CSFA™: Certified Sustainable Finance Analyst
The Certified Sustainable Finance Analyst (CSFA™) program is a joint development between the Sustainable Finance Institute and the World Sustainable Finance Association (WSFA). CSFA™ provides participants with the experience, tools, and community of practice they will need to become an important part of the global business and investment transition towards a sustainable future.
Through a combination of online lectures, case studies, group exercises, senior industry guest speaker, investment pitches and portfolio building exercises, participants will learn about financially material ESG indicators, and learn how to translate corporate performance on sustainability into financial performance while reviewing best practices in ESG and impact investing and develop their own sustainable investment strategies.
The CSFA™ program is made up of two levels:
- CSFA™ Standard or professionals and non-pros.
- CSFA™ Advanced for experienced professionals.
Certified professionals will complete these programs with concrete ideas about how to incorporate sustainable investing strategies and practices within their own organizations.
Certified CSFA™ professionals in our programs often go on to have impact in many cross sections of business and the economy, including working for leading banks, fund managers, consultancies, established public and private companies and on policy for governments, as well as with startup opportunities.
Who should become a CSFA™?
Finance Professionals
Sustainable finance is relatively new to the finance industry. As the finance industry is committing more and more capitals and resources into sustainable investing, two issues become apparent:
1. investors are pouring money into sustainable finance, but the industry's workforce is ill-prepared for such a major global transition;
2. sustainable finance classes are only offered by a handful of academic institutions, making the industry often competing with each other for a limited supply of junior sustainable financiers, further exasperating the talent gap.
If you’re currently working in finance (central banks, retail/commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and companies, asset owners, or corporates), the CSFA™ certification can help you make the transition from traditional finance to sustainable finance, and help advance in or attain job roles such as ESG analyst, ESG portfolio manager, financial strategist, advisor and more.
Corporate Directors and Executives
ESG is evolving from a supplementary practice into an ethos, guiding business strategy for large and small companies alike. Businesses and corporations should consider adopting and investing in ESG to ensure their sustainability and improve impact over the long term. CSFA™ Program can help corporate directors and executives understand potential positive impacts that improve business success including manage risks related to customers, investors, employees, and communities.
Policymakers
While governments and regulators around the world continue to champion sustainable investing and develop standards for corporates and the financial industry, the need for better ESG and climate action disclosures, and regional sustainability transition plans are increasingly recognized beyond the financial industry as well. The CSFA™ Program can help policymakers to apply “system-thinking” principles to better understand the needs of corporates, investors, and local communities, facilitating them to work together on the quality, quantity and accessibility of relevant policies and stimulus.
Students
You don’t have to be a working professional to enter the CSFA™ programs. If you have the time and interest, the CSFA™ certification will be a great testament of your understanding and analytical skills in a world in great need of climate change and sustainable development professionals. It’s especially helpful if you’re looking to pursue a career in sustainable finance.
Other Professionals
Other Professionals such as attorneys or accountants also pursue the CSFA™ certification, acting as a complementary qualification that broadens professional expertise in preparation for leadership roles