Associate Director, Investor and ESG Communications

Overview

Businesses are under more scrutiny than ever to explain how they create value – financially, strategically and sustainably. At Black Sun Global, we help some of the world’s leading organisations tell that story in a way that earns trust and inspires action.

We are looking for an Associate Director to join our Insights and Advisory team – an experienced consultant who can sit confidently at the intersection of investor communications, corporate reporting and sustainability/ESG. You will act as a key advisor on developing best practice reporting on complex annual report programmes for FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and international clients, shape their value creation narratives, and help them navigate an evolving landscape that includes UK Company law and Listing Rules, Corporate Governance requirements, sustainability reporting requirements such as UK SRSs/ISSB and CSRD among other national and industry-specific reporting frameworks.

This is a role for someone who loves the craft of compelling communications through corporate reporting, is energised by regulation rather than daunted by it, and wants to play a visible part in how the market’s most watched companies communicate with investors and wider stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be a senior member of our 6-strong team, focusing on Corporate Reporting (particularly Annual Reports) but also increasingly on sustainability reporting and companies’ wider reporting suite.  They will also work closely with all parts of the Black Sun business – helping to win new business, inform award-winning design and digital reporting and contributing to Black Sun’s thought leadership and leading industry events for clients and prospects.

Attracting and retaining the right people for our team is an absolute priority for us and we take their career development seriously from day one. You will work closely with experienced directors and consultants to help you find your feet and will have plenty of autonomy to develop new skills and contribute ideas. We take every aspect of the work we deliver for clients seriously and we work to maintain the highest possible standards in everything we do for them and for the company. But as well as being passionate about our work, we are supportive, collaborative and positive, always looking to make what we do enjoyable and rewarding.

By joining us you will be working on a hybrid model and have a wonderful opportunity to explore our picturesque offices in Bishops Park, Fulham.

Why this job? 

Black Sun Global is the founding agency of The Positive Change Group – a collective of specialist agencies advising some of the world’s most ambitious businesses on stakeholder engagement, brand, culture, reporting and ESG. Together with our offices in Singapore and South Africa, we work with over 20 of the FTSE100 including: NatWest, Burberry, Diageo, Rightmove, Compass, RioTinto, Standard Chartered and Prudential as part of a unmatched client portfolio that spans the UK, Europe, Asia and beyond.

At Black Sun you will:

• Work at the sharp end of the market, advising leading listed businesses on annual reports, sustainability/ESG communications and regulatory change.
• Shape thinking, not just deliverables – advising clients to shape best practice narrative frameworks for annual reports to transition plans and roadmaps for ISSB and CSRD.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of strategists, analysts, creatives, digital specialists and stakeholder engagement experts across our global network.
• Join a supportive, growth-minded culture that combines professional challenge with genuine flexibility, personal development and a strong sense of purpose.

If you want to work for an award‑winning strategic communications consultancy, working on cutting edge corporate reporting with some of the world’s leading companies, this is the role.

Overview of the role
As an Associate Director, you will take the lead for Advisory services as a key member of the client team and help grow our business. Your remit will span four main areas:

Corporate reporting leadership (core of the role)

• Lead end-to-end delivery of specialist reporting advice on complex annual report and corporate reporting programmes, from initial scoping and best practice content strategy through to final review.
• Help clients shape a clear, compelling value creation story – connecting business model, strategy, risks, governance, performance, remuneration and sustainability.
• Advise clients on best practice alignment with relevant reporting frameworks and regulations (for example UK Companies Act, FCA Listing Rules, UK Corporate Governance Code, UK SRSs, ISSB, CSRD, TNFD, TPT), translating technical requirements into practical, engaging disclosures.
• Run client board and senior management workshops, interviews and working sessions to challenge, refine and bring their reporting narrative to life.
• Act as the senior point of client contact for reporting questions, providing calm, informed guidance through tight timetables and shifting stakeholder input.

Sustainability and ESG advisory (increasing share of role)

• Advise clients on integrating sustainability and ESG into their corporate narrative – including strategy, risk, KPIs, targets and governance.
• Support and, where appropriate, lead work on CSRD‑aligned Sustainability Statements, UK SRS first-time adoption, ISSB‑aligned reporting and related disclosure enhancements (e.g. climate transition plans, net zero roadmaps, other topic‑specific supplements).
• Work with clients performing double materiality assessments, gap analyses and benchmarking to inform both reporting and broader sustainability communications.
• Help clients balance compliance and storytelling – ensuring disclosures are robust and regulation‑ready, while still engaging for investors and other stakeholders.

Client development and thought leadership

• Lead and grow client accounts, becoming a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders (e.g. Company Secretary, Head of Investor Relations, Group Sustainability, Corporate Affairs).
• Shape and lead pitches and new business proposals across corporate reporting, ESG and broader strategic communications, working with multidisciplinary teams across the agency and the Positive Change Group.
• Proactively identify opportunities to extend our support, from enhanced narrative and structure through to multi‑year reporting roadmaps and integrated stakeholder engagement programmes.
• Develop a network (or extend or maintain your existing network), among industry regulators, commentators and experts to ensure Black Sun maintains our ability to provide our clients with the latest insights.
• Contribute to and lead Black Sun’s thought leadership, including research, best‑practice reviews, articles, webinars and events on corporate reporting, ESG and regulatory developments.

Team leadership and internal impact

• Participate and help to lead a small team of consultants (typically 3–5): creating an environment where people stretch themselves, feel supported and do their best work.
• Lead knowledge‑sharing and training sessions on reporting frameworks, regulation and best practice across the Advisory team and the wider business.
• Take ownership of internal workstreams and improvement projects, from process optimisation to new products or services in the reporting and ESG space.
• Represent Black Sun and The Positive Change Group externally at industry events, roundtables and networks, helping to raise our profile and build our community.

Qualifications, experience & skills required:

We recognise that there are different paths into a role like this. As a guide, we’re looking for someone who can demonstrate most of the following:

• 10–15 years’ experience in a relevant environment (e.g. listed corporate, corporate reporting/sustainability consultancy, communications agency, in‑house IR or corporate affairs, Big 4/Advisory).
• Deep, up‑to‑date knowledge of corporate reporting best practice and relevant frameworks, with a strong track record of delivering high‑quality annual reports or equivalent flagship corporate reporting pieces.
• Hands‑on experience with sustainability/ESG reporting, ideally including:
  • Preparation or review of wave 1 CSRD Sustainability Statements or equivalent;
  • Strong working knowledge of ISSB standards and their implications for corporate reporting;
  • Familiarity with frameworks such as UK SRSs/TCFD/TPT, GRI, SASB, UNGC and relevant indices/ratings.
• Proven ability to make the complex simple – distilling regulation, strategy and performance into clear storylines, structures and messages for investor and stakeholder audiences.
• Experience leading and motivating project teams, coaching more junior colleagues and managing multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders – from ExCo members to functional leads – and acting as a strategic sparring partner.
• A balanced skillset: rigorous and detail‑oriented, but also collaborative, commercially aware and comfortable challenging thinking constructively.
• A genuine curiosity about how reporting, ESG and stakeholder engagement are evolving – and an appetite to keep learning and sharing what you learn.

If you’re not sure you meet every point but feel you could be successful in the role, we’d still love to hear from you.

How we work and what we offer

We want you to do the best work of your career, and we know that requires the right environment as well as the right role.

• Hybrid working – a blend of time in our London office, at home and, where relevant, at client sites, flexed around projects and team needs.
• 25 days’ holiday per year plus “bonus” days for long service.
• Competitive salary and bonus scheme linked to company and individual performance.
• Personal development opportunities, including training, knowledge sessions and on‑the‑job learning across different sectors, disciplines and geographies.
• Group life assurance, group personal pension plan and employee assistance programme.
• The chance to work within The Positive Change Group – alongside specialist partners in brand culture, strategic communications, reporting, ESG advisory, analytics and creative storytelling.

Our recruitment process

• Initial conversation with our Talent Acquisition Manager.
• First interview with the hiring Director from the Advisory team.
• Second interview with the hiring Director and other Advisory Directors, including a short presentation or task.

We aim to keep the process focused, transparent and respectful of your time.

Inclusion and belonging

We are committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We know that great ideas come from diverse perspectives. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, and we are happy to discuss any adjustments that would help you feel comfortable and perform at your best during the recruitment process.

About Us:

Black Sun Global 

Black Sun Global is a stakeholder advisory and engagement agency that's been driving transformation and positive change for ambitious brands for more than 20 years. With deep expertise in disclosure and reporting, ESG, sustainability, and digital engagement, we reshape how organisations connect with customers, investors, employees, and the wider world.

We are trusted partners to some of the most influential global organisations, sparking innovation and sustainable performance through our strategic insights, partnerships, and proprietary technologies.

As founders of the Positive Change Group, we are on a mission to create a new kind of stakeholder relations partner. Our world-class specialists work closely with executive leadership teams to protect reputations, inspire trust, and promote responsible business practices - building resilience and long-term value in a rapidly changing world.

The Positive Change Group

Positive Change Group is a global stakeholder engagement business. Our specialist agencies work as one, bringing together reporting, culture, communications and sustainability through a connected model that helps organisations close the gap between what they say and what people see, so they can present a clear and consistent story across every stakeholder group.

When that alignment is in place, organisations move faster, make better decisions and build confidence in their direction.

Headquartered in London, with an international network across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South Africa, Positive Change Group supports over 100 multinational organisations at C-suite and board level.

Join the people driving positive change

At Positive Change Group, we bring together bold thinkers, challengers and collaborators from across disciplines, sectors and geographies - connected by a shared mission and a drive to make a real difference. We're guided by The Changemaker Way: five shared values that define how we work, lead and grow - with each other, our clients and the communities we serve.

We pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We foster a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best work and be relevant in a rapidly changing world. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

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www.positivechangegroup.com

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