An analysis of McDermott + Bull’s 2024–2025 engagements highlights the key leadership roles where organizations most frequently deploy interim executives to navigate transitions, accelerate initiatives, and address critical talent gaps.
While organizations engage interim executives across multiple functions, finance and accounting roles account for more than two-thirds of the demand. This trend reflects the central role finance leaders play during periods of transition, when organizations require strong oversight of reporting, forecasting, and financial performance.
Why Finance Leadership Dominates Interim Demand
There are several factors driving the high demand for interim CFOs, controllers, and senior finance leaders:
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- Financial stability is critical during leadership transitions: When a CFO or senior finance leader departs unexpectedly, companies must ensure financial reporting, forecasting, and compliance continue uninterrupted. Interim finance executives provide immediate expertise while organizations conduct a search for a permanent hire.
- Finance leaders are central to strategic initiatives: Many interim finance engagements are tied to major business events such as mergers and acquisitions, ERP implementations, restructuring initiatives, or preparing a company for a liquidity event. These projects often require seasoned leaders who can step in quickly and manage complexity.
- Boards, investors, and lenders demand strong financial oversight: In the current uncertain economy, accurate financial reporting and forecasting are more important than ever. Interim finance executives help maintain confidence among stakeholders while guiding organizations through periods of change.
- Private equity activity continues to drive demand: Private equity-backed companies frequently engage interim finance leaders during acquisitions, integrations, carve-outs, and pre-exit preparation.
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Growing Demand Beyond Finance
While finance accounts for the majority of engagements, demand is also emerging in several other operational leadership functions.
Operational leaders are frequently engaged to improve efficiency, scale processes, or guide transformation initiatives. Interim HR executives are increasingly brought in to support talent strategy, organizational restructuring, or the implementation of new HR systems. Technology leaders are often deployed to stabilize IT organizations, oversee digital transformation efforts, or lead complex system implementations.
Overall, the distribution of engagements highlights a consistent pattern: companies most frequently seek interim leaders in functions that are mission-critical to financial stability, operational continuity, and strategic decision-making. Finance leads the way as organizations rely on strong governance, accurate reporting, and financial oversight during periods of change.
The Value of Interim Leadership
A defining advantage of interim executives is their speed and experience. When organizations face leadership gaps or critical initiatives, waiting months for a permanent hire is often not a viable option. Interim leaders provide immediate capability, objective perspective, and the ability to execute from day one.
As organizations continue to navigate economic uncertainty, growth opportunities, and organizational change, interim leadership is becoming an increasingly strategic component of workforce planning. Companies are recognizing that experienced interim executives can provide immediate stability, guide critical initiatives, and create momentum while long-term leadership decisions are made.
Julie Francis
Managing Director, McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders
jfrancis@mbexec.com
Julie Francis serves as a Managing Director for McDermott + Bull Interim Leaders, where she identifies and secures highly skilled executives to address client companies’ critical business challenges, provide interim leadership, and oversee special projects. She works with executive leadership at middle-market and enterprise-level companies as well as with investment banks and private equity groups to improve operational and financial performance.