Temporary Finance Talent: The Unsung Heroes of Business Resilience
In today’s unpredictable market, business leaders are rightly focused on stability. But here’s a question that doesn’t get asked enough: Who’s actually keeping the wheels turning while you focus on the bigger picture?
The answer, more often than not, is temporary finance talent.
These professionals , skilled, agile, and often brought in under pressure are the unsung heroes of business resilience. And according to our 2025 Salary Guide, their importance is only growing.
Post-IR35: Still Standing, Still Thriving
When IR35 changes came into effect, there were predictions that the interim market would take a hit. And yet, here we are: 1.5 million temporary workers are still powering UK businesses, including finance teams dealing with transformation, growth and regulatory complexity.
Despite early concerns about falling day rates or limited flexibility, our data shows that interim finance professionals remain in high demand, especially for strategic projects, year-end number crunches and ERP rollouts. While IR35 did shift the landscape, it hasn’t diminished the value of interim talent , it’s just changed how we engage with them.
Why Businesses Keep Turning to Temp Finance Professionals
You might assume interim hires are a stopgap. But many organisations are finding they’re so much more than that.
🔹 Plugging immediate gaps: From maternity cover to sickness absence, temporary professionals step in quickly and keep key processes moving. No hand-holding, no slow ramp-ups.
🔹 Driving transformation : Whether it’s prepping for a system implementation or supporting M&A activity, experienced interim finance staff can help deliver change without derailing business-as-usual.
🔹 Offering specialist skills: Many interims are ex-CFOs, Group Accountants, or FP&A leaders who now consult flexibly. That level of insight, even on a short-term contract, can transform how you view finance strategy.
Potential Impact: What We’ve Seen First-Hand
Here are just a few anonymised examples from our recent placements:
▶ A global FMCG group brought in an interim Finance Manager through us to bridge a recruitment gap. Within two weeks, they’d redesigned the month-end process, reducing month end close by two days.
▶ A PE-backed tech firm struggling with reporting quality hired a temporary FP&A Analyst. The contractor not only delivered clean investor packs within the first month, but helped upskill the perm team to sustain the standard post-assignment.
▶ A healthcare provider navigating restructuring asked us to find an interim Financial Controller. They got someone who’d done it all before and was presenting cashflow forecasts to the board within the first week.
Making Interim Work: How to Get It Right
Hiring interim finance professionals shouldn’t be a last resort. But even when it is, getting the fit right matters. Here’s what we advise clients to focus on:
✅ Clear expectations : Define what success looks like from day one. It could be business-as-usual cover or hitting a transformation milestone.
✅ Access and autonomy: Interims work best when they’re trusted to do what they’re brought in for. Ensure they’re given access to systems, teams and decision-makers.
✅ Cultural alignment: Even for a short-term role, attitude matters. We focus heavily on matching not just skills, but working style, especially in high-pressure environments.
✅ Don’t overcomplicate onboarding : Most interims don’t need full-scale induction. But they do need clarity. A couple of hours upfront often saves days of confusion later.
Thinking short-term could solve your long-term challenges
Finance leaders know the pain of being under-resourced, and the knock-on effect it has on everything from compliance to strategic decision-making.
But the right interim isn’t just a short-term solution. They can give you breathing room, bring in fresh thinking, and help upskill your team. And when that’s done right, the value doesn’t disappear when they do.
Need immediate support? We have a network of proven finance interims ready to make an impact so do give me a call on 07799 507 194.