Transformation series: Delivering a sustainability reporting transformation

Neil Cutting FCA, Transformation Director, Oracle Corporation Inc. 

Qualifying with PWC, he moved into global finance leadership roles with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Mars and Jacobs Solutions Incorporated. Neil spent 17 years at Jacobs (a Fortune 250 company), where he was VP of Finance. His experience included Divisional CFO, International Accounting Director and Transformation Director.

Neil has consistently been drawn towards helping fix business problems which require transformation. This started at PWC in Corporate Recovery, turning around loss making operations at HPE and at Jacobs, fixing failed acquisitions, driving finance function global re-organisations. These experiences enabled Neil to be seconded to the Ministry of Defence to lead the finance transformation programme.

In addition to his international career, Neil has been an active volunteer for ICAEW, including being a member and President of the West of England Board, Chair of the Aerospace & Defence CFO Forum, a member of the Business Committee and in 2023, was elected to ICAEW Council.

Neil is passionate about helping business leaders understand simple methodologies for delivering complex transformation programmes, resulting in a series of successful articles for ICAEW and the “Cutting through Boardroom Challenges” series on Accounting Web. He also guest lectures on strategic performance at the University of Bath, one of the top business schools in the UK.

Helen Slinger, Executive Director, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)

In her time at A4S, Helen has led development and delivery of the A4S Academy for a global audience of over 500 senior finance professionals, driven the substantial expansion of A4S’s knowledge hub, and represented A4S on numerous external technical committees, panels and working groups. During her time as Head of Sustainable Business at Yorkshire Water, Helen championed a transition to a sustainable business model. She was instrumental in formalising governance structures and processes for their transition to net zero; securing investment to transform the 1,450-strong fleet to electric vehicles; advancing their TCFD, sustainable finance framework and multi-capitals impact reporting; and developing a strategic external partnership to promote investment in nature-based solutions. While at Yorkshire Water, Helen brought her expertise to the A4S Expert Panel, which she co-chaired.

Helen also spent 17 years at PwC, initially in financial audit, with periods in cross-border transactions and corporate finance – supporting pre-commercial cleantech companies to obtain seed investment – before shifting focus to sustainability and climate change. In 2007, she joined the Australian firm’s embryonic Climate Change Services team, returning to the UK to set up and lead PwC’s Sustainability and Climate Change Northern UK Practice. Helen supported a diverse portfolio of clients in addressing their sustainability challenges across governance, strategy, climate scenario planning, stakeholder engagement, executive education, green product investment, social impact, sustainable supply chains, regulatory compliance, reporting and assurance.

Helen is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a Practitioner Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and an Accredited Social Return on Investment Practitioner. She is a commissioner on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and co-chairs their Future Economy Panel. She sits on the ICAEW Sustainability Committee, is a member of the Capitals Coalition Advisory Panel and advisor to the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. She has an Executive MBA, sits on the Board and Audit Committee of the Bat Conservation Trust and is a former Trustee and Treasurer of Diversity Role Models. She is also a PADI Divemaster.

Simon Weaver, Partner, KPMG

Simon is a Partner in KPMG in the UK and has been operating at the FTSE Board level for over 15 years.
Simon leads our ESG Advisory practice globally. Simon’s focus is enabling companies to achieve their ambitions and potential in the
climate and broader ESG arena. Simon was formerly an audit partner so helps clients understand the financial implications of their ESG decisions, and ensures that the data supporting decisions is robust.
Simon is responsible for ensuring we embed ESG in to all projects we deliver across KPMG’s Advisory services, as well as helping our largest clients deliver on their own transformation.
Outside of KPMG, Simon was KPMG's global representative on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’), which includes the requirements for climate transition plans, and also sat on the ISSB’s technical reference group. Simon’s passion is helping the market understand the ESG value creation opportunities, as well as the need for investment to mitigate ESG related risks, and as part of that has worked with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) on a guide around how to build the business case for sustainability.