Manager – Strategy & Advisory Full Time NEW

About the company:

Grant Thornton Ethiopia is part of the global Grant Thornton network, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent assurance, tax, and advisory firms. We are committed to helping dynamic organizations unlock their potential for growth by providing tailored, forward-thinking solutions.

Role Purpose

The Manager – Strategy & Advisory will lead and support the delivery of high-quality consulting engagements across private sector, public sector, and development partner clients.

A core focus of the role is private sector strategy development, alongside broader advisory work in financial services, public sector transformation, and donor-funded programs.

This role requires prior experience in a professional consultancy environment, strong analytical capability, and hands-on proficiency in strategy and analytics tools used in consulting engagements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Advisory Delivery

• Lead and contribute to consulting assignments across:
  • Private sector strategy development (core requirement) including growth strategy, market entry, transformation, and operating model design
  • Financial services (banks, insurance, microfinance institutions, capital markets)
  • Public sector institutions and state-owned enterprises
  • Development partner-funded programs and reforms
• Conduct market assessments, industry benchmarking, and competitive analysis
• Develop strategic recommendations, business models, and implementation roadmaps

Consulting Project Delivery (Core Requirement)

• Deliver structured consulting work in a professional services environment
• Apply standard consulting methodologies (diagnostic, design, implementation support)
• Manage workplans, deliverables, timelines, and quality assurance
• Ensure outputs meet consulting-grade standards (clarity, structure, insight, and defensibility)

Tools & Analytical Capability (Core Requirement)

• Demonstrated ability to use consulting and analytical tools, including:
  • Excel (advanced financial modeling and analysis)
  • PowerPoint (executive-level storytelling and structured presentations)
  • Data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau or equivalent)
  • Market research and benchmarking tools
• Ability to translate data into clear insights and client-ready outputs

Project Management & Team Leadership

• Manage delivery of end-to-end consulting engagements
• Supervise and mentor junior consultants and analysts
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and multiple workstreams
• Ensure high-quality, timely delivery of all project outputs

Client Engagement

• Interface with senior client stakeholders during engagements
• Facilitate workshops, strategy sessions, and presentations
• Translate client needs into structured analytical workstreams

Business Development Support

• Support proposal development, RFP responses, and pitch preparation
• Contribute to identifying new consulting opportunities within existing clients
• Support strengthening of client relationships and pipeline development

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, Public Policy, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 5–8 years of relevant experience in consulting, advisory, strategy, banking, or development finance
• Mandatory: Experience working in a consulting or professional services environment
• Demonstrated experience in private sector strategy development (required)
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • Financial services advisory or transformation
  • Public sector reform or policy advisory
  • Development partner-funded projects
• Strong analytical, structuring, and problem-solving capabilities

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong capability in private sector strategy development and corporate advisory
• Excellent consulting-grade analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment
• Strong client-facing confidence and stakeholder management
• Team leadership and mentoring capability

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Quality and timeliness of consulting deliverables
• Client satisfaction and engagement feedback
• Contribution to private sector strategy and advisory assignments
• Effective use of consulting tools and analytical outputs
• Support to proposal development and business growth
• Performance and development of junior team members

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Big 4 or international consulting firms strongly preferred
• Exposure to financial sector strategy or transformation projects
• Experience working with development partner-funded advisory programs
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s private sector and regulatory environment

Why Join Grant Thornton Ethiopia?

• Opportunity to work on high-impact private sector and national advisory projects
• Exposure to financial institutions, government, and international development partners
• Strong career progression within a global consulting network
• Hands-on experience with complex strategy and transformation engagements
• Collaborative and high-performance consulting environment