Senior Associate - West Advisory; Sierra Leone

Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.

Our client is seeking a Senior Associate to provide in‑country project management, stakeholder coordination, and client support for a priority Sierra Leone mandate within its West Africa advisory platform. Reporting to a Principal based in Liberia, with senior oversight through the Managing Partner, the role is a backfill for a team member transitioning to another West Africa office and is intended to maintain momentum on a sensitive, client‑led program.

The ideal candidate will bring West Africa investment advisory experience, strong business acumen, credible financial‑model review capability, and the maturity to manage demanding stakeholders in a frontier‑market setting.

Senior Associate – West Africa Advisory (Sierra Leone)

Reports to a Principal / Project Lead, with Managing Partner oversight.

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• Maintain continuity and execution discipline for the Sierra Leone mandate, ensuring work streams remain on track during the transition.
• Coordinate client and stakeholder requests, translating priorities into clear actions, timelines, and follow‑ups.
• Review client‑produced financial models, operating models, pitch decks, and supporting materials for quality, accuracy, and investor readiness.
• Strengthen information flows with companies, local partners, and client investment teams to ensure timely, reliable data and decision support.
• Track implementation progress against agreed KPIs, including monitoring third‑party technical assistance and escalating risks or bottlenecks.
• Prepare and contribute to client‑facing updates, business plans, quarterly reports, investor webinars, conferences, and in‑country roadshows as required.
• Support investor engagement and transaction‑advisory work streams through market research, diligence input, and commercially grounded recommendations.

• Experience in finance, investment banking, management consulting, private equity, investment advisory, transaction support, or a closely related environment.
• Prior experience living or working in West Africa; direct Sierra Leone experience is preferred but not mandatory.
• Exposure to frontier African markets and the regional investment landscape.
• Experience supporting investments or advisory engagements involving investors, DFIs, development agencies, capital seekers, local sponsors, or similar stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with clients on demanding project or program execution, including stakeholder coordination and follow‑through.
• MBA from a reputable institution preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered for exceptional candidates.
• Demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English.

• Strong investment advisory judgment, including the ability to evaluate opportunities, understand diligence and valuation methodologies, and assess investor readiness.
• Ability to review, analyse, and challenge financial models, assumptions, and accounting outputs prepared by investees or third‑party advisors, even where model construction is not the primary day‑to‑day task.
• Commercial understanding of frontier‑market business constraints, macroeconomic trends, and value‑creation opportunities.
• Ability to structure client‑facing analysis, recommendations, business plans, quarterly reporting, and high‑quality slide or storyboard materials.
• Sound judgment in KPI tracking, technical‑assistance…