Jemima Keren Gyamfi: From audit leadership to ESG finance

Before the Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin)

I began my career at PwC Ghana as an Audit Associate and rose to Assistant Audit Manager over 4 years. I led audit engagements across energy, utilities & resources (EU&R), financial services, consumer business and public sector clients throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) compliance and delivering strategic insights to senior stakeholders. Outside core audit, I spearheaded Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and ran early-morning knowledge-sharing sessions for the EU&R practice. These experiences honed my expertise in financial analysis, leadership, risk management and sustainable business practices and inspired my transition toward sustainable investing and development finance, leading me to the Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin).

Why the MFin and why Cambridge?

With a strong audit and accounting foundation and growing exposure to development finance in emerging markets, I sought to pivot into sustainable investing and impact funds. The Cambridge MFin stood out for its intensive one-year programme, deeply practical focus and cutting-edge electives in environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration, private equity and machine learning in finance. World-class faculty expertise in behavioural finance and green bonds, seamless access to the Cambridge ecosystem, proximity to London and an exceptionally diverse cohort sealed the decision. Above all, the programme is the ideal bridge to transform my compliance and risk-management skills into tools that tackle Africa’s biggest challenges through finance. Choosing Cambridge was not merely about academic pursuit, it was about immersing myself in an ecosystem where I am able to translate theoretical knowledge into real-world application

What I am looking forward to

Now that I have started, I am most excited about the hands-on elements such as the live Group Consulting Project (GCP) with industry partners and a capstone on impact investing. Beyond the classroom, I cannot wait for punting on the Cam, exploring more of Cambridgeshire, attending Cambridge African Business Network events (the special interest group to which I belong), College formals and actively contributing to the Cambridge University Finance and Investment Society (CUFIS). Building lifelong relationships with classmates from finance, technology and policy backgrounds, people who think as globally as I do, recreates the collaborative energy I loved at PwC but at an entirely new level.

What I am hoping to achieve this year and how it will contribute towards my post-MFin career

This year I aim to master advanced valuation, ESG analytics and strategic finance through targeted electives, complete a capstone project on sustainable finance in emerging markets and secure a strong corporate finance role immediately after the MFin. These milestones will position me for finance roles at multilateral development banks (and in the wider financial sector) focused on budgeting, performance evaluation and investment operations. Ultimately, I intend to deploy this expertise to address Africa’s critical financial-development challenges, structuring and leading impact funds that channel capital into climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy and inclusive growth, delivering both strong financial returns and lasting continental impact.

My thoughts and feelings on being awarded an MFin scholarship

When the scholarship email arrived, I let out a quiet cheer – pure joy! As the only Ghanaian in this year’s cohort, this award feels profoundly validating and reminds me how much diverse perspectives matter in global finance. It lifts the financial weight, letting me pour myself fully into classes, projects and my role as Class Operations Representative (channelling feedback and keeping things running smoothly). A huge thank you to the donors and Cambridge Judge Business School for this life-changing support. It is rocket fuel for my ambitions and I am determined to honour it by excelling this year, mentoring others and paying it forward by helping aspiring MFin students or guiding the next generation of African finance leaders.