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
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 web site HERE.