eFinancialCareers

Environmental concerns are creating demand for a new species of 'green accountant'.

JPMorgan recently formed an environmental, social and governance research team to scrutinise the green commitment of the corporate sector. Recruiters say there are green jobs on offer elsewhere too.

"Newer, environmentally sensitive banking groups are occupying the limelight," says Sarah Williams of FSS City. These groups – such as Climate Change Capital and Low Carbon Accelerator – focus purely on offering investment opportunities with reduced environment impact.

Alongside standard costs and revenues, green accountants take into consideration the sustainability of a business based upon the environmental cost of production. Recruiters say anyone who's worked as a green accountant before is hot property, but there are so few of them that hiring companies are prepared to compromise: "Commodities accountants may be more appropriate, but anyone with solid risk and audit business skills could be considered, as they'd have a relevant skill-set to build on," says Williams.

Environmental consciousness is unlikely to do much to land you a job in the broader banking sector, however. "Don't expect banks to drop expectations of a Big 4 background and good academics on the basis that you're more environmentally conscious," warns Steve Forro of Indigo City. "I've yet to hear of a bank rejecting someone because they're not green enough."