The increasing importance of sustainability in corporate practice has placed CFOs at the forefront of steering ESG strategies and initiatives. As financial leaders, CFOs are expected to integrate ESG considerations into corporate decision-making, thereby aligning financial performance with long-term sustainability. This evolving role calls for greater efforts in “greening education” to ensure that students, particularly those pursuing accounting discipline, understand the relevance of sustainability in financial leadership. One way to impart this knowledge is through community-based learning events. This paper presents findings from two community events designed to enhance students’ understanding of the CFO’s role in ESG. The participants were Diploma in Accounting students from two institutions. Their understanding was assessed using pre- and post-event surveys. The results revealed a statistically significant increase in participants’ knowledge of the CFO’s role in ESG following the sessions, demonstrating the effectiveness of community engagement as a pedagogical approach. Further analysis showed that gender significantly influenced knowledge gain, indicating differences in how male and female students internalise concepts related to the CFO’s role in ESG. These findings underscore the need to incorporate sustainability literacy into accounting education at multiple levels, complementing formal curricula with innovative, community-based approaches. The study concludes that targeted educational interventions can play a critical role in shaping future financial leaders who are capable of advancing ESG agendas.