Head of Marketing
Published: 10 Feb 2025
10 min read
Accounting is part of the broader Professional Services industry, one of the largest sectors of employment in the UK. As of 2018 the sector accounted for 8.5% of UK employment combining full time and part time working; with an increase of 82,100 employees compared to the previous year. Within the professional services sector, almost all categories of employment increased within the same time period.
For decades, the professional services sector, particularly accounting, watched from the sidelines as global climate initiatives took shape – from the establishment of the IPCC in 1988 to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. It wasn’t until recently that the industry began to wake up to its environmental responsibilities. A revealing 2019 Deloitte European CFO survey of 1,168 CFOs painted a stark picture: businesses largely lacked thorough climate risk understanding, had few governance mechanisms for climate strategies, and rarely aligned their emissions reduction targets with global climate agreements.
However, the tide is turning dramatically, driven by a powerful wave of stakeholder pressure and a remarkable shift in investor sentiment. As the professional services sector awakens to its environmental responsibilities, and businesses with over 250 employees and £36m in revenue being required by law to report their emissions, accountancy firms are stepping up to take meaningful climate action. These pioneering firms are demonstrating how sustainability can enhance business performance while making a positive environmental impact.
Read about four accountancy firms that are championing climate action, and explore how they are turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Grunberg & Co: Leading Innovation in Sustainable Accountancy
Bishop Fleming: Driving Employee Engagement Through Climate Action
Duncan & Toplis: Rallying Teams Around Sustainability Goals
Kreston Reeves: Driving Growth by Pioneering Sustainable Advisory Services
Whether it’s engaging employees, measuring carbon footprints, or developing new service offerings, these firms are setting the standard for sustainability in accountancy.
Grunberg & Co: Leading innovation and gaining competitive advantage in sustainable accountancy
Key Improvements:
Achieved complete transition to paperless operations
Installed energy-efficient LED lighting throughout offices
Implemented renewable energy transition plan
Established clear net zero target for 2030
Created transparent carbon footprint reporting system
Grunberg & Co stands out as a smaller practice making bold sustainability commitments, proving that size doesn’t limit environmental impact. Under Managing Partner Robert Bean’s leadership, they’ve implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy focusing on practical, achievable goals. Their transition to paperless operations and installation of energy-efficient LED lighting demonstrates how technological innovation can drive environmental improvements. What makes their approach particularly interesting is their market positioning – they’ve recognised that demonstrating carbon consciousness gives them a competitive edge in client acquisition. Their commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 is backed by concrete actions and transparent reporting through the Ecologi platform.
"The climate crisis is an important issue, not just for me, not just for our firm, but for the world… It shouldn’t just be about the big four; it should be about all firms taking small steps to get to net-zero. Once you get down to it, it’s much more simple than you think it’s going to be. So don’t be fearful of it, and just plunge in and go for it"
— Robert Bean, Managing Partner
Bishop Fleming: driving employee engagement through climate action
Key Improvements:
Established three-pillar sustainability framework
Implemented sustainable procurement policy with local suppliers
Reduced business travel through smart policies
Launched employee engagement initiatives including beach cleanups
Integrated sustainability into recruitment strategy, attracting 70 new apprentices annually
Bishop Fleming has distinguished itself by embedding sustainability into its core business strategy through their three pillars: Healthy Business, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Environment. Their approach is particularly noteworthy for its focus on talent attraction and retention – they’ve recognised that their annual intake of 70 new apprentices prioritizes employers with strong environmental credentials. The firm’s practical implementation combines high-level strategy with grassroots engagement: they’ve focused on sustainable sourcing from local suppliers, implemented smart business travel policies, and launched innovative employee engagement initiatives like beach cleanups with Surfers Against Sewage. Their climate action work has enabled them to measure their carbon footprint accurately and communicate progress effectively through internal webinars.
"It is very clear that this generation of school leavers and graduates want to work for an organisation that is being proactive on sustainability and the environment. Our focus in this area has certainly helped in our recent re-accreditation as a Great Place to Work®"
— Ewan McClymont, Head of Responsible Business
Duncan & Toplis: rallying teams around sustainability goals
Key Improvements:
Generated 73,000+ units of renewable electricity through solar panels across four locations
Implemented comprehensive Green Initiative Policy across all offices
Created dedicated Sustainability Champion role with expansion plans
Delivered educational ESG webinar series for staff and clients
Set clear target to achieve net zero within 5-8 years
Duncan & Toplis’s journey exemplifies how regional accountancy firms can lead in sustainability. Their comprehensive approach includes eight specific ESG targets integrated into their corporate strategy, from achieving net zero status to implementing sustainable stationery across all locations by December 2024. The firm’s commitment is evidenced by tangible actions – their solar panel installation across four offices has generated over 73,000 units of renewable electricity, demonstrating immediate environmental impact. Their Green Initiative Policy extends beyond energy to include green space transformation and waste minimization. What sets them apart is their structured approach to engagement: they’ve created a dedicated Sustainability Champion role and delivered a series of three webinars focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance aspects. Working with Net Zero Now, they’ve not only measured their carbon footprint but identified that utilities, transport, IT, and goods/services are their primary emission sources, allowing for targeted reduction strategies.
The Duncan & Toplis Leadership Team, stated that:
"The purpose of our firm is to positively impact people, our communities and the world around us. We believe that by calculating our carbon footprint and setting ambitious Net Zero targets, not only will we ensure that we are authentic, but it also helps us to create an organisation that is fit for the future"
Kreston Reeves: driving growth by pioneering sustainable advisory services
Key Improvements:
Achieved B Corp certification in December 2022
Achieved carbon neutral status after calculating their carbon footprint with Ecologi in 2021
Established comprehensive ESG reporting framework
Created Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) leads
Launched Kreston Reeves Foundation for community impact
Implemented tree planting initiative for every client in 2024, achieving over 66k trees funded for planting
Kreston Reeves demonstrates how accountancy firms can embed sustainability into their core business strategy while achieving significant growth. Their achievement of B Corp certification and commitment to continuous improvement showcases their comprehensive approach to environmental and social responsibility.
How Kreston Reeves drives sustainability:
The firm has implemented a comprehensive ESG strategy that combines environmental action with social impact. Their approach focuses on measurable outcomes and transparent reporting, while maintaining their position as industry leaders in sustainable advisory services.
James Peach, Audit and Assurance Partner and SDG 13 ‘Climate action’ lead commented:
"As a firm, we recognise the part we must play in acting against the climate crisis, which is why our dedication to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal ‘Climate action’ is so important to us. We’re proud to see the positive, tangible impact these projects are having on the planet, and we’re excited to continue working with Ecologi to reach more milestones!"
As these leading accountancy firms show, meaningful climate action can drive significant business benefits—from stronger customer and employee engagement to enhanced brand reputation and risk mitigation. By taking a thoughtful, transparent, and impactful approach, businesses can pave the way for a sustainable future through climate leadership.
Ready to take the lead in climate action?
Book in a 30 minute discovery call with our Accountancy sector experts and find out more about partnering with Ecologi to measure your emissions, set reduction goals and fund high-quality climate action on the road to net-zero.