How to Hire a CSRD Consultant: A Practical Guide to Finding the Right Expert

If you need to hire a CSRD consultant, you're facing one of the most important decisions in your sustainability reporting journey. The right CSRD expert can save you months of work, help you avoid costly mistakes, and ensure your reporting meets the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The wrong one can drain your budget while delivering little value. CSRD consulting is a rapidly growing field, and knowing how to find a qualified professional is essential.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to find a CSRD expert who fits your organization — from qualifications and experience to engagement models and red flags.

What to Look For in a CSRD Consultant

Relevant Qualifications and Certifications

Not every sustainability consultant is equipped to handle CSRD compliance. Look for professionals who have:

Deep knowledge of ESRS — The European Sustainability Reporting Standards are the backbone of CSRD reporting. Your consultant should be fluent in all ESRS topical standards (E1–E5, S1–S4, G1) as well as the cross-cutting standards (ESRS 1 and ESRS 2).
Understanding of double materiality — This is the cornerstone concept of CSRD. A good consultant can guide you through both impact materiality and financial materiality assessments.
Audit and assurance familiarity — CSRD reports require limited assurance (moving to reasonable assurance over time). Consultants should understand what auditors expect.
Relevant certifications — Look for credentials like GRI Certified Sustainability Professional, EFRAG training certificates, or equivalent qualifications from recognized bodies.

Industry Experience

CSRD requirements vary significantly depending on your sector. A consultant who has worked with companies in your industry will understand:

Which ESRS topics are most likely material for your business
Industry-specific metrics and benchmarks
Common data collection challenges in your sector
Peer reporting practices and stakeholder expectations

Track Record with Companies Your Size

A consultant who primarily advises large multinationals may not be the best fit for an SME, and vice versa. Ask about their experience with organizations of similar size, complexity, and reporting maturity.

Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Before you commit to any CSRD consulting engagement, ask these questions:

About Their Expertise

"How many CSRD/ESRS projects have you completed?" — Look for hands-on experience, not just theoretical knowledge.
"Can you walk me through your approach to a double materiality assessment?" — Their answer reveals how deeply they understand the process.
"How do you stay current with ESRS developments and EFRAG guidance?" — The regulatory landscape is still evolving. Active engagement with updates is a must.
"Can you provide references from similar projects?" — Always check references.

About Their Approach

"What does your typical CSRD implementation timeline look like?" — Realistic timelines signal experience. Be wary of anyone promising full compliance in just a few weeks.
"How do you handle data gaps?" — Every company has them. A good consultant has strategies for addressing missing data pragmatically.
"Will you help build internal capacity, or will we be dependent on you long-term?" — The best consultants aim to make you self-sufficient over time.
"What tools and software do you use or recommend?" — This reveals their technical sophistication and whether they can integrate with your existing systems.

About Deliverables and Pricing

"What exactly will we receive at the end of this engagement?" — Get specific: reports, templates, training materials, data collection frameworks.
"How do you structure your fees?" — Understand whether it's fixed-price, hourly, or retainer-based, and what's included.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

The CSRD consulting market has grown quickly, and not everyone offering services is equally qualified. Watch for these warning signs:

No direct CSRD/ESRS experience — General sustainability consultants may lack the specific regulatory knowledge needed. CSRD is a compliance exercise, not just a sustainability strategy project.
Overpromising on timelines — If someone says they can make you fully CSRD-compliant in a month, be skeptical. A proper implementation typically takes 6–12 months.
Vague deliverables — If the consultant can't clearly articulate what you'll receive, you'll likely be disappointed with the outcome.
No references or case studies — Established consultants should be able to point to previous work, even if client names are anonymized.
One-size-fits-all approaches — CSRD reporting is highly company-specific. A consultant who uses the same template for every client isn't doing the materiality assessment properly.
Reluctance to involve your team — Good CSRD consulting requires collaboration with your internal stakeholders. A consultant who wants to work in isolation is a red flag.
Conflicts of interest — Be cautious of consultants who also sell reporting software and push their tool regardless of fit, or auditors who also consult (this creates independence issues under assurance requirements).

Where to Find Qualified CSRD Consultants

Finding the right CSRD expert can be challenging because the field is relatively new. Here are the best channels:

Specialized Directories

Purpose-built directories let you search for consultants by expertise, location, industry experience, and company size. This is often the fastest way to find a shortlist of qualified professionals.

Professional Networks

LinkedIn — Search for professionals with CSRD, ESRS, or double materiality in their profiles. Check their content and endorsements.
Industry associations — Organizations like EFRAG, GRI, and national sustainability associations often maintain member directories.
Peer recommendations — Ask other companies in your industry who they've worked with.

Events and Conferences

CSRD-focused events, webinars, and conferences are excellent places to evaluate consultants in person. You can assess their knowledge firsthand before engaging them.

Engagement Models: Advisory vs. Full Service

CSRD consulting engagements generally fall into three models. Choose based on your internal capabilities and budget.

Advisory / Coaching Model

Best for: Organizations with some internal sustainability capacity that need expert guidance.

The consultant acts as an advisor, reviewing your work and providing direction
Your team does the heavy lifting on data collection, stakeholder engagement, and drafting
Lower cost, but requires significant internal time investment
Typical engagement: monthly check-ins, document reviews, and ad-hoc support

Project-Based / Full Service

Best for: Organizations with limited internal resources or tight timelines.

The consultant manages the entire CSRD implementation end-to-end
Includes materiality assessment, gap analysis, data collection framework design, and report drafting
Higher cost, but less strain on your internal team
Typical engagement: 6–12 months with defined milestones and deliverables

Retainer Model

Best for: Organizations that need ongoing support beyond the first reporting cycle.

Monthly retainer for continuous access to CSRD expertise
Covers regulatory updates, report updates, audit preparation, and ongoing improvements
Provides stability and consistent support
Often follows an initial project-based engagement

Tips for a Successful Selection Process

1. Define Your Scope Before You Start

Be clear about what you need. Are you starting from scratch, or do you already have sustainability reporting in place? Do you need help with the full ESRS disclosure, or just the double materiality assessment? The clearer your brief, the better the proposals you'll receive.

2. Request Proposals from Multiple Consultants

Don't settle for the first option. Request proposals from at least three consultants to compare approaches, timelines, and pricing. This also gives you a sense of the market rate.

3. Evaluate Cultural Fit

You'll be working closely with this consultant for months. Make sure their communication style and working approach align with your team's expectations. A brilliant consultant who doesn't communicate well can be worse than a good one who collaborates effectively.

4. Check for Knowledge Transfer

The best engagements leave your team more capable than before. Prioritize consultants who include training, documentation, and capacity building as part of their offering.

5. Negotiate Clear Milestones

Break the engagement into phases with clear deliverables at each stage. This protects both parties and gives you off-ramps if things aren't working out.

6. Consider a Pilot Phase

If you're unsure about a consultant, start with a smaller engagement — like a gap analysis or materiality workshop — before committing to a full project. This lets you evaluate their quality with limited risk.

7. Don't Optimize Solely on Price

The cheapest option often isn't the best value. A low-cost consultant who delivers poor-quality work may cost you more in the long run — through rework, audit findings, or compliance gaps.

Making Your Decision

Hiring a CSRD consultant is an investment in your organization's compliance and sustainability credibility. Take the time to evaluate candidates thoroughly, check references, and ensure alignment on scope and deliverables.

The right consultant will not only help you meet your CSRD obligations but also help you extract real business value from the reporting process — identifying risks, uncovering opportunities, and strengthening your stakeholder relationships.

Find Your CSRD Consultant Today

Ready to start your search? The CSRD Experts directory connects you with vetted CSRD consultants and sustainability reporting specialists across Europe. Browse by expertise, industry, location, and company size to find the right fit for your organization.

Whether you need strategic advisory support or a full-service implementation partner, CSRD Experts makes it easy to find qualified professionals who can guide you through every step of your CSRD compliance journey.