At ESG Accord, we specialize in technical compliance for investment preferences and objectives including conventional investing, ESG, sustainability, values-based investing and philanthropy. Our mission is to support financial advisers, paraplanners, compliance professionals, fund managers and DFMs in navigating the evolving landscape of ESG, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

 

What We Offer

 

✅ Free Suitability Compliance Toolkit – Available via the Accord Initiative, ensuring compliance for all clients and all funds.
✅ Expert Consultancy – Tailored support for advice firms, networks, and fund managers.
✅ Training & Proposition Development – Designed for fund groups, DFMs, and tax-efficient vehicle providers.
✅ Deep-Dive Industry Reports – Covering Climate, ESG, and Sustainability across MPS and Tax-Efficient Vehicles

 

Our Industry Role

 

We actively shape industry standards and regulations with memberships and leadership roles in:


✔ FCA Disclosures and Labels Advisory Group
✔ APCC member and Sustainable Working Group Chair
✔ PFS Sustainable Financial Advice Panel
✔ UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association
✔ FCA’s Advisers’ Sustainability Group 



Meet Our Founders


Elly Dowding, Director and Technical Compliance Specialist:



 

A CFA UK-certified professional for climate, ESG, sustainability and impact investing, Elly brings extensive expertise in compliance and technical reviews. Her career spans S.166 and Defined Benefit reviews, and in 2022, she was awarded Professional Adviser Woman of the Year – ESG.

 

🌍 Passionate about the intersection of compliance and sustainable finance, Elly is dedicated to helping the industry navigate sustainability regulations with confidence. When she’s not driving industry change, she enjoys yoga, surfing, and beach adventures with her children.

 

💬 Elly says: "Sustainable finance is a fundamental shift in how we approach investment advice and compliance. My goal is to help the industry confidently navigate sustainability regulations, ensuring good-practice compliance while delivering meaningful client outcomes. At ESG Accord, we provide the tools and insights needed to embrace this change with clarity and confidence."

 

Contact Elly: elly@esgaccord.co.uk



 

Lee Coates OBE, Director and Ethical Investing pioneer:



 

A leader in ethical and sustainable finance, Lee co-founded Ethical Investors (1989) and Ethical Screening (1998), pioneering responsible investing in the UK. Awarded an OBE in 2011 for his ‘services to ethical business and finance’, Lee now focuses on sustainability-related compliance, adviser education and speaking events at ESG Accord.

 

🎵 Outside of finance, Lee enjoys gardening, photography, drumming, and home studio recording.

 

💬 Lee says: "With evolving regulations and increasing scrutiny on greenwashing, advisers and fund managers must be proactive in adapting to change. ESG Accord is here to provide the expertise, education, and compliance solutions needed to navigate this shifting landscape. The time to prepare is now—ensuring both regulatory alignment and meaningful client outcomes."

Contact Lee: lee@esgaccord.co.uk



Our Advisory Group

It is essential for ESG Accord to walk the talk when it comes to the ‘G’ in governance.  So, we reached out to the industry and are delighted to confirm that the Accord Initiative benefits from an independent Advisory Group. 


This group, from many different areas of financial services, all have a deep interest in and commitment to ESG and Sustainability, and we are so grateful to be able to draw on this wealth of experience and knowledge to drive the Accord Initiative forward.   


Advisory Group members:

  • Madison Reamsbottom, Head of Membership at UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)
  • Frank Potaczek, Investment Professional, Business Leader, Proposition & Product Lead, Client Journey Expert, Buy-side & Sell-side
  • Maja Erceg, Senior Policy Adviser – EU and Government Affairs, PIMFA
  • Richard Cooper, Business Development Manager, Business Specialist – Financial Services, Professional Education London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF)
  • Alan Whittle MSc FPFS, Postgraduate Researcher and Training, Compliance and Investment Technical Specialist
  • Elly Dowding, Technical Compliance Specialist, Director, ESG Accord
  • Lee Coates OBE, Ethical Money and ESG Consultant, Director, ESG Accord

💬 Madison Reamsbottom, Head of Membership at the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF): "The Financial Advisor community plays a pivotal role in the education and support of retail investors. The Accord Initiative is a toolkit for advisors to streamline their sustainability processes and compliance requirements. The Initiative also provides access to numerous resources and illustrative real-world examples. This suite of information and tools bridges a gap which the market has been keen to fill."


💬 Alan Whittle MSc FPFS, Postgraduate Researcher and Training, Compliance and Investment Technical Specialist: "I am passionate about developing the financial planning profession's approach to sustainable and ethical finance.  Being part of the Advisory Board of the Accord Initiative gives me a chance to contribute to the vital debate around how to better integrate this within firms' advisory processes. The Accord Initiative has brought together knowledge and experience across Investment Management, Financial Advice and Regulatory Compliance to try and create a more joined-up approach.  It recognises that not everyone has the knowledge and experience to develop appropriate frameworks for the provision of effective sustainable financial advice."


💬 Frank Potaczek, Investment Professional, Business Leader, Proposition & Product Lead, Client Journey Expert, Buy-side & Sell-side: "Financial advisors and wealth managers are trusted by their clients to help them make informed choices about sustainable investing and signing up for non-financial returns from their investments. I’m delighted to be able to do my bit in helping make that happen."


💬 Richard Cooper, Business Development Manager, Business Specialist – Financial Services, Professional Education London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF):  "I am pleased to be involved and to be able to support the Advisory Group, ESG and sustainable investing will play an increasingly important role in the adviser landscape. Helping to inform advisers of the regulatory implications and understanding how to engage with clients. Having well informed free resources and tools to help inform and educate clients will be vital to ensure advisers are able to demonstrate their competency."   


Ready to Navigate Sustainability and Compliance with Confidence?

 

Explore the Accord Initiative now! The site is designed to help you stay ahead in an ever-changing regulatory landscape.


You can also visit the ESG Accord website HERE.