Strategy & Business Analysis Specialist

$40–100/hrrate as listed

micro1 is hiring consultants, bankers, and corporate strategy professionals to author executive-level business tasks and gold-standard deliverables — board decks, IC memos, and Excel models — that AI systems are trained and measured against. Work is remote, output-based, with observed rates of $40–100/hr and weekly minimum submissions.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

What the work involves

You build the test, the answer, and the grading sheet. A typical task starts with you constructing a realistic business scenario — a portfolio company margin decline, a market entry question, a capital allocation decision — and assembling the multi-file input pack a real analyst would receive: messy spreadsheets, a PDF annual report, raw source data. You then produce the gold-standard deliverable yourself, at the quality level a partner or investment committee would actually accept: a structured PowerPoint deck with clean visual storytelling, a memo with a defensible recommendation up front, or an Excel model built from scratch with working scenario and sensitivity logic.

The second half of each task is evaluative. You write a detailed rubric — often 35+ discrete line items — covering MECE structure, arithmetic and sourcing accuracy, logical consistency between exhibits and conclusions, and executive-readiness. You then document how AI outputs fail: recommendations that hedge, issue trees that overlap, numbers that appear in a chart but nowhere in the supporting tab. That failure-mode documentation is often the most valuable artifact you produce.

What the platform screens for

micro1's screening is AI-led and specific. Expect to be asked which decks you personally owned versus contributed to, who reviewed them, and what changed after review. Expect follow-ups on modeling mechanics — how you structured a three-statement build, how you handled circularity, what your sensitivity toggles actually drove. Vague consulting vocabulary is a poor signal here; concrete recall of a single engagement is a strong one. Writing quality is assessed directly, since nearly every deliverable is executive-facing prose or a slide headline.

Logistics

Contractor engagement, fully remote, NAMER and Europe time zones
Fully async; no standing meetings, though calibration sessions may be offered
Output-based pay — you're paid per accepted task, so effective hourly rate depends heavily on your speed with Excel and PowerPoint
A weekly minimum task submission applies; treat this as a real commitment, not overflow work
Roles typically fill within 48 hours, with first tasks expected 24–48 hours after onboarding
No prior AI or ML experience required or expected

What they look for

Structured thinking
Executive deck craft
Data modeling
Deck & Modeling Mastery

Before you apply

Would you pass this screen?

Drawn from what this listing actually requires. Answered in your browser — nothing is sent to us, and we do not store your answers.

Do you have at least 5 years of hands-on experience in management consulting (MBB or tier-2 firm), investment banking, private equity, corporate strategy, or FP&A roles?
Management/Strategy Background · preferred
Have you authored, independently or as lead contributor, board presentation decks, investment committee memos, or strategy recommendations that were submitted to senior executives or investment committees for review and decision-making?
Board or IC-Level Deliverables · required
Have you built financial models from scratch in Excel, including multi-scenario analysis and sensitivity testing (not using templates or pre-built models)?
Excel Financial Modeling · preferred
Is English your primary working language, and do you have proven experience producing executive-facing written content (decks, memos, or analyses)?
English Communication · preferred
Are you available to start work within 24–48 hours of completing onboarding and able to meet a minimum weekly task submission requirement as an independent contractor?
Availability & Commitment · required
Are you based in North America, Europe, or other compatible time zones for async collaboration?
Location · preferred

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Included with this listing

Interview prep — 11 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: Whether the candidate has hands-on experience crafting executive-facing strategy work under real scrutiny, and whether they understand how to construct defensible, persuasive arguments that survive senior review.
A strong answer: The candidate should name a specific deal, strategic decision, or investment thesis; explain the analytical framework (issue tree, MECE breakdown, or comparable analysis) that drove an unexpected conclusion; and describe how they structured the narrative and evidence to address stakeholder objections—not just present findings.
Where people lose it: Describing a passive analytical role ("I analyzed data for the team") or a presentation that confirmed what leadership already believed. Candidates who cannot articulate how they overcame skepticism have likely not owned strategy recommendations end-to-end.