Interim management
Interim management is the temporary filling of a leadership position by an external specialist or executive. Assignments typically run three to twelve months and serve to bridge vacancies, lead projects, or steer a company through a period of change.
The principle
Interim managers step into an existing organisation, take on a defined role with real authority, and leave once the agreed objective is met. They are not consultants: they lead people, make decisions and carry responsibility for results.
Typical triggers
A sudden vacancy in a key role, a restructuring, a transaction, an ERP implementation, a growth step, or parental leave cover at leadership level. What these share is that leadership is needed immediately and a regular hire would take too long.
Interim management in finance
The most common finance roles are interim CFO, head of finance, head of accounting, head of controlling, and specialist roles in financial accounting and FP&A. Finance suits the model particularly well because processes and standards are largely comparable, so experienced people become productive quickly.
Legal framework in Germany
Interim managers in Germany are engaged predominantly under service contracts, frequently through a provider. Because they are embedded in operational processes, the boundary to the German Temporary Employment Act (Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz, AÜG) and the risk of false self-employment must be handled cleanly in the contract and in day-to-day practice.
Provider or direct engagement
Companies find interim managers through providers, platforms, networks or directly. Providers handle pre-selection, contracting and liability, and supply a replacement if someone drops out – the premium over direct engagement pays for exactly that cover.