Key takeaways
Host: Laura McCracken, Audit & Assurance partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Presenters: Doug Rand, managing director, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Jeff Schwartz, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kristen Sullivan, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP
1.0 Overview CPE credit | Accounting
After much anticipation, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will release on March 6 its final rule that requires public companies to include climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and annual reports. So what does this mean for SEC-registered companies? And what steps can they take to integrate the new rule into their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy? We’ll discuss:
- Disclosure requirements
- Effective dates and implementation timelines
- How the new SEC rule aligns with voluntary frameworks and other required climate disclosures
- Actions companies can take now to start implementation
Earning trust with investors through better sustainability data
Deloitte and The Fletcher School at Tufts University embarked on a global study, executed between January and December 2023, to understand how companies can enhance investor trust in their sustainability disclosures.
Meet the speakers
Laura McCracken
Laura is an Audit & Assurance partner and the deputy leader of Quality, Risk & Regulatory for Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Audit & Assurance business. In this role, she interfaces with regulators, investors, and other stakeholders in addressing audit quality matters related to accounting, auditing, regulatory and public policy. Laura also serves as an audit partner for large, multinational clients in the financial services and commercial industries where she leads large global audit teams and interacts extensively with Audit Committees and senior leadership. Previously, Laura was a consultation partner for Deloitte & Touche LLP’s National Office Accounting & Reporting Services. Additionally, Laura spent two years as a Professional Accounting Fellow with the SEC in the Office of the Chief Accountant, where she consulted with registrants and the Division of Corporation Finance on accounting and reporting matters. Laura routinely works with clients on complex accounting, reporting, and auditing matters. Laura is a frequent speaker on current and emerging audit, assurance, accounting, and financial reporting topics.
Doug Rand
Doug is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s National Office – Accounting and Reporting Services focusing on ESG reporting, SEC reporting and IPOs. He consults on technical SEC reporting matters, reviews SEC filings, advises clients on transactions and interpretations of SEC and ESG reporting literature, and develops Deloitte's SEC and ESG publications. He has experience serving clients in a variety of industries. He has experience with a wide range of technical accounting (US GAAP and IFRS) and auditing (PCAOB and AICPA) matters.
Kristen Sullivan
Kristen B. Sullivan is an Audit & Assurance partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP and leads Sustainability and ESG Services. She also serves as the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s Global Audit & Assurance Sustainability and Climate Services Leader and the Integrated Reporting Community of Practice Leader. Kristen brings extensive experience in delivering sustainability risk assessment, governance, strategy alignment, measurement, reporting, and assurance services. Given the growing market emphasis on the importance of ESG standards and frameworks, Kristen serves as a member of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Community, she chairs the AICPA Sustainability Advisory and Assurance Task Force and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)/AICPA Task Force. She previously served on the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) Working Group. Kristen has authored a number of publications around the importance of sustainability and ESG disclosure and assurance. She was named a 2024 Women in Sustainability Leadership Award winner, #23 on the 2023 Onalytica top 50 ESG influencers list, recognized as an ESG, Diversity, and Climate Trailblazer as part of Diligent’s 2023 Modern Governance 100 nominees, and #10 on the 2020 Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders list. Kristen has more than 25 years of experience with Deloitte, beginning her career in Deloitte’s Audit and Advisory Services, working in Deloitte’s National Office in several capacities, and working with the deputy CEO of Deloitte LLP focused on regulatory and public policy matters. Kristen is a CPA (CT, MO) and CGMA and earned SASB’s Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential. Kristen completed the Berkeley Law Executive Education Certification: ESG: Navigating the Board’s Role and the Diligent Institute Climate Leadership Certification. Kristen is a member of the Financial Women’s Association and lives in Greenwich, CT, with her five-year-old daughter.
Dbriefs resources
