Practical Use Cases
What Do Interim-CFOs Do?
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As businesses adapt to fast-changing markets, the demand for fractional leaders is surgingβup 170% since 2022. Notably, 56% of all interim roles requested are at the C-suite level, with demand for fractional CFOs alone having doubled.
Interim CFOs bring extensive industry experience, providing valuable insights and solutions. They quickly adapt to new environments and deliver immediate impact, often within days. Their ability to handle critical assignments efficiently makes them a highly effective short-term solution.
The most common reasons for bringing in an interim CFO are the following:
Bridging Resource Gaps
Interim CFOs are often brought in when an organization has not yet found the right candidate for a permanent CFO and need to bridge a resource gap. This can often happen when a change in ownership or acquisition has taken place, accompanied by a change in senior management. When an organization has not yet found the right candidate for a permanent CFO, an interim CFO is a great choice to keep the financial ship on course, prevent a backlog of projects, and provide a fresh set of eyes on the state of an organizationβs finances and on the roles and responsibilities of the CFO position.
Preparing for Strategic Events
Interim CFOs are also often brought in to help companies prepare for strategic events such as acquisition, mergers, or IPOs. This type of event creates a need for a highly skilled financial person to help navigate the process, as well as to ensure that the companyβs financials and business operations meet the due diligence and compliance requirements of investors and other stakeholders.
Improving Operations
Interim CFOs are also often brought in when organizations need to elevate their financial operations and processes. They offer fresh perspectives and deep expertise to modernize accounting systems, enhance reporting capabilities, implement new control mechanisms β such as vendor approval workflows β and build robust budgeting tools. Additionally, they can support negotiations with lenders to help maintain or secure lines of credit. For a deeper understanding of how these roles can add value, see our article What is a Fractional CFO and the Benefits of Hiring One.
Tips on How to Hire Interim-CFOs
If it is already clear to you that hiring an interim CFO is your necessary next step, then you will ask yourself: How to hire interim managers, and how to identify the right person for the role?
As with any recruitment, especially at the senior level, it is crucial to find the right person. The interim CFO must be eager and able to fulfill the vision of the company's leader.
It is relevant to carefully consider the essential elements that an interim CFO should possess to be the right candidate for your company. Thus, it could be useful to look for someone who has already gained project experience comparable to your industry, your company, or your companyβs situation. The following tips can help you to find the right candidate:
In addition to these hard skills, don't forget the soft skills. Is the interim CFO able to focus on his key issues and to connect with the finance team and the rest of the organization? Facets to validate should include:
If you have finally found the ideal candidate, you have to ensure a thorough onboarding. The following suggestions can help to get your interim CFO successfully on board.
Conclusion
The importance and impact of interim positions can be overlooked due to their limited time with your organization. However, it is critical to find the right interim CFO for your situation. The right one will help you to navigate through all critical financial aspects and to lay the groundwork for the full-time CFO to come. Trust us, the best ones will leave a positive impact long after theyβve moved on.
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