71st WG Conference Berlin-Brandenburg

The Work Group Berlin Brandenburg had already dealt with the topic of ESG reporting and what it means for controlling in the fall of 2023. The thirst for knowledge and the discussion was so lively that we decided to revisit the topic in spring with as much practical relevance as possible. To this end, we chose the format of a one-day event in the center of Berlin and met at the Mercure Hotel City.

The preparatory team (Fabian, Udo, Anna, Friedericke, Christoph, Annette and Patrick) prepared the content of the conference as follows:

Stakeholder analysis – Who are my stakeholders? What is the ideal method for identifying stakeholders?

The materiality analysis – what standards are there – is now a methodological must when setting up ESG reporting. As part of the preparatory research, an EXCEL tool was found here that provides a pragmatic first approach to how the materiality analysis can be carried out in SMEs.

In the data analysis section – FIT-GAP analysis – it became clear once again that effective ESG reporting is largely determined by the availability and quality of the required data. A challenge that is present in controlling on a daily basis.

The last block focused on reporting and software. The basic rules of reporting were discussed and an initial market overview of software solutions that focus on ESG reporting was provided.

All the topics were explored in greater depth in group work, this time with possible applications for each topic in the industries of

• Consulting
• Energy supplier
• Public transport

It was an intensive day with a successful exchange – both professionally and privately – networking is simply fun!