The most important criteria for selecting a CSRD consultancy

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) brings with it a mountain of new tasks that you must tackle as part of your reporting obligation. External support on the road to sustainability reporting is almost indispensable. We’ll support you in selecting the right consultants!

Ulrich Theves
11. November 2024
ESG Consulting

Dieser Artikel wurde am 26. April 2026 aktualisiert.

re you currently getting up to speed on topics such as the double materiality assessment, ESRS standards, CO2 accounting, and the internal structuring of reporting processes? And are you considering implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) with the support of a consultancy?

Then you’re far from alone right now. Many mid-sized companies facing the same challenge are looking for specialized consultancies to set up CSRD reporting efficiently. But what should you pay attention to when selecting one, and which consulting offerings fit your individual criteria?

Here we share our know-how from over 700 ESG/CSRD matchings for mid-sized companies as well as corporations, and help you select the right CSRD consultancy.

Which CSRD consultancy is right for you?

With Matchilla’s free and non-binding matching service, you can quickly and easily find the right consultancy for your CSRD reporting. Identify the consultancy that best matches your criteria from over 40 consulting providers.

👉 Click here to go directly to the matching

The basics: Why is external CSRD consulting necessary?

With the CSRD, the requirements for how companies will have to design their sustainability reporting (or ESG reporting; ESG stands for “Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance”) in the future are increasing. This directive is an EU initiative and aims to oblige companies to document their impact on the environment and society more comprehensively. This includes, for example, reports on the impact of business activities on ecological areas, on human rights, and on working conditions. In addition, aspects of corporate ethics and governance are also to be incorporated into reporting.

The CSRD is one component of European efforts to make companies’ financial reporting more sustainable, but also more transparent. Improving the disclosure of non-financial data is intended to ensure that consumers, investors and other stakeholders can assess how companies live sustainability.

If you’ve landed here, you’ll already have heard and researched quite a bit about it. The most important point: Implementing the CSRD is a completely new regulatory framework, and getting up to speed on the topic is extremely time-consuming without external consulting—if not impossible. In some cases it already falls apart over the year in which reporting must be done for the first time. For some companies, the reporting obligation begins as early as 2024; others won’t start until 2026. In Germany alone, around 15,000 companies are looking for external support.

This information should be enough as an intro to understand what a huge jungle of information you’re getting into. A first insight from our experience with our customer matchings in the ESG area: In over 90 percent of projects, external CSRD consulting was brought in—at least partially. But more on that in the next section.

Which consulting services and modules are available on the market?

CSRD consulting has the mission of supporting you as effectively as possible in the individual steps and various disciplines involved in legally compliant reporting, and of creating a sustainably efficient structure for annually recurring processes. The objective is often referred to as the company’s “CSRD readiness”. In this regard, various modules or work packages have already become established in the market, of which we would like to highlight the following:

Pre-filter references, industry expertise, and use cases
The relevant providers of CSRD solutions in the German-speaking region have different focuses regarding industries, company sizes, report types, etc. Filter out the providers that have already implemented reporting processes or onboardings with companies similar to yours, so you can draw on existing know-how for your challenges. Especially when determining CO2 emissions, a provider’s industry expertise will be an advantage.

CSRD roadmap and regulatory review
Especially for companies that are not yet reporting, it must be defined together when (CSRD check for reporting obligations) which measures need to be implemented. Building on this, all relevant compliance obligations—besides the CSRD—such as CSDDD, CBAM, EUDR, EU Taxonomy, etc. are reviewed. The result then leads to a chronological overview from which the necessary steps are derived.

Double materiality analysis
The CSRD consulting service carries out a holistic assessment of company risks associated with ESG factors. This helps your company identify potential threats and be better prepared for upcoming challenges. The double materiality analysis will be an essential part of all subsequent processes.

Developing a sustainability strategy
CSRD consultancies are commissioned to develop a holistic strategy. This is not only about how your company meets the requirements of the CSRD, but also about how the results and efforts gain strategic relevance. This holistic approach covers far more than defining the report content, determining data sources, and the concept for capturing and verifying the data. Ideally, the first course is already set here for concrete benefits for your marketing and sales.

Training and workshops for overall CSRD understanding
For employees who will be responsible for reporting in the future and/or (co-)work on its preparation, training on ESRS & Co. must be provided. The offerings range from webinars and individual in-house workshops to ESG academy programs for employees.

Data management and implementation
In most cases, data aggregation for CO2 accounting and setting up interfaces to optimize recurring processes are the biggest Sisyphean tasks. This is exactly where an experienced consultancy helps—with know-how and frameworks from other projects—and identifies information gaps (GAPs) that must be closed in order to meet the ESRS reporting standards and to automate subsequent reporting as much as possible via interfaces/APIs.

These module examples are bundled depending on the consultancy or are offered in even more detailed packages.

What are the benefits of CSRD consulting?

You can think what you want of the regulations. Basically, you need to be aware that your company’s sustainability doesn’t exist only on paper (i.e., in the reports) and along the lines of regulation. From a stakeholder and customer perspective (all the way to the end consumer), ESG KPIs are becoming an increasingly important decision-making criterion that will put pressure on your products and services.

But what does that have to do with reporting consulting? Quite concretely, a holistically working CSRD consultancy can, on the one hand, drive long-term cost reductions through efficiency gains and, on the other hand, even generate competitive advantages and thus new revenue opportunities with the right strategies. The latter is usually not considered in the context of upcoming reporting deadlines.

The benefits at a glance

Compliance: The core objective of compliance is to ensure reporting that meets all legal requirements and provides the auditor with precise data.
Put an end to flying blind when it comes to transparency: Those who report openly on ESG aspects strengthen the trust of customers and investors. This increases both the company’s credibility and its reputation.
Risk mitigation: The aim is to analyze, assess and ultimately minimize internal corporate risk management in connection with ESG factors.
Scalable internal processes: Internal processes are set up in such a way that they can be adapted flexibly and efficiently to changing requirements.
Sparring partner: Given the volume of ESG regulations, you can rely on a competent partner.

Bottom line: the ROI that professional CSRD consulting brings to your company will be positive—although this statement naturally also depends on the consulting fees.

What costs do you need to budget for CSRD consulting?

Thanks to the clearly separated individual steps involved in CSRD and the modules derived from them, which have already been presented, the various consulting services on the market are at least very comparable in terms of their service packages.

A rough cost guide for mid-sized companies:

CSRD introductory workshop: 2,500 euros to 4,000 euros
Double materiality assessment: 10,000 euros to 20,000 euros
CSRD software selection process: 7,000 euros to 10,000 euros
CSRD strategy development: 10,000 euros to 15,000 euros

Depending on your company size, the internal resources available and the complexity of the project, the total cost of CSRD consulting should be between 15,000 euros and 50,000 euros.

Tip: Our matching service for selecting CSRD software is also free of charge for you—just like the consulting matching. You can therefore invest this budget directly in your ESG strategy.

Which criteria and questions are relevant when making a selection?

Numerous consulting firms, auditors, law firms, etc. are on the market with offerings due to the enormous demand for advisory services. Some have been involved in sustainability reporting for years; others don’t want to miss the developments of the coming years.

Based on our provider onboarding process on our matching platform, we have compiled the most important questions—as guidance for you—that we ourselves ask consultancies:

1) What professional competencies are available in the team?

Criteria: The consultancy should have in-depth knowledge of the CSRD requirements, the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards), and general ESG principles. It should also be able to demonstrate experience advising companies of a similar size and in a similar industry.

Why it matters: Consultants who have already solved similar challenges for other clients know the regulations, reporting standards and frameworks, and draw on practical, implementation-oriented solutions.

2) What methodologies are used to deliver the transfer?

The consulting firm should be able to demonstrate a clear and structured methodology for implementation. From the first workshop through to report preparation, a holistic approach and an offering in modular form should be taken into account.

Why it matters: A methodological approach is essential to make implementation predictable and efficient, while a holistic perspective ensures that no dimension is neglected and that sustainability aspects are integrated into your company’s overall strategy.

3) Are there comparable references and industry experience?

Criteria: The consultancy should understand industry specifics and be able to tailor CSRD requirements to the company’s specific needs.

Why it matters: Different industries have different ESG risks and opportunities. Industry relevance is also an advantage when it comes to CO2 accounting and the materiality assessment.

4) Which ESG software solutions are used?

Criteria: Which technical tools and digital solutions are used to implement the process steps in order to capture, analyze and report data efficiently?

Why it matters: The CSRD software used in your organization will be the accelerator of your reporting processes and, in the longer term, will gradually replace consulting services. You should not commit yourselves to a predefined tech stack here.

5) Is the spirit a fit? Who are the project leads?

The consultancy and its project leads must fit the spirit of your company to ensure that their recommendations and strategies are implemented authentically and that your corporate culture is effectively supported.

Bonus: This important question you should ask yourselves

How do we ourselves approach CSRD and ESG topics within our company? Do you see it as an annoying trend or as a long-term strategy for value creation and risk reduction? The answer will determine whether you meet the requirement with external support in a budget-friendly way or develop tailored, strategic solutions as an additional, voluntary extra.

Now you have a good overview of the market, the consulting products and the criteria. Given the sheer volume and lack of transparency in the offerings, we now finally need to answer the question of the most relevant consultancies with whom you should start the conversations now.

CSRD service provider stack: software, consulting, or both at the same time?

In addition to consulting, you will need CSRD software for your reporting in the future. This naturally raises the question for you: “Which service provider should I take the first steps with?”. The answer varies from case to case. Let’s take a closer look at the two options:

CSRD process support with a traditional consulting firm For companies that want to get started with the topic as comfortably as possible and have little or no in-house know-how for the CSRD project, ongoing external consulting is definitely the method of choice. Especially for larger mid-sized companies, a guiding hand in this process adds value and progress will become visible more quickly. In most cases, the reporting tool is then selected after the Double Materiality Assessment.

Selecting a software provider with consulting
On the other hand, a dynamic market of software providers has emerged that essentially manage all data, while also providing valuable support with many process steps (comparable to the consulting modules mentioned). Many frameworks/tutorials are integrated into the tools, which can be used either independently or with less, budget-friendly support.

Review both options and weigh up which combination will ensure a service provider stack that works! If you want to go down the route of a tool provider, we recommend our Matching for CSRD software solutions. Good to know: Because the challenges in the mid-market are similar, there are standardized processes for both options, which means faster and clearer paths to the goal for you. Whether you start with consulting or software, we will be happy to analyze in our following matching for you.

Now you have a good overview of the market, the consulting products and criteria. Given the abundance and the resulting jungle of offers, we finally still need to answer the question of the most relevant consultancies with which you should start the discussions.

Selecting CSRD consulting ? how to identify the right experts

Now let’s get to the exciting part—and put an end to the blind flight when choosing the right service providers. Since 2022, we’ve been dealing every day with selecting CSRD service providers. Step by step, we carefully screen the provider market for consulting services based on references, industries, modules, and internal competencies, and we update our database after every single customer conversation.

You can now benefit from the experience from over 700 CSRD and ESG matchings for mid-sized companies and corporations: Match the CSRD experts that fit you best with us and save yourself time-consuming market research and unnecessary resource expenditure.

Through our matching, we identify for you—in a clear shortlist (we call it a Matchboard)—the three CSRD consulting providers that best fit your company. It only takes a few minutes of your time.

This comparison of CSRD consulting firms is non-binding, free of charge, and anonymous to the providers. Matchilla itself does not offer consulting; instead, we are exclusively your sparring partner in selecting service providers.

Want to know which CSRD consultant best fits your challenge? Simply start the Match Assistant.

Matching for CSRD consulting – free of charge and non-binding

Number of CSRD consultancies in the matching: 44 (as of 20 August 2025)

Christian Batz VP Digital, igus AG

Matchilla’s approach is brilliant: I no longer have to painstakingly research consultancies and software providers or fight my way through countless comparison portals – the right providers come to me, so to speak, with just a few minutes of effort. The matching process saves us a lot of resources.

Heiko Stötzel Global Head Social Responsibility, SSI Schäfer

Searching for suitable ESG service providers is easy and super fast via Matchilla. We made contact, formulated the specifications, and after just a few days the results were there. This route gave us information about providers we hadn’t even heard of before. Real added value.

Alexander Barion Head of Marketing CE, Fidelity International

With Matchilla, we can easily open ourselves up to ideas from new service providers that previously were outside our radar. Our search criteria are matched against a database, but the final suggestions are in the hands of the Matchilla team. The result: high quality and excellent service!

CSRD consulting: Questions and answers

Why should you use Matchilla to select a CSRD consultancy?

The number of service providers around CSRD reporting has exploded in recent months. New and established consultancies, auditors, and law firms have been building up and offering their ESG expertise for months. Researching the options and the selection process are incredibly complex and complicated.

We have already successfully carried out the structured matching process that you go through with us for hundreds of companies (SMEs and corporations), meaning we have essentially seen every use case. Through our daily, personal conversations with searching companies, we have what is probably the best-maintained database of CSRD service providers in the German-speaking region. With this market overview and our personal expertise from customer conversations, we provide individual recommendations that save you research effort and guide you to the right service provider in a structured process.

How much does it cost to create a Matchboard with a selection of CSRD consultancies?

Matchilla’s service is free of charge, non-binding, and anonymised vis-à-vis the providers. The individual assessment and the provision of extensive background information to help you select the best consulting company are financed through the service providers’ platform fees. In general, we do not have any paid contractual relationship with you, and you can end the matching for a reporting consultancy at any time without risk.

How do I start the matching process, and what information is required?

Simply start by filling out the Match Assistant. This gives us an initial insight into your requirements. We will contact you personally if further specifications are needed. This allows us to sharpen the selection criteria and include additional individual factors beyond the standard data in the matching. Based on the aggregated information, we create the Matchboard on our platform with the three CSRD consulting providers most relevant to you.

How can I be sure that Matchilla selects competent experts for our CSRD reporting?

Our selection process is based on an efficient interplay of data, algorithms, and a healthy portion of personal expertise. No Matchboard is released without one of our CSRD experts adding their input.

Think of Matchilla as a neutral sparring partner in this selection process. We want your company to use Matchilla’s platform services for many future searches for service providers. That’s why we have a strong interest in ensuring that you not only have access to an excellent procurement process, but also ALWAYS find the best possible providers through us.

Try it/us with no obligation:
We look forward to matching with you!

Expert for CSRD consulting

Ulli Theves is Head of CSRD Reporting and ESG Matching at Matchilla and an expert in technical solutions and consulting in the field of sustainability. In MatchZINE, he shares his expertise and regularly publishes practical news and insights.

CSRD, Lieferketten, EUDR, ESPR, PPWR, CBAM & Co. sind Themen, die alle Unternehmen betreffen. Wir teilen im MatchZINE unser geballtes Wissen aus über 700 Matchings für Mittelständler und Konzerne.

The most important criteria for selecting a CSRD consultancy

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) brings with it a mountain of new tasks that you must tackle as part of your reporting obligation. External support on the road to sustainability reporting is almost indispensable. We’ll support you in selecting the right consultants!

Which CSRD consultancy is right for you?

Everything about CSRD software

Overview of CSRD consultations