Urgent CFO Need - P&H Interim Solutions

Urgent CFO Need - P&H Interim Solutions
Published

A client of Pender & Howe urgently needed an interim CFO after their current CFO suddenly left just before a major audit. As a top private school, they required fast, expert support to ensure continuity through year-end and we delivered in just a few days.

Client Overview & Challenge

A prestigious private school was facing a critical challenge. With the sudden departure of their CFO just before a crucial audit, they urgently needed a qualified executive to navigate complex financial matters.

Scrambling to find and onboard an interim CFO, they found traditional search was too slow so they turned to Pender & Howe —not only for our ability to provide an immediate solution in the matter of two days, but also for our team's capacity to support a concurrent search for a permanent, full-time CFO.

Our Solution

Within hours of contacting our team, the client gained access to a pool of highly qualified CFO candidates in the niche Montreal market—where talent can be scarce for this specific profile. Each candidate was ready to begin immediately, thanks to our model of nurturing and pre-approving interim leaders and keeping the bench up to date. 

By leveraging our consultant-led internal marketplace, we quickly identified five local candidates who met the client’s requirements for temporary executive support. The client selected three for interviews to assess their suitability for the role.

Outcome

In less than a week, the client successfully hired and onboarded their chosen interim CFO. Over the following three months, this experienced executive provided essential support during the audit, effectively bridging the gap until Pender & Howe’s team secured a permanent, full-time CFO. Our tech-enabled process ensured a seamless experience, allowing the client to swiftly address their urgent staffing needs and maintain continuity in financial leadership.

Key Benefits 

Speed: Our platform enabled the private school to identify and hire a qualified CFO within days, compared to the weeks typically required for formal executive searches. 

Cost-Effectiveness: Due to our tech enabled process, this provided a cost-saving solution, with fees approximately 3 times lower than traditional executive search services. 

Quality Candidates: Despite the urgent nature of the requirement, we connected the client with highly skilled CFO candidates who met their specific criteria for expertise and availability almost immediately.

Conclusion 

Our rapid and cost-effective solution proved instrumental in helping the client navigate a challenging situation with confidence.