Executives Remain Committed to Integrating Financial and Sustainability Data, Citing Strong Benefits Despite Policy Uncertainty, New Workiva Study Finds

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Companies that integrate financial and sustainability data are gaining a competitive edge. According to Workiva Inc.’s (NYSE: WK) 2025 Executive Benchmark Survey of 1,600 global leaders across North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific, 97% of executives say sustainability reporting will be a business advantage within two years, and 96% of investors agree it strengthens financial performance.

Despite policy uncertainty, leaders are not changing course. Over 10,000 companies and institutions (29% year over year increase) have set science-based decarbonisation targets or committed to do so, while over 190 countries remain aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, signaling that long-term commitments are holding firm.

Executives see integrated reporting as essential for resilience and growth. “CEOs are making bold choices today that will shape their business for years to come,” said Julie Iskow, CEO of Workiva. “Assured financial and sustainability reporting is not simply a compliance play, it's a strategic approach to mitigate risk, fuel performance, and strengthen investor confidence.”

Investors are responding. “The market has spoken and forward-thinking companies aren’t waiting - they’re taking action and committing to science-based targets and stronger disclosures,” said Tensie Whelan, Distinguished Professor of Practice for Business and Society and Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. “They understand that sustainability and integrated reporting isn’t just about risk management, it’s a competitive advantage that attracts capital and drives long-term success.”

Key Findings:

• 98% of executives in Australia will move forward with climate disclosures, regardless of political shifts
• 95% say integrated financial and sustainability data helps identify performance gaps that enhance financial growth opportunities
• 95% of institutional investors are more likely to invest in companies with integrated financial and non-financial reporting

Executive Perspectives:

The business case for integrated data and reporting is stronger than ever. "By making our operations more sustainable, we're actually growing our profit margins. It’s a direct cause-and-effect relationship,” said Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability Officer at Baker Hughes. “As we continue to enhance our sustainability efforts and move forward with climate disclosures and sustainability reporting, we're seeing ESG indices rise. Institutional investors are responding by buying more stock, and our share price has even increased since the election, which demonstrates the value investors place on our long-term, transparent approach.”

European leaders see regulatory shifts as an opportunity: “The CSRD is a game changer that empowers us to manage and report on dual impacts: financial and environmental. Through double materiality assessment, we identify key risks and opportunities that drive long-term value creation. When CFO and CSO teams align around these metrics, we make better decisions and drive stronger performance.” Ida Bohman Steenberg, Chief Sustainability Officer of TietoEvry.

Leaders in the Asia-Pacific region are seeing a similar shift. “Across Australia and APAC, companies are increasingly prioritising digital transformation to keep pace with evolving regulatory demands,” said Erik Saito, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Advisory at Workiva. “By leveraging cloud technology and generative AI, organisations can streamline compliance, seamlessly integrate reporting systems, and establish a single source of truth for their financial and non-financial data. As regulatory complexity grows, adopting these technologies will be critical to the reporting process so that the office of the CFO and CSO can focus on higher value work to create competitive advantage and value to the business.”

The survey results and recent actions by global leaders demonstrate that despite market complexities, executive commitment to assured integrated reporting continues to accelerate, driven by clear evidence of its strategic and financial value.

More Information

Read Workiva’s 2025 Executive Benchmark Survey here. For additional insights, join Workiva and Deloitte for a webinar on March 26, 2025. Click here to register.

About Workiva

Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is on a mission to power transparent reporting for a better world. We build and deliver the world’s leading cloud platform for assured integrated reporting to meet stakeholder demands for action, transparency, and disclosure of financial and non-financial data. Workiva offers the only unified SaaS platform that brings customers’ financial reporting, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data together in a controlled, secure, audit-ready platform. Our platform simplifies the most complex reporting and disclosure challenges by streamlining processes, connecting data and teams, and ensuring consistency. Learn more at workiva.com.