ACA Group (ACA), the leading governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) advisor in financial services, today announced that it has become a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). By adding its name to the other 3,900+ signatories, ACA formally endorses a framework that aligns with ACA’s commitment to promote a more sustainable financial system, most notably through the launch of its global environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) advisory practice in January of this year.

The PRI is recognized as the leading global network of asset managers, owners, and service providers who are committed to putting responsible investment into practice. The voluntary principles aim to provide a framework for integrating ESG considerations into investment decision-making and ownership practices.

To become better aligned with the PRI, ACA commits to undertake a series of steps in 2021. These include making public its organizational commitment to advancing responsible investment and how this is put into practice in the services provided to clients; providing transparency around the global frameworks with which ACA aligns its ESG service offerings; and launching its own corporate sustainability strategy to promote consistency between recommendations made to clients and how the firm operates on a day-to-day basis.

Shvetank Shah, CEO of ACA Group, said: “We are proud to count more than three thousand financial services firms as our clients. Taken together, their capital allocation in sustainable and responsible investment influences trillions of dollars and touches billions of people. Our ability to shape those decisions energizes us, while reminding us of our own accountability. It was clear we had to drink our own champagne – we could hardly advise clients on how to improve their ESG impact without living up to its highest standards ourselves. By publicly agreeing to adhere to the Principles for Responsible Investment, we are demonstrating our commitment to integrating ESG factors into our own business.”

Fiona Reynolds, CEO of the PRI, said: “We are delighted to welcome ACA as a PRI signatory. This move, combined with the creation of its dedicated ESG advisory practice, demonstrates the GRC firm’s commitment to boosting the awareness of ESG in the investment decision-making process and supporting the sustainable investment ecosystem.”

The six Principles for Responsible Investment are a voluntary and aspirational set of investment principles that encourage the incorporation of ESG issues into investment practice. In committing to the six principles, signatories contribute to developing a more sustainable global financial system. They have attracted a global signatory base representing a majority of the world’s professionally managed investments.

The six principles are:

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.

2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the principles within the investment industry.

5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the principles.

6. We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the principles.

ACA’s ESG advisory practice complements the existing governance, risk, and compliance offerings of the firm. The ESG team, offering ESG program development, portfolio oversight, and assurance services, is supported by the wider ACA community, which provides cyber, risk, and regulatory technology solutions alongside UK, European, and U.S. regulatory compliance advisory services.