Freelance Interim Finance Professionals

Immediate Impact for Finance Leadership

At Steens & Partners, we believe that finance leadership is defined not only by strategy, but by the ability to execute. CFOs and Finance Directors are facing a broader agenda than ever before — IFRS 18, CSRD, ESG integration, digitalization, AI, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty. These priorities demand depth, speed, and flexibility. Yet permanent teams alone cannot carry the full weight. This is where interim financials deliver unmatched impact.

For more than 25 years, Steens & Partners has connected CFOs with top-tier freelance and interim professionals. Our network provides access to seasoned experts in reporting, control, treasury, performance management, and financial transformation. Professionals who step in immediately, take ownership, and deliver measurable results.

The difference lies in our approach. We do not rely on consultants on payroll. Instead, we work with an exclusive community of independent financials, selected purely on expertise and value creation. This independence ensures objectivity, speed, and the best possible match.

Our interim financials strengthen organizations precisely where it matters most: securing compliance, building finance resilience, driving digital transformation, and supporting the CFO in decision-making. They bring proven playbooks, fresh perspectives, and execution power to accelerate change and safeguard continuity.

At Steens & Partners, we don’t just fill a gap. We enable finance leaders to build first-class, future-proof finance organizations. Interim financials are not a temporary solution — they are the strategic lever that turns challenges into opportunities and strategies into results.

The Strategic Value of Interim Financials for Finance Leadership

In today’s volatile and uncertain business environment, finance leadership faces a paradox. CFOs and Finance Directors must ensure financial stability and resilience while simultaneously driving innovation, transformation, and long-term value creation. Traditional structures alone are not enough. Organizations increasingly need flexible, highly skilled interim financials to fill critical capability gaps, accelerate change, and deliver immediate impact.

At Steens & Partners, we have been connecting CFOs and finance leaders with top-tier interim financials for over 25 years. Through our exclusive network, we enable organizations to access professionals who combine technical excellence with execution power — delivering results in reporting, control, treasury, performance management, and financial transformation.

This article explores the impact, necessity, and strategic relevance of interim financials. We will examine why they are indispensable to modern finance leadership, the areas where they deliver the most value, and how organizations can leverage them to build first-class, future-proof finance functions.

The CFO’s Expanding Agenda

The role of the CFO has evolved dramatically. No longer limited to financial stewardship, today’s CFO is a strategist, innovator, and change agent. Yet, the list of priorities keeps growing:

IFRS 18 and new reporting standards demand precise compliance and transparent disclosures.
CSRD and ESG reporting require integration of financial and non-financial metrics into mainstream reporting.
Digitalization and AI are fundamentally reshaping reporting, control, and analytics.
Inflation and geopolitical risks demand advanced scenario planning and proactive risk management.
Performance management calls for robust KPIs, real-time dashboards, and business insights.
Target Operating Model (TOM) design is essential to reimagine finance functions for agility and scalability.
Change management is critical in mergers, reorganizations, and transformation programs.

It is unrealistic for any CFO or Finance Director to handle these priorities alone — even with a strong permanent team. Expertise must be brought in when and where it is needed most. This is where interim financials provide unmatched value.

What Are Interim Financials?

Interim financials are seasoned finance professionals who operate on a temporary, project-based, or freelance basis. Unlike consultants, they are not external advisors at arm’s length. Instead, they embed themselves in organizations, take responsibility for execution, and deliver measurable outcomes.

They are trusted for their ability to:

Step in immediately with little onboarding.
Bring specific expertise in areas such as IFRS, treasury, internal control, or digital finance.
Support transformation projects with execution power.
Bridge leadership gaps when key managers are absent or when additional capacity is required.
Act as sparring partners for CFOs and senior leadership, providing independent insights and decision support.

Their independence and objectivity allow them to focus on results without being tied to internal politics or career ambitions.

Why Interim Financials Are Essential

The necessity of interim financials arises from three fundamental realities of modern business:

(a) Volatility and Uncertainty

Geopolitical risks, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes all increase complexity. Interim professionals allow organizations to flex capacity and expertise quickly in response.

(b) Speed of Transformation

Digitalization, ESG requirements, and finance transformation projects cannot wait. Interim financials bring execution power and proven playbooks from prior experiences.

(c) Talent Scarcity

High-caliber finance talent is scarce. Recruiting the right permanent staff can take months. Interim financials bridge the gap immediately, ensuring continuity and quality.

Areas Where Interim Financials Deliver Impact

1. Reporting and IFRS Compliance

With IFRS 18 and new standards on the horizon, interim financials ensure compliance, accurate disclosures, and smooth audits. They support CFOs in aligning financial reporting with global best practices.

2. Financial Control and Risk Management

Interim controllers strengthen the control environment, execute dynamic risk analyses, and deliver transparency in reporting. They help organizations maintain integrity and reliability during times of change.

3. Treasury and Liquidity Management

In an era of rising interest rates and volatile currencies, treasury expertise is critical. Interim treasury specialists provide cash flow optimization, hedging strategies, and advanced performance monitoring to safeguard continuity.

4. Performance Management and Business Partnering

Interim business controllers transform data into insights. With KPI-driven steering and business intelligence dashboards, they bridge strategy and execution. They ensure that finance contributes directly to decision-making and value creation.

5. Financial Transformation

Whether implementing a new ERP, designing a Target Operating Model (TOM), or driving digital process automation, interim professionals provide governance, execution power, and cross-functional leadership.

6. Change Management

Reorganizations, mergers, and integrations require steady hands. Interim professionals bring independence, strategic decision-making support, and credibility to sensitive change programs.

The Qualities of Effective Interim Financials

Not every finance professional can succeed as an interim. The best interim financials demonstrate:

Proven expertise across industries and functions.
Adaptability, enabling them to thrive in new environments.
Analytical skills to quickly grasp financial challenges.
Communication and influencing ability to work with stakeholders at all levels.
Integrity, essential for handling sensitive financial information.
Execution power, ensuring projects deliver results on time.

These qualities explain why interim financials are not only useful but indispensable for CFOs.

Interim vs. Consultancy vs. Permanent Staff

It is important to distinguish between interim financials and other talent models:

Consultants provide advice but often stop short of execution.
Permanent staff are vital for continuity but require recruitment, onboarding, and long-term commitments.
Interim financials combine the best of both worlds: deep expertise, immediate availability, and full responsibility for execution.

For CFOs, interim professionals are the “plug-and-play” solution for urgent priorities.

Case Examples of Impact

Case 1: IFRS 18 Implementation
A multinational facing IFRS 18 deadlines engaged an interim reporting specialist through Steens & Partners. Within weeks, reporting templates and training were implemented, ensuring compliance and avoiding audit delays.
Case 2: Treasury in Volatile Markets
A mid-sized company with global operations faced currency volatility. An interim treasury manager optimized hedging policies and improved cash visibility across markets, directly improving liquidity and profitability.
Case 3: Finance Transformation and TOM Design
A fast-growing company needed to redesign its finance function. Interim controllers led TOM workshops, streamlined processes, and oversaw ERP implementation — delivering measurable efficiency gains.

How Steens & Partners Adds Value

With over 25 years of experience and recognition in the MT1000 ranking, Steens & Partners is a trusted partner for CFOs and Finance Directors. Our strengths:

Exclusive network of top-tier interim and freelance professionals.
Independence — no payroll consultants, ensuring objective selection.
Direct access to assignments rarely advertised publicly.
Content expertise — we actively follow IFRS 18, CSRD, AI/digitalization, TOM, and change management.
Proven track record — hundreds of interim financials matched with leading organizations.

Our approach is based on commitment, exclusivity, and long-term value. Every assignment is aligned closely with client needs to ensure success for both organizations and professionals.

Building Future-Proof Finance Functions

The finance function of tomorrow must be digital, data-driven, resilient, and strategically embedded in the business. Interim financials accelerate this transition by:

Driving data-driven decision-making through predictive analytics.
Implementing digital process governance to enhance efficiency.
Creating financial future scenarios for robust planning.
Supporting finance resilience against external shocks.
Delivering value creation in finance through business partnering.

With interim professionals, organizations gain the agility to adapt quickly while ensuring strategic alignment.

Conclusion: Interim Financials as Strategic Enablers

In an era where CFOs face unprecedented demands, interim financials are not a luxury but a necessity. They bring expertise, flexibility, and execution power precisely where it is needed most.

At Steens & Partners, we believe interim financials are essential for building first-class, future-proof finance organizations. By translating strategy into action, delivering impact on critical CFO priorities, and strengthening finance resilience, they become true strategic enablers.

For finance leaders, the message is clear: the future belongs to organizations that combine strong permanent teams with agile interim expertise. Interim financials are the bridge — ensuring both stability and transformation.