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IFRS-S1: IFRS S1 - General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information · 2024
Paragraphs 27–b

Management role in governance

Practical guidance for preparing this disclosure. Use this card to identify datapoints, verify claims and organise supporting evidence. For exact requirements, always refer to the official IFRS source.

Dr Ross Kurinko, Sustainability Reporting Trainer
Reviewed by Dr Ross Kurinko · Sustainability Reporting Trainer LRA educational guidance · Not issued or endorsed by IFRS
To prepare this disclosure
Disclosure focus

This disclosure asks an organisation to explain how management is involved in overseeing and carrying out sustainability-related governance responsibilities. In practice, it is about showing where management has real responsibility, what it does, and how that role connects to the wider governance structure rather than leaving the topic only at board level.

The practical focus is on the organisation’s actual arrangements across the business: who is responsible, what decisions or monitoring they handle, and whether this applies broadly or only in certain parts of the organisation. A useful response should make clear the scope of management involvement, including whether it covers the whole organisation, specific business units, or only selected sites or functions.

This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official IFRS source.

Before you start

A quick mental checklist before you prepare this disclosure — tick each as you settle it.

Preparation

Key datapoints to prepare

Datapoint What to capture Evidence hint Owner
Controls and checks Whether the organisation has documented controls and procedures in place for this area, and a brief description of what those controls and procedures are. Policy or process note, control framework, procedure document, or governance paper showing the controls in use. Governance / reporting lead
Delegated role or committee Which management role or committee has been given responsibility for this area, including the named body or position and the scope of the delegation. Terms of reference, delegation matrix, committee charter, or management responsibility schedule. Company secretary / governance
Cross-functional integration How this area is connected with risk, finance, legal, internal audit, and any other relevant functions, including the main coordination points or shared processes. Cross-functional governance map, committee papers, RACI, meeting minutes, or process documentation showing the links. Risk / finance / legal coordination lead
Delegated role oversight What oversight is exercised over the delegated role, and by whom, including the main review, challenge, or monitoring arrangements. Board or committee minutes, oversight schedule, reporting pack, or governance terms showing how the delegated role is monitored. Board secretary / governance
+ Show s1-27-b sub-elements (LRA working checklist)

How to prepare it

1Map the controls and procedures you actually use for this disclosure, so you can show the process rather than a generic description.
2Identify who carries the delegated management responsibility, or which committee does so, and note the role in plain business terms.
3Set out how that work connects with risk, finance, legal, internal audit, or any other relevant team, using the wording your organisation uses internally.
4Gather the supporting evidence for each point, such as meeting papers, approvals, process notes, or other records that show the arrangement in practice.
5Prepare the final figures or narrative, then record any exclusions, changes in approach, or updates so the reader can see what was included and why.
6Check the draft against the official source to confirm you have covered the required items and have not added, missed, or misstated anything.
Request the data

Request board delegation and oversight evidence

Translate the disclosure into an internal business question — then adapt it to your organisation's own language.

How is day-to-day sustainability oversight delegated, connected to other control functions, and kept under board supervision?

Use your organisation’s own governance terms first (for example, board, committee, executive forum, delegated lead, control functions), then map them to the disclosure. Keep the request in your internal language and check the source text before sign-off.

Weak request

Please provide the governance disclosure wording for management role in governance.

Why it fails: This asks for framework language rather than the underlying internal evidence. It does not tell the owner what records to pull, which governance bodies or control teams matter, or what period and entity boundary to cover.

Better request

Please send the board or committee papers, delegation note, and any reporting pack for [reporting period] that show which internal forum handles day-to-day sustainability oversight, how it connects with risk, finance, legal, internal audit, or other control teams, and how the board keeps watch over that arrangement. Please include the source documents, dates, and any changes during the period.

Formal email template
Subject: Request for governance evidence for [reporting period]

Hi [name],

We are preparing the sustainability reporting pack and need your help with the governance evidence for [entity / boundary] for [reporting period].

Please share the materials that show:
- which board or committee has been given day-to-day responsibility for sustainability matters;
- how that role connects with risk, finance, legal, internal audit, or any other relevant control teams; and
- how the board or equivalent top governance group keeps oversight of that delegated role.

Please include the source documents, the period they cover, and any recent changes to the arrangement.

A possible LRA training template is below — please adapt this to your organisation’s own terms and check the source text before sign-off.

Thanks,
[preparer name]
Short Teams / Slack version
Hi [name] — could you send the board/committee papers or delegation note for [reporting period] showing who handles day-to-day sustainability oversight, how it links to risk/finance/legal/internal audit, and how the board keeps oversight? Please include the source docs and any recent changes. Thanks, [preparer name]
Industry examples
Manufacturing

Context. A group with a sustainability steering committee reporting to the board audit committee.

Adapted request. Please share the steering committee terms of reference, meeting minutes, and board pack for [reporting period] showing which committee handles day-to-day sustainability oversight, how it links with risk, finance, legal, and internal audit, and how the audit committee keeps oversight.

Example response. Attached: steering committee terms of reference (v4, effective 1 Apr 2025), three meeting minutes, and two board packs. The committee meets monthly, receives risk and finance updates, and escalates material issues to the audit committee each quarter.

Financial services

Context. A bank where sustainability matters are handled by an executive risk forum with board oversight.

Adapted request. Please provide the executive forum papers and delegation memo for [reporting period] showing which executive group manages sustainability matters, how it is linked into risk, finance, legal, and internal audit, and how the board receives oversight updates.

Example response. Attached: delegation memo dated 15 Feb 2025, executive risk forum packs for Q1–Q4, and board dashboard extracts. The forum reviews sustainability risks monthly and the board receives a quarterly summary with escalation points.

Draft your disclosure

Notes that turn data into a disclosure

LRA training templates — adapt them to your organisation, and check the official source before sign-off.

Method note

Describe the practical basis used to identify the controls, procedures, delegated responsibilities and oversight links included in the disclosure, and explain how you decided which governance arrangements to count or describe.

Context note

Explain what the governance setup shows about how sustainability matters are managed in practice, including where responsibility sits and how the different business functions support it.

Fluctuation statement

If the governance picture changed from the prior period, note whether that was due to a new control, a revised delegated role, stronger links with other functions, or a change in oversight arrangements.

Content index entry
s1-27-b Management role in governance — [location / page] / [notes]
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Preparation tools & forms

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Assurance readiness

For each claim, check the evidence

ClaimRiskEvidence to check
We say the coverage figure was built using documented checks and sign-off steps, not ad hoc judgement.The assurer may find the figure was assembled informally, with no clear control trail or approval before publication.Process notes, control logs, review sign-offs, version history, and any pre-publication approval record for the coverage figure.
We explain which manager or committee took the lead on the disclosed matter and whether that role was assigned to someone else.The assurer may question whether responsibility is overstated, unclear, or not actually delegated in practice.Governance chart, role descriptions, delegation papers, committee terms of reference, and meeting minutes showing the assigned lead.
We describe how that lead role sits alongside the wider internal process, including links to other teams that help prepare the disclosure.The assurer may see a gap between the named lead and the rest of the reporting process, or unclear hand-offs between functions.Workflow maps, cross-functional reporting procedures, RACI or similar responsibility matrix, and evidence of coordination with relevant teams.
We state how the board or equivalent group keeps watch over any delegated lead or committee handling the matter.The assurer may doubt whether oversight is real, regular, or sufficiently documented.Board or committee papers, escalation routes, periodic reporting packs, challenge notes, and records of follow-up actions.
We note that the reporting process draws on risk, finance, legal, internal audit, or other relevant teams where needed.The assurer may find the disclosure omits important review inputs or overstates the breadth of internal involvement.Review comments from relevant functions, sign-off chains, internal control documentation, and evidence of issue resolution before publication.

Evidence pack to prepare

Common reporting gaps

The information is presented without a date or as-at point.The scope or boundary of the statement is left undefined.Key terms are used inconsistently across the report.Material changes since the previous period are not disclosed.Assertions are made without supporting detail or a source record.Boilerplate is used that does not actually answer what is asked.
Common gaps

Mistakes to avoid when collecting the data

Asking the board team instead of the process owner
The request goes to directors’ support staff when the real evidence sits with the manager who runs the control, so the file comes back incomplete or second-hand.
Using framework labels instead of the business term
People are asked for a governance phrase they do not use internally, and they cannot map it to the committee, role or process they actually track.
Leaving the scope too loose
The team never pins down which business units, committees or delegated roles are in scope, so different contributors send data from different populations.
+ Show 5 more

Where judgement is often needed

Newly acquired or sold parts of the business
Set a clear cut-off for when a business unit starts or stops being included, and explain any change in the management role narrative where the reporting perimeter has moved during the period.
Different local job titles for the same management role
Use one organisation-wide label for the delegated role or committee, then note any country-specific titles only where they help readers understand the same function across locations.
Mixed reporting lines across functions
If the role draws on risk, finance, legal, internal audit or other teams in different ways, describe the actual working arrangement rather than forcing a single structure that does not fit every unit.
+ Show 6 more
Examples

Illustrative examples

Synthetic, written by LRA — not from a company report, not text from any standard.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — Manufacturing

We are providing this as a synthetic example only. Our board receives a quarterly control pack that combines sustainability risks, finance updates, legal matters and internal audit findings, and it uses that pack to review the way our reporting process is run. - A sustainability steering committee, chaired by the CFO and including the general counsel, head of internal audit and risk lead, prepares the monthly review pack and escalates unresolved issues to the board. - The board approves the reporting timetable, sign-off steps and evidence checks, while the audit committee tracks whether the delegated group has carried out its actions and reports back on any gaps.

Illustrative only: shows one way a company might describe the governance chain, the linked functions, and how directors keep watch over the delegated group.

Illustrative (synthetic) example — Retail

This is a synthetic illustration, not a real disclosure. Our directors use a monthly assurance dashboard to oversee how sustainability reporting is controlled, with input from finance, legal, risk and internal audit so that issues are considered alongside wider business decisions. - An ESG reporting committee made up of the finance director, company secretary, risk manager and internal audit manager runs the day-to-day process, including evidence collection, review points and issue logging. - The board’s audit and risk committee receives exception reports each quarter, checks whether the committee has followed the agreed process, and asks for remediation plans where controls need strengthening.

Illustrative only: demonstrates a different sector example with a separate delegated group, connected support functions and board-level monitoring of that group’s work.

Company reportsReal published reports
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How companies report s1-27-b

Real reports where this topic is disclosed. These are report practice, not exact disclosure templates to copy.

SITC International Holdings Company Limited
Water Transportation · Hong Kong · 2025
Open report →
SITC International Holdings Company Limited’s 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance Report shows that sustainability-related risks and opportunities are integrated into and inform the entity’s overall risk management process (p.190). The report also references procedures and relevant documentation related to sustainability governance and risk, though it does not clearly disclose specific controls and procedures used (p.176). Additionally, while there is related context about management’s role and oversight over delegated roles, these aspects are not clearly detailed in the report (pp.181, 184).
MTR Corporation
Ground Transportation — Railroads · Hong Kong · 2025
Open report →
MTR Corporation’s Sustainability Report 2025 shows that the day-to-day management of the Corporation's business is delegated to the Executive Committee (p.13), with oversight of the risk management framework and its implementation detailed on page 82. The report references the use of an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework to evaluate sustainability-related impacts, risks, and opportunities, including materiality assessments (p.7, p.9). However, there is no clear disclosure on the controls and procedures used, and the integration of sustainability governance with finance, legal, or internal audit functions remains unclear (p.80).
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Check your understanding

Scenarios to work through

A finance director has asked the sustainability lead to run the day-to-day climate reporting process, with input from risk and internal audit. The board wants to know how that arrangement is controlled and who checks the work.

QWhat should the preparer explain about the way this delegated role is set up and monitored?
Reveal model answer →

A sustainability committee has been given responsibility for preparing the climate section, while the main board receives a summary only at year end. The reporting team is unsure whether that committee arrangement is enough to describe in governance disclosures.

QHow should the team decide what to say about the committee’s role?
Reveal model answer →

The legal team reviews external climate claims, the finance team checks assumptions in the numbers, and internal audit tests the reporting controls. The sustainability manager is unsure whether these links need to be described together or separately.

QWhat is the right way to present the involvement of these other functions?
Reveal model answer →

A board committee has delegated climate reporting to management, but the board only receives a short dashboard and does not review the underlying controls. The reporting team is drafting governance text and is unsure whether that limited review is enough to mention.

QWhat should the disclosure make clear about oversight of the delegated role?
Reveal model answer →
Framework references

Related framework references

How this disclosure maps across the major reporting frameworks.

IFRS / ISSB
s1-27-b
within IFRS-S1: IFRS S1 - General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
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Primary
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FAQ

Questions this page answers

For s1-27-b, what should I actually gather before drafting the disclosure?+
How do I use the step-by-step 'how to prepare' section for s1-27-b?+
What evidence should I keep for assurance on s1-27-b?+
What goes into the evidence pack for s1-27-b assurance readiness?+
What are the common mistakes people make when reporting s1-27-b?+
How do I turn the s1-27-b data into a draft disclosure?+
Is there a workbook or download I can use for s1-27-b prep and assurance?+
Can I use the 'From company reports' table to see how others disclosed s1-27-b?+
What is the closest ESRS correspondence for s1-27-b, and can I reuse the data?+
What kind of illustrative example does the s1-27-b page include?+
More questions this page can help with
s1-27-b disclosure checklist: what datapoints, evidence and draft outputs does the page give me?How do I assign ownership for s1-27-b across HR, ESG and controls teams?What should a data owner collect for s1-27-b controls and checks?How do I make s1-27-b assurance-ready using the workbook and evidence pack?What are the five assurance claims to verify for s1-27-b?What are the common gaps in s1-27-b reporting and how do I avoid them?How do I use the narrative starters on the s1-27-b page to write a first draft?Where can I find real company report examples for s1-27-b on the page?What does delegated role or committee mean in the s1-27-b prep page?How do I evidence cross-functional integration for s1-27-b?Can I use the s1-27-b Library Card PDF for internal review and sign-off?How should I use the content-index line in the s1-27-b draft output section?