How to survive being an interim FD

by Catherine Woods - Tuesday, 26th February 2008 -

Commitment is one of the most important traits for an interim FD, says Jennifer Raines who spent a couple of years in the interim game before setting up her consultancy Your Right Hand FD.

“For somebody that’s thinking of doing interiming and perhaps aren’t doing it at the moment, they need to be absolutely certain that they’re prepared to work in an environment where you could be seen as being a negative force in the business and where in many cases the management team is nervous of you being there,” Raines says.

“I think the best skill you need is to be able to prove through your actions that you’re not there to stitch them up and that, actually, the best result for everybody is to get on and get the job done and do the best for the business.”

Raines says an interim FD must realise that the people in the business may not tell them the full story.

“Sometimes you’re looked at as being a consultant,” she says. “You have to retest everything. Every answer you’re given, you have to check with someone else.”

Picture source

WHAT NEXT?
Sign up for our newsletter and get our weekly pick of business news in your inbox!
Subscribe to our magazine for in depth interviews and advice from leading entrepreneurs!
Join our forum and talk business with other entrepreneurs!