banking division's activities are consistent with Macquarie’s group-wide sustainability strategy and risk appetite frameworks. External stakeholders may include regulators and industry bodies during the reporting process, as well as ESG data providers and sustainability consultants who support the bank's disclosure and risk assessment work.

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