Turning ESG into a competitive advantage for CFOs

At the recent William Buck CFO Summit in South Australia, Future Focus shared insights from the Authenticity Index™ 2024/25, highlighting how sustainability, when done authentically, drives stronger business outcomes.

For many CFOs, ESG can feel like a compliance burden. But our research shows that authenticity is the differentiator. High-scoring businesses in the Authenticity Index™ outperform peers across every metric:

• Talent advantage – Strong culture leads to better attraction (+47 net culture score) and retention (+55 net retention score).

• Productivity & innovation – Engaged employees deliver higher productivity (+45 net engagement score) and innovation (+30 net innovation score).

• Resilience & growth – Authentic organisations are more resilient (+37 net resilience score), while also reporting higher customer growth (86%) and profitability (81%).

Australian businesses are spread across a spectrum of ESG maturity, from disregard and compliance, through efficiency and leadership, to purpose. Encouragingly, more than half now sit in the leadership or purpose categories, signalling that sustainability is becoming embedded as a management philosophy, not just an external pressure.

For CFOs, the message is clear: authentic ESG is not a cost centre, it’s a growth driver. Companies that align commitments, culture and communications are not only managing risk, they are attracting talent, winning customers, and building long-term resilience.

As economic pressures mount, now is the moment to treat ESG as a strategic advantage, not a checkbox exercise.