How businesses benefit from interim and part-time Financial Executives

In an increasingly competitive and fast-paced business landscape, companies of all sizes must navigate complex financial decisions that can make or break their success. Yet, hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Financial Manager (FM) isn’t always practical, especially for growing businesses that need this level of expertise but can’t justify the overhead of a permanent executive. 

Game changers at the fraction of the cost

This is where interim and part-time Financial Executives become game changers, offering strategic leadership, financial oversight and critical decision-making support – on demand and at a fraction of the cost.

Grant Robson, managing director of The Finance Team, says for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), growth brings complexity. Financial decision-making becomes increasingly critical, yet hiring a full-time senior Financial Executive can be expensive. “If you’re looking at the SME market, one often finds that the companies are doing very nicely. 

They’ve grown fantastically and are at a stage now where decision-making is becoming absolutely critical and they’ve got a decent team in place. Typically, this would include a team of bookkeepers, clerks and potentially a financial accountant, but they now need a more experienced, seasoned and qualified person to come in at that FM or CFO level. They also can’t justify somebody on a full-time basis at the pricing that those levels of individuals demand in the market.”

Flexibility without full-time hire

This is where part-time Financial Executives add immense value. SMEs can bring in an experienced CFO or FM on a flexible basis, whether for one day a week, two days a week, or even five days a week initially and then scale down once systems, internal controls, policies, and procedures are established. “They tend to stay on as the part-time FM or CFO, but they only come in a day or two per week,” Robson explains.

This allows businesses to benefit from high-level financial expertise without a full-time salary burden, ensuring sustainable growth and strategic direction.

Sudden changes require continuity

While large corporations typically already have a qualified, seasoned CFO in place, they still require interim financial professionals for various reasons. These reasons can include maternity cover, sudden resignations, or unexpected vacancies. In such situations, interim Financial Executives step in at short notice to ensure continuity. 

Robson highlights another key advantage: the ability to handle specialised financial projects that demand senior-level expertise: “The client may be doing a valuation, a purchase or sale of a business unit, or a BEE transaction – and the CEO just doesn’t have the time to do the work that’s needed, nor the time to train someone within the organisation to get the work done. The CEO / CFO simply requires “Another Me” to get the job done.

No burden on existing teams

This on-demand financial expertise ensures that businesses can navigate complex transactions, mergers, acquisitions and regulatory changes seamlessly, without burdening their existing finance teams.

At The Finance Team, we provide highly skilled interim and part-time financial executives who seamlessly integrate into your business, ensuring financial stability, strategic execution, and operational efficiency—exactly when you need it.

Need expert financial guidance without committing to a full-time hire? Get in touch with The Finance Team today!