SmartSuite for the ESG Analyst
The ESG Analyst collects, analyzes and interprets ESG data to evaluate performance and find improvement opportunities. They aggregate environmental and social metrics from multiple sources, visualize progress toward targets and identify gaps and emerging risks.
What you own
The ESG Analyst collects, analyzes and interprets ESG data to evaluate performance and find improvement opportunities.
- Aggregate environmental and social metrics from multiple sources
- Validate data quality and methodology consistency
- Build dashboards of progress toward carbon, diversity and other targets
- Analyze trends, gaps and emerging ESG risks
- Support disclosure preparation with data and evidence
- Maintain the ESG data model and source documentation
At a glance
The GRC processes this role owns, touches and depends on.
Owns
accountable for the process
Touches
contributes or approves
Depends on
consumes its output
How the GRC processes connect
Three lines of defense set the frame; the chain shows where each process hands off to the next. Colors follow the role: navy is owned, blue is touched, gray is depended on.
Reporting lines
Who this role reports to, who reports to them, and the peers they work with most.
Reports to
Direct reports
Works closely with
How SmartSuite supports this role
Lead
ESG. Aggregates environmental and social metrics with data aggregation tools and visualizes progress toward goals such as carbon reduction or diversity targets.
Risk management. Flags gaps and emerging ESG risks for the risk register.
Reporting. Delivers performance dashboards and trend analysis for the ESG team.
Products this role uses most
Industry reference
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard defines the emissions calculations the analyst runs, with ISO 14064-1 as the verifiable equivalent; the GRI Standards and ISSB IFRS S2 define the metrics and climate-related targets tracked. Science Based Targets initiative guidance governs target-setting methods.
Assurance drives the data standard: CSRD and California SB 253 require independent assurance of reported figures, so methodologies, estimates and source data must be documented. Financial institutions calculate financed emissions under the PCAF standard; healthcare and public sector bodies most often report Scope 1 and 2 emissions and workforce metrics; technology companies focus on energy, data-center and supply-chain data.
Related roles
Explore Further
Guides and definitions from the GRC Knowledge Center and the What-is glossary, chosen for this role.
Frequently asked questions
What does an ESG Analyst do day to day in a sustainability team?
The ESG Analyst collects, analyzes and interprets ESG data to evaluate performance and find improvement opportunities: aggregating environmental and social metrics from multiple sources, validating data quality and methodology consistency, building dashboards of progress toward carbon, diversity and other targets, analyzing trends, gaps and emerging ESG risks, supporting disclosure preparation with data and evidence and maintaining the ESG data model and source documentation. The GHG Protocol and GRI define most of the calculations and metrics they work with.
How does SmartSuite help an ESG Analyst aggregate metrics from many sources?
ESG & Sustainability Management aggregates environmental and social metrics with data aggregation tools, so readings from sites, HR records and suppliers are combined in one data set with their sources recorded rather than merged in a spreadsheet each period. The ESG Analyst can see which source contributed which figure and when, which is what methodology consistency and later assurance depend on. The Environmental Program Manager and the Social Impact Manager submit their metrics into the same model the analyst aggregates from.
How does SmartSuite show progress toward carbon and diversity targets?
SmartSuite visualizes progress toward goals such as carbon reduction or diversity targets from the aggregated metrics, so the ESG Analyst builds a dashboard once and it updates as the data does. Progress against a science-based target or a workforce diversity goal is shown against the baseline and the trajectory, and a period where the trend turns is visible as it happens. The same dashboards serve the ESG Reporting Manager when a disclosure needs a figure and the context behind it.
How does an ESG Analyst flag emerging ESG risks for the risk register?
SmartSuite lets the ESG Analyst flag gaps and emerging ESG risks for the risk register in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), so a trend the analyst sees in the data, such as a site missing its water target or a supply-chain metric moving the wrong way, becomes a risk the Risk Analyst can score and assign rather than a note in a monthly report. The risk keeps its link to the data that raised it, which is useful when the risk committee asks for the evidence.
How does an ESG Analyst deliver dashboards and trend analysis to the ESG team?
SmartSuite delivers performance dashboards and trend analysis for the ESG team from the aggregated data, so the ESG Reporting Manager, the Environmental Program Manager and the Social Impact Manager look at the same dashboards the ESG Analyst maintains rather than receiving separate extracts. Trend analysis across periods, sites and metrics comes from the stored series, and the FP&A Manager can read the same figures when environmental or social performance affects the financial plan. The analyst's work is published once and read by everyone.
What does an ESG Analyst need in place to make the data assurance-ready?
The data model, the unit and methodology for each metric, and the source documentation behind each figure; SmartSuite stores the sources and the aggregation with the data, so documenting methodology becomes part of collecting rather than a separate exercise before assurance. Under CSRD and California SB 253 the reported figures need independent assurance, which means every estimate and calculation must be traceable. Start with the metrics in the current disclosure, record their sources and methods, and extend the model as new metrics are added.
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