What does an interim manager actually do?
The term interim management is understood to mean management on a temporary basis, hence the temporary provision of experts in the event of capacity bottlenecks, replacements on leave, reorganisation issues or also within the framework of short- to medium-term projects.
In Austria, the use of interim managers is still clearly underrepresented compared to other countries. In many other European countries the use of such experts is already standard in large and medium-sized enterprises.
Example of the use of an interim manager
Implementing SAP HANA as new system
A leading Austrian company needed to implement SAP HANA but lacked the required in-house expertise for this time-limited project. Instead of hiring permanently, the company brought in an experienced interim manager with strong SAP implementation know-how.
Within just a few weeks, she successfully implemented the new SAP system and trained the team so employees could continue working with it independently.
Interim placement in record time
A Vienna-based company in the automotive industry needed short-term support for a vacant key position in the finance sector. Thanks to our continuously maintained network, we were able to present a suitable, immediately available interim manager within just a few days – from the client’s request on Friday evening to the start in the company on Wednesday.
Interim management: 5 advantages for your company
There are numerous reasons why companies benefit from interim management in times of a shortage of skilled workers. Here we list the 5 most important advantages of interim managers:
1. Flexible bridging of peak loads and capacity bottlenecks
While the COVID 19 pandemic brought industries such as hospitality or the event sector to a complete standstill, tax consulting firms were confronted with an almost unmanageable flood of enquiries. Due to the application for short-time work and the like, bottlenecks quickly arose in payroll accounting and bookkeeping. By using interim staff, the firms were able to cope with the temporary flood of enquiries without having to hire additional staff.
- Tip for further reading: In this article we reveal the most important HR trends in finance.
2. Rapid availability of Interim Managers
When there are peaks in demand or unforeseen staff shortages due to illness, every day counts: there is no time for lengthy tenders or interviews in such situations. Interim managers are usually available quickly and at short notice - if you know where to find them.
Are you facing a staff shortage right now and urgently need support? We can also fill specialised positions successfully and quickly via our Schulmeister database. Ongoing maintenance and constant expansion form the foundation for this. We are happy to put you in touch with interim managers from the fields of finance and accounting as well as technology and IT.
3. Hardly any training time
Interim managers are professionals with many years of professional experience. As independent consultants, they bring valuable knowledge and know-how into the company and anchor new processes. For this reason, they need hardly any training time and new projects can be started immediately and completed quickly.
Our managing partner Robert Szvetecz is convinced of the return on investment of Interim Managers:
"In fact, there is hardly a more advantageous way for companies to buy in external knowledge than by using interim management. All of the interim managers in our network have considerable careers behind them and have many years of experience, so that their deployment in the company is usually only required for a few weeks or months."
Robert Szvetecz, Partner at Schulmeister Vienna
4. Transparent calculation
Interim managers are independent experts who charge for their services on an hourly or daily rate basis. For companies, this is an attractive opportunity to access external knowledge with full budget control. In many cases, a few weeks are sufficient to implement system introductions or new processes in the company. Due to their experience, interim managers are usually able to estimate in advance how long they can implement a project.
5. No risk with Interim Management
In contrast to permanent staff, the cooperation with interim managers is flexible and without obligations. If the performance does not meet the company's expectations, the contract can be terminated at any time. Furthermore, there are no upfront costs or headcount implications.
Typical areas of deployment for interim personnel in the finance and IT sector
- Support in day-to-day accounting/payroll accounting
- Preparation of monthly/quarterly/annual financial statements
- Introduction of new IT software in accounting
- Introduction of new reporting tools
- Consulting projects (e.g. M&A, restructuring, accounting, in-/outsourcing)
- Introduction of new software
- Implementation of IT projects
- Technical management tasks
- Planning projects
- Implementation of execution projects
- Consulting projects
Interim Manager:in wanted? Schulmeister Consulting found.
As Austria's leading personnel consultancy in the financial sector, we have been assisting companies with interim management for many years - with a focus on our core areas of finance and accounting, technology and IT. Together with our clients, we evaluate the possibilities of cooperation in advance, develop the requirements profile, support the selection of suitable specialists and are always available to answer questions during the course of the project.
FAQ: Interim management and interim manager placement
Interim management refers to the temporary deployment of experienced specialists or managers within a company. Interim managers support organisations during capacity bottlenecks, staff shortages, leave replacements, restructuring processes or time-limited projects where specific expertise is needed quickly.
An interim manager takes on operational or strategic responsibility for a limited period of time. This can include managing projects, bridging vacancies, supporting restructuring, introducing new systems, stabilising finance processes or providing specialist expertise in areas such as accounting, controlling, IT or technology.
Companies should use interim management when they need experienced support quickly but do not want to create a permanent position. Typical reasons include unexpected staff shortages, peak workloads, urgent finance or IT projects, SAP implementations, reporting changes, process optimisation, restructuring or temporary management gaps.
- Is Interim Management the right solution for your company? Find out wether you should hire an interim manager or not!
Interim management offers companies rapid availability, high professional expertise, flexible deployment and transparent cost planning. Interim managers usually require very little training time, bring experience from different organisations and can quickly stabilise projects, processes or departments.
Permanent recruitment focuses on filling a position long term with a permanent employee. Interim management, on the other hand, is a temporary solution for a specific project, vacancy or transition period. It is particularly useful when companies need immediate expertise without making a long-term hiring commitment.
Interim manager placement usually starts with a detailed briefing about the company’s needs, the project scope, required expertise and expected duration. A recruitment consultancy or interim management provider then identifies suitable interim managers, checks their availability and experience, and presents a shortlist of qualified candidates. Schulmeister has a wide network of interim managers in Austria!
In finance, interim managers are often used for accounting, payroll, controlling, reporting, monthly, quarterly or annual financial statements, M&A projects, restructuring, outsourcing projects or the introduction of new finance systems. Interim finance managers can help companies maintain stability during demanding phases.
Yes. Interim managers can support IT and technology projects such as software implementation, SAP projects, reporting tool rollouts, system migrations, digital transformation with AI or Big Data or technical leadership tasks. They are particularly valuable when internal teams lack the time or specialist know-how required for a specific project.
Finance interim management means the temporary deployment of experienced finance professionals in areas such as accounting, controlling, reporting, financial management, payroll, treasury or CFO-level support. It helps companies bridge short-term gaps, manage peak workloads and complete finance projects efficiently.
Interim managers usually charge an hourly or daily rate. The cost depends on the role, level of responsibility, experience, project complexity, duration and specialist area. An interim CFO, SAP expert or senior finance project manager will usually have a higher daily rate than an interim specialist supporting a clearly defined operational task.
- Get more details on costs of Interim Managment!
Yes. Schulmeister Consulting supports companies with interim manager placement, especially in finance, accounting, controlling, technology and IT. We work with an established network of experienced interim managers and help companies find suitable temporary support for projects, bottlenecks, vacancies and specialised requirements.