Five minutes with Agnes Sawyerr

Tell us about yourself

I'm Agnes, a certified chartered accountant with over 20 years of audit experience. I'm a Fellow of both the ACCA and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sierra Leone and Partner in the audit business division with areas of expertise including audits of internationally funded projects, development aid agencies, financial services, telecommunication and manufacturing companies. I’m also an accredited trainer and have been involved in training since 2007.

What is the best and the worst part of being Partner?

The best part of my job is supporting my clients and partnering with them in managing their businesses effectively by providing valuable business advice. I also get excited seeing members of our team develop technically and academically.

Being a good audit partner is about personal interaction, good relationships as well as technical skills. It’s about giving clients the confidence that I know what I'm talking about and that I can be seen to be adding value.

Having to make tough decisions is the worst part of my professional career. Two years ago, we had to let some people go due to strategic reasons. Generally, we have good people, and having to right-size your business means you have to let go of some good people. Even though it’s essential that we do it, it was a tough decision.

What personality traits make a good leader?

Good leaders focus on developing others and working as a team by being professional and open.Good leaders focus on developing others and working as a team by being professional and open. They should also communicate with care and focus on the person and message, they don't interrupt and they acknowledge what is being said. And that is what the world needs; leaders who listen to their people. Acquiring this skill is not easy, it needs self-awareness and humility to respect others' thoughts.

They also encourage strategic thinking, innovation, and action from team members because they respect collective responsibilities.

Has there been anything positive you have witnessed/seen from the recent crisis?

For many of us, it has been a shocking experience to find ourselves adjusting our daily activities in taking safety precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Considering the potential threat and the contagious nature of the pandemic, lockdowns have been implemented worldwide to stop the spread of this virus. COVID-19 has hit the world severely, representing the most severe threat to human health in more than a century.

As a result of this, most organisations have cut down travelling costs significantly, and things might never be the same again.

What does 'now, for tomorrow' mean to you?

'Now, for tomorrow' is basically repositioning the firm to help clients anticipate future business challenges and provide solutions because it is great to have tomorrow's conversations today. It is also great to embrace the unknown, regardless of the uncertainties they may bring. It also signifies our dedication and investment to build a solid foundation of growth in the present, for the future by being bold in having future conversations now and welcoming any opportunities going forward.

What opportunities are there for your firm in the next few years?

The firm has a bright future. Society's needs for assurance are expanding. At the same time, the firm faces both old and new challenges that will have to be dealt with to achieve that bright future. As a result of this, the firm's opportunities in the next few years are as follows:

• Constantly innovate to increase market share and competitive advantage by achieving at least 10% year on year growth
• Have a strong and loyal alumni force with the objective of increasing opportunity inflow from the Alumni network
• Stay close to the evolution of the Sierra Leone insurance industry and optimise our investments in the sector
• Proactively develop our external and internal (Baker Tilly) network to enable us to capture the major opportunities in the marketplace

Get to know us in five minutes

 

Suyez Torrez		Hanan Rihani