Prioritized assessment
- Deliverables
- A calendar of deadlines, a risk list and required access.
- Decisions it supports
- Identify what needs attention first.
Iter Advisors · Taking over temporarily
Interim CFO for SMEs
An interim CFO temporarily takes over an SME’s finance leadership for a replacement, financial close or transaction.
Priorities, responsibilities and handover are defined during scoping. A start within 7 to 10 days may be considered after qualification, subject to professional availability and access to information.
An initial conversation to understand your situation and next steps.
When should you consider interim finance leadership?
Interim finance leadership means temporarily entrusting financial management to an interim CFO. The CFO works within a defined period and assignment. The engagement addresses immediate priorities and prepares a lasting arrangement. A part-time CFO instead meets a recurring finance leadership need.
- Your CFO leaves or is absent during a sensitive period.
- A financial close, financing project or software change needs reinforced leadership.
- You are recruiting a finance leader and need to organize cover.
Interim CFO deliverables
Deliverables are agreed during scoping, according to your priorities and available data.
Action plan
- Deliverables
- Workstreams, owners and decision points followed with management.
- Decisions it supports
- Organize continuity and change.
Handover file
- Deliverables
- Tools, procedures, assumptions and open issues to transfer.
- Decisions it supports
- Allow the successor to take over financial management.
Talk to the people doing the work.
The initial conversation clarifies your situation. Scoping then identifies the profile, skills and working arrangements appropriate to the engagement.
Meet the Iter teamPrepare the exit from the start
| Milestone | Work to document | Required approval |
|---|---|---|
| Before taking office | Priorities, access, calendar and written delegations | Assignment and responsibilities approved by management |
| During the assignment | Deadlines met, open risks and documented decisions | Progress review and scope adjustment |
| Before departure | Handover file, procedures and replacement contacts | Successor takes over tools and open issues |
Duration depends on the replacement or project. The proposal sets milestones and possible extension terms; a standard calendar cannot replace a review of your situation.
From the interim assignment to handover
1. Define the assignment
Clarify the reason, expected duration, required presence and necessary delegations.
2. Take over
Arrange access and the calendar, prioritize work and organize communication with the team.
3. Organize handover
Prepare procedures, document decisions and transfer open issues to the successor.
Availability suited to the assignment
Presence and decision-making authority are agreed with management. The engagement does not automatically confer signing authority or power over bank accounts.
The CFO coordinates teams and advisers within the agreed scope. Legal, tax or insolvency issues also involve the relevant qualified professionals. Planning the exit begins during scoping.
How this fits within a Fractional CFO engagementDefine the scope before the quote.
At Iter Advisors, indicative interim CFO fees range from EUR 8,000 to 12,000 excl. VAT/month, quoted according to the required availability and assignment.
View CFO pricingFAQ : interim cfo
Does an interim CFO assignment determine the employment arrangement?
No. Interim describes the temporary nature of the finance leadership assignment. It does not, by itself, determine the employment or service contract. The agreement must specify the working arrangement, responsibilities and handover.
How long does an interim engagement last?
Duration depends on the replacement reason, deadlines and successor availability. It is agreed during scoping, alongside exit objectives, extension arrangements and handover. No standard duration applies to every assignment.
When should we choose an interim CFO rather than a part-time CFO?
An interim CFO addresses a temporary situation: replacement, continuity or transformation. A part-time CFO meets recurring needs with planned work over time.
Can you start urgently?
Needs and availability are reviewed during the first conversation. A start within 7 to 10 days may be possible depending on context; no timing is guaranteed before scoping.
How do you prepare handover?
The engagement defines the documents, access, procedures, assumptions and open issues to transfer. Handover timing is agreed with the business leader and successor.
What should we prepare before contacting you?
The reason for replacement, upcoming deadlines, current organization, tools and required presence. Document-sharing arrangements are agreed afterwards.
Useful resources
Which decision or deadline are you preparing for?
Describe your needs, current organization and calendar. We will identify useful work together.
Describe my needs