CIO Bulletin

Zielke Research Consult GmbH: Specializing in asset-liability management by maintaining financial and sustainability accounting standards

The European regulatory authorities have a strict list of requirements to ensure safety and security; these requirements can often seem too strenuous to combat. As a specialized consulting company, Zielke Research Consult takes care of it all; they are a successful ranking agency that supports insurance companies, institutional investors, and banks dealing with the ever-changing environments of regulatory requirements and financial reporting.

Zielke Research Consult understands and values public data; they are on a mission to help companies direct their financial flow toward sustainable economic activities by offering the best solutions and personal support.

CIO Bulletin had the opportunity to interview the CEO of Zielke Research Consult GmbH, Carsten Zielke, and talk about the growth and impact of the company.

Q. How has Zielke Research Consult GmbH grown since its inception? What is the unique approach Zielke Research Consult GmbH is using to provide its services to clients?

Zielke Research Consult was founded in April 2013 with one manager and one employee. Today, we have two managers and eight employees. The turnover went up from €60,000 to around €700,000.

We advise and analyze our clients only based on publicly available data. No questionnaires are sent, and our methodology is made public for complete transparency. We are present in the relevant national regulatory, European bodies, and even in global standard-setting processes such as ISO. So, we only create a little work for our clients in order to judge them, but we help them improve their reporting according to the requirements that follow.

Q. What advantages do clients receive from choosing Zielke Research Consult GmbH for their asset liability management?

Some of the advantages our clients get by choosing us as their asset liability management provider include an independent third-party review that includes objectivity and impartiality. We then provide comprehensive evaluations that help them gain insights into different facets of AL management practices. Another advantage clients receive is that our expertise and specialization provide insights tailored to their specific needs and a high-quality analysis that includes recommendations based on best practices.

Zielke’s risk mitigation identifies and mitigates potential risks more effectively and enhances risk management practices while also safeguarding financial interests. Our enhanced ESG integration includes ZRC, which assists in integrating ESG considerations into their asset-liability framework, enhancing long-term performance/resilience while aligning with sustainability goals.

Overall, by choosing Zielke Research Consult GmbH for their asset liability management needs, clients benefit from independent, comprehensive, and specialized expertise that facilitates informed decision-making and risk management.

Q. Over the years of its existence, Zielke Research Consult GmbH has solidified its position in the banking and insurance ranking sector. What factors do you attribute the company’s success to?

The success in the banking and insurance ranking sector can be attributed to several key factors.

Comprehensive Analysis: Our commitment is to analyze every bank and insurance company falling under the current regulations to publish sustainability reports.
Independence and Objectivity: Regardless of whether the company is our client or not, we analyze them.
Value-Added Services: By providing insights and suggestions for improvement to our clients. This proactive approach helps our clients enhance their sustainability reporting practices, contributing to their long-term success and competitiveness.
Fostering Competition: Due to our ranking, the competitive environment among institutions striving to outperform their peers has led to improvements in sustainability reporting practices across the sector, benefiting both individuals and the industry.
Extensive Coverage: Through our approach, we have managed to achieve the widest coverage in the banking and insurance ranking sectors.

Q. What are the various consulting services offered by Zielke Research Consult GmbH? Can you break them down for our readers?

We provide comprehensive ESG and Solvency Reporting Benchmarks, highlighting areas for improvement and offering valuable insights for enhancing transparency and accountability in reporting practices. ZRC certifies asset management and life insurance products that comply with the EU taxonomy regulation. We also confirm the new DIN sustainability score, providing clients with validation and assurance regarding their products. The company advises clients on new regulatory developments, helping them navigate complex regulatory landscapes and stay compliant with evolving requirements. This advisory service ensures that clients remain informed and prepared to address regulatory changes swiftly and effectively.

Lastly, our responsibility extends to advising the German government via the Federal Environmental Agency of Germany and by engaging with the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) and the EU Commission. Through this collaborative exchange, we advocate for regulatory frameworks that promote sustainable finance principles, ultimately benefiting our clients such as Zürich, AXA, Fidelity, and numerous others.

Q. How important has hiring the right personnel been for the company? What measures does the company take to ensure talent retention?

Although our office is in Germany, our staff is highly diverse and represents many different nationalities. ESG expertise is the first criterion for getting hired and has been crucial for the company’s success. With a commitment to aiding major European investors in achieving the 1.5-degree path to mitigate climate change, we recognize the importance of assembling a team passionate about this mission. Including them in the standard-setting process helps foster a sense of ownership and achievement, which enhances job satisfaction and, in return, loyalty/commitment to the company and its objectives.

Q. What are Zielke Research Consult GmbH’s plans for the future?

Zielke Research Consult GmbH’s plans for the future revolve around delivering high-quality ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data and making it accessible to those interested in conducting their risk assessments. Currently, our data is utilized by major entities, such as the largest German insurance broker, which employs it alongside an AI solution to offer informed advice to their clients. By certifying asset management products, we also create ESG data on corporates worldwide. With the impending introduction of the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards in the coming year, we anticipate a significant increase in our data household. Consequently, we plan to analyze and disseminate this data to further support informed decision-making and sustainable practices globally.

Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company that we may have missed asking about?

Given the ever-changing environment, we pride ourselves on our responsiveness and agility. We’re not afraid to take opposing views and are often vocal about them, even in public forums. Interestingly, we’ve observed that some of these contrarian stances have later evolved into significant market trends.

A brief biography of Carsten Zielke, the CEO of Zielke Research Consult GmbH

Carsten Zielke (DVFA and SFAF) has a PhD in insurance economics and has been very much involved in reporting issues for the last 25 years (EFRAG/IASB/DRSC). He is running his own research company, Zielke Research Consult GmbH, in Aachen/Germany, specializing in solvency and ESG research (since 2013) on financial institutions before he worked as an insurance analyst and advisor at WestLB, Bear Stearns, and Société Générale.

Carsten holds mandates on supervisory and advisory boards of one German insurance company and one French bank. He is married, has two children, and is a passionate long-distance triathlete.