General Manager - Governance, Risk & Sustainability

Company Description Harley Reed, established in 1991, is a UK and pan-African professional services company with offices in the UK and across West, East, and Southern Africa in both Anglophone and Francophone countries. The firm delivers advisory, knowledge, and assurance services to clients across five professional disciplines.

Our Governance, Risk & Sustainability discipline helps organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, build resilience and embed sustainability into strategy, operations and decision-making.

The opportunity

We are seeking a commercially minded and technically credible General Manager to lead and grow our Governance, Risk & Sustainability practice in Nigeria, while contributing to assignments and capability development across our international network.

As the country head of the discipline, you will shape its strategy, develop client relationships, win new business and build a high-performing team. You will oversee delivery quality and commercial performance, while remaining actively involved in major engagements, board and executive workshops, and strategic client relationships.

The practice’s remit includes:

• Corporate governance, board effectiveness, governance operating models and policy frameworks.
• Enterprise risk management, internal controls, compliance and organisational resilience.
• ESG strategy, sustainability integration, implementation and performance management.
• Sustainability reporting and disclosure readiness, including IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.
• Climate-related risk, governance and disclosure support.
• Diagnostics, benchmarking, assurance readiness and monitoring and evaluation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the practice: Develop and execute the Nigeria discipline strategy, identifying priority sectors, client needs and differentiated service offerings.
• Drive commercial growth: Take ownership of pipeline development, sales conversion and revenue performance; lead proposals, pitches and commercial negotiations.
• Build senior client relationships: Act as a trusted adviser to boards, executives and functional leaders, translating complex issues into practical decisions and measurable improvements.
• Oversee delivery and performance: Ensure engagements deliver strong client outcomes, with effective management of quality, scope, resourcing, utilisation and profitability.
• Develop people and capability: Build and coach the team, strengthen technical and consulting skills, and develop reusable methodologies, diagnostics and delivery tools.
• Lead executive learning: Shape and deliver board workshops, management development programmes and other capability-building offerings.
• Strengthen market presence: Represent Harley Reed through thought leadership, roundtables, speaking engagements and strategic partnerships.
• Collaborate across the Group: Work with country leadership, other professional disciplines and colleagues across our international network to develop integrated client solutions.

What you will bring

• Typically 10–15+ years of relevant experience in consulting, professional services or a substantial governance, risk or sustainability leadership role.
• A proven record of developing client relationships, winning work and contributing to revenue growth.
• Experience building or leading a practice, function or multidisciplinary team, with accountability for delivery and performance.
• Strong technical depth in one or more core areas of the discipline, supported by the breadth and judgement to oversee integrated governance, risk and sustainability engagements.
• Experience leading complex assignments and engaging credibly with boards, executive teams and other senior stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of relevant governance codes, risk frameworks, sustainability standards and the Nigerian business environment.
• Excellent analytical, writing, presentation and facilitation skills, including the ability to turn technical requirements into practical business solutions.
• A relevant bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
• A chartered or equivalent professional qualification in governance, risk, sustainability, finance, audit, law or a related field is strongly preferred.

Why join Harley Reed?

• This is an opportunity to shape and scale a growing practice within an established international firm, combining business leadership with meaningful client work and the development of future professional talent.