Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Private Equity–Backed Financial Services Firm
Location: Central Germany
Duration: 6–9 months initial
Start: Short notice preferred
The Business
Our client is a mid-sized, private equity–backed financial services company operating in the German market, with a strong growth and value‑creation agenda. The business is established, profitable, and operates within a regulated environment, with ambitions around professionalisation, operational improvement, and preparing for the next phase of ownership.
The Role
The Interim CFO will assume full responsibility for the finance function and act as a key partner to the CEO, PE sponsor, and leadership team. The mandate is hands-on and delivery-focused, combining day‑to‑day financial leadership with PE‑level strategic input and reporting discipline.
There is a clear opportunity for the role to transition from interim to permanent, subject to performance, cultural fit, and longer‑term business requirements.
This assignment suits an experienced interim CFO who enjoys operating at pace in PE‑backed, regulated environments, and who is open to a longer‑term leadership role.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Control
- Full ownership of finance, accounting, controlling, tax, treasury, and reporting
- Ensure robust monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes
- Strengthen financial controls, governance, and compliance
- Oversee audits and manage external advisors (audit, tax, legal)
Private Equity & Board Reporting
- Deliver high‑quality monthly management accounts and KPI dashboards
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and re‑forecasting cycles
- Support PE sponsor reporting, covenant compliance, and ad‑hoc analyses
- Prepare and present board materials with clear commercial insights
Value Creation & Transformation
- Identify and drive cost optimisation, margin improvement, and working‑capital initiatives
- Improve financial visibility across products, clients, and business units
- Professionalise finance systems, processes, and ways of working as required
- Support strategic initiatives such as growth acceleration, refinancing, integration, or exit readiness
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead, stabilise, and develop the finance team
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior management
- Interface with regulators, lenders, auditors, and PE stakeholders
Candidate Profile
Experience
- Proven Interim CFO (or equivalent senior finance leadership) experience
- Strong track record in PE‑backed businesses
- Background in financial services (e.g. insurance, lending, asset/wealth management, payments, fintech)
- Experience operating in regulated German environments
- Comfortable in mid-sized organisations (typically €50m–€250m revenue)
Skills & Attributes
- Hands‑on, pragmatic, and delivery‑oriented
- Strong understanding of PE value‑creation levers and reporting expectations
- Confident operating at board and sponsor level
- Open to an interim‑to‑permanent transition
Language
- Fluent German and English (essential)
Engagement Details
- Interim/freelance engagement, with option to convert to permanent
- Competitive senior interim CFO day rate
- Hybrid working model, with regular on‑site presence in Central Germany
