International insurance group facing increasing ESG transparency requirements (CSRD, EU Taxonomy, SFDR), in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

ESG data was collected in fragmented fashion across different functions (CSR, HR, Procurement, Investments), without governed processes or sufficient traceability to meet regulator and rating agency requirements. Finance leadership lacked visibility on the group's ESG maturity.

Before technology selection, the priority was clarifying indicator scope and structuring ESG data governance.

The central challenge was extra-financial data traceability: how to collect, consolidate, and certify ESG indicators from multiple sources (CSR, HR, Procurement, Investments), with the same level of rigor as financial data?

Regulators and rating agencies now require traceability comparable to financial accounts. Yet ESG data was collected in fragmented fashion, without governed processes or audit trail, making certification impossible.

The objective: build a system enabling:

• Centralized ESG indicator collection with integrated quality controls

• Complete data traceability for auditors and regulators

• Production of CSRD, Taxonomy, and SFDR disclosures within regulatory deadlines

The primary challenge was orchestrating collaboration among teams that had never worked together on a common process: CSR, HR, Procurement, Investment Management. We organized cross-functional workshops to map data sources and define responsibilities across the ESG production chain.

The engagement encompassed:

• Defining indicator scope, anticipating regulatory evolution (CSRD, Taxonomy, SFDR) to avoid subsequent overhauls

• Structuring collection processes with integrated quality controls, applying the same rigor to ESG data as financial data

• Designing ESG data governance with identified owners for each indicator and formalized validation processes

The group improved its rating with major ESG agencies from the first structured reporting cycle.