Finance

Green finance expertise in short supply in mainland China: CFA Institute

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2024

Green finance expertise in short supply in mainland China: CFA Institute

China lacks both an adequate supply and a pipeline of finance professionals with expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues as demand for such people surges amid a boom in sustainable investing, according to the CFA Institute.

China is struggling to develop ESG analysts, strategists and executives to fill the rapidly expanding demand in the finance market, the organisation said in a report. The government, enterprises and universities should work together to build a structured and standardised system for cultivating ESG talent, it added.

“As ESG is embraced by more companies in China, the need for the knowledge, skills and capabilities to deliver on their ESG-related goals has created a massive gap in terms of the thirst for ESG and sustainability knowledge,” said David Zhang, China head at the CFA Institute.

Driven by the global “do-good” investment boom and China’s climate goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, the country is seeing a rapid surge in demand for the skills and talent to do sustainability-related work, especially in the financial market. But unclear career positioning, a lack of training opportunities and a shortage of career guidance are inhibiting the development of such talent, according to the CFA Institute.

The Wujing Power Station is seen in Shanghai on January 24, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

Even professionals who are in ESG-related jobs today lack the requisite expertise to do their jobs, with 60 per cent of ESG professionals having received no relevant training, the organisation found.

Between May 2022 and April 2023, the number of active ESG-related job postings in China increased by 64.5 per cent compared with a year earlier, according to a report released by China’s largest job recruitment site Liepin last July. The number of applicants increased by more than 150 per cent in that span, as salaries 30 per cent higher than those for average financial jobs drew candidates’ interest.

However, qualified people with sufficient ESG-related expertise remain in short supply, as fewer than 10 per cent of the ESG professionals in mainland China hold at least one ESG-related qualification or accreditation, according to the report, issued last month. Relevant qualifications include the CFA Institute’s own certificate in ESG investing, the Certified ESG Analyst qualification offered by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies, and the Sustainability and Climate Risk certificate offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

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“There is a significant opportunity for China to catch up to developed economies in terms of ESG-related products, as market interest in sustainable projects is growing fast,” Zhang said. “Given the shortage of ESG talent and the strong demand for sustainable finance skills, what is needed is the expertise to drive that growth.”

China’s sustainable finance market could more than quadruple to 70 trillion yuan (US$9.8 trillion) by 2031, according to Swiss investment bank UBS. The size of the green finance market in the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases already reached 16 trillion yuan last year, accounting for about 8 per cent of the country’s entire financial system.

To catch up with global peers and accelerate its transition towards a low-carbon economy, China is introducing stricter ESG disclosure rules. The Shanghai Stock Exchange has encouraged companies to disclose ESG information, and all companies on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, known as the Star Market, have been required to disclose ESG information in their annual reports beginning in 2022.

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“With mandatory ESG disclosure requirements on the horizon, and a complex and evolving landscape of ESG reporting standards, there is pressure from the real economy to urgently address the notable shortage of ESG skills and expertise, and bridge the ESG talent gap,” Zhang said.

Among current ESG-related jobs in mainland China, investment positions have the largest gap between demand and supply, followed by investment-analysis positions and risk-management roles, according to the CFA Institute.

The government should establish ESG, green finance and sustainable finance development guidelines, clarify the standards for practitioners, and introduce more qualification and degree certificates, Zhang said. Meanwhile, universities need to accelerate the construction of ESG finance-related courses to make up for the shortcomings in knowledge, and professional organisations should integrate all parties’ strengths to accelerate the implementation of vocational education and training, he said.

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Finance

Simply Asset Finance reaches $2.6bn loan origination milestone in 2025

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Simply Asset Finance reaches .6bn loan origination milestone in 2025

Improvements in the company’s own technology and stronger results in various regions contributed to increased efficiency in lending operations. Credit: Kunakorn Rassadornyindee / Shutterstock.com.

Simply Asset Finance has reported that its total loan origination reached £2bn ($2.6bn) in 2025, following its growth and lending activity during the period.

During 2025, the company’s gross loan book increased to £543m and its customer base grew to 13,000.

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Additional digital platforms came online, and commercial loans were added to the range of available finance solutions.

Improvements in the company’s own technology and stronger results in various regions contributed to increased efficiency in lending operations and a broader local presence for SME clients.

In July, Simply Asset Finance introduced Kara, an AI-powered virtual agent.

Kara uses the company’s past data to enhance user interactions, streamline internal processes, and speed up decisions on lending applications.

Simply Asset Finance CEO Mike Randall said: “Our growth this year has built on the momentum of 2024, and reaching £2bn is a clear milestone for the business. All our channels have driven that progress, with rising demand for specialist lending helping us expand our footprint and support even more SMEs across the UK.

“Despite a year of challenging economic conditions, small businesses have remained resilient and ready to invest. Kara has been central to meeting demand quickly and efficiently –  and we expect her value to our customers will only grow.

“As we head into 2026, we’re focused on carrying this momentum forward and working with even more brilliant businesses to unlock their potential.”

Last month, Simply Asset Finance became a Patron lender of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB).

This partnership is aimed at supporting the broker community in the UK and increasing access to asset finance and leasing products through wider distribution.

The NACFB is known as an independent UK trade association for commercial finance intermediaries, promoting cooperation between lenders and brokers across the sector.

Finance

Baker McKenzie Welcomes Finance & Projects Principal Matthias Schemuth in Singapore | Newsroom | Baker McKenzie

Published

14 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Baker McKenzie Welcomes Finance & Projects Principal Matthias Schemuth in Singapore | Newsroom | Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie today announced that leading project finance lawyer Matthias Schemuth has joined the Firm’s Singapore office* as a Principal and Asia Pacific Co-Head of Projects in its Finance & Projects practice, alongside Partner Jon Ornolffson in Tokyo.

Matthias joins the Firm from DLA Piper, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors across Asia Pacific. He advises sponsors, developers, commercial banks, multilateral lending agencies, and export credit agencies on the structuring and financing of large-scale projects. His practice also spans international banking, structured commodity and trade finance, with a strong focus on emerging markets. Matthias has been consistently recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific and Who’s Who Legal as a leading project finance practitioner.

James Huang, Managing Principal of Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow in Singapore, said: “We are excited to welcome Matthias to our team. His expertise and proven record in managing teams will be invaluable as we expand our regional and global finance offerings for clients.”

Emmanuel Hadjidakis, Asia Pacific Chair of Baker McKenzie’s Banking & Finance Practice, commented: “Asia Pacific is seeing strong momentum in infrastructure development, energy transition investments, and cross-border project financing, much of it centred in Singapore. Having Matthias on board will further enhance our ability to help clients seize opportunities in the region’s evolving energy and infrastructure markets.”

Steven Sieker, Baker McKenzie’s Asia Chief Executive, added: “Matthias’s appointment underscores Baker McKenzie’s continued commitment to investing in exceptional talent across key markets to support our clients in navigating today’s increasingly complex business and regulatory environment.”

Matthias said: “I’m thrilled to join Baker McKenzie and contribute to its strong growth in Asia Pacific. The Firm’s global reach and local depth provide an unparalleled platform for delivering innovative projects and financing solutions to clients in this dynamic region.”

With more than 2,700 deal practitioners in more than 40 jurisdictions, Baker McKenzie is a transactional powerhouse. The Firm excels in complex, cross-border transactions; over 65% of our deals are multijurisdictional. The teams are a hybrid of ‘local’ and ‘global’, combining money-market sophistication with local excellence. The Firm’s Banking & Finance lawyers are ranked in more jurisdictions than any other firm by Chambers.

Matthias’s hire continues the expansion of Baker McKenzie’s global team. His joining follows the recent arrivals of Carole Turcotte in Toronto; Tom Oslovar in Palo Alto; Jenny Liu in New York and Palo Alto; Helen Johnson, Mark Thompson, Nick Benson, Kevin Heverin, James Wyatt and Michal Berkner in London; Jan Schubert in Frankfurt; Todd Beauchamp and Charles Weinstein in Washington DC; Dan Ouyang, Winfield Lau, and Ke (Ronnie) Li in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong; and Alexander Stathopoulos in Singapore.

*Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow is the member firm of Baker McKenzie in Singapore

Finance

3 finance stocks to buy on rising 10-year Treasury rates

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

3 finance stocks to buy on rising 10-year Treasury rates

The Federal Reserve gave investors an early Christmas present by lowering interest rates by 25 basis points (i.e., 0.25%) marking its third rate cut this year. In the past, a change like this in the “long end” of the interest rate yield curve has triggered a predictable, investable pattern. Typically, this pattern would be bearish for finance stocks, particularly banks—investors would buy bank stocks when rates rose and sell them as rates fell….