Interim CFO and Finance Leadership for Private Equity
Bring experienced finance leadership into the business when the situation demands it. Finatal helps private equity funds and portfolio companies appoint interim CFOs, Finance Directors and specialist finance leaders for transactions, change and critical gaps.
About the practice
Finance Leadership for the Moments That Need Action
Interim mandates work best when the problem is clear. Whether the priority is cash, a transaction or restoring reliable reporting, the hire must understand what needs to change and what success will look like.
Leadership Continuity
An unexpected departure need not leave management without financial direction. An interim can take responsibility for reporting, priorities and stakeholder communication while the business establishes its longer-term leadership requirements.
Transactions and Exit Readiness
Acquisitions, refinancing and a sale process require focused experience. An interim finance leader can support diligence, manage financial workstreams and strengthen the information investors, lenders and advisers need to assess the business.
Control and Transformation
When reporting is unreliable or the function is stretched, practical leadership matters. Interims can establish priorities, improve cash visibility and organise the team around the changes needed to restore confidence and sustain progress.
Interim finance expertise
Roles We Place
We support interim finance hiring across both portfolio companies and fund teams, covering a range of leadership and specialist roles.
This includes Interim CFOs and Finance Directors who provide senior leadership during critical moments, Financial Controllers who strengthen reporting and control, and Heads of FP&A or Commercial Finance who improve visibility and decision-making. We also support transformation leads and transaction specialists who can deliver targeted outcomes within defined timeframes.
Across each mandate, the focus is on ensuring the interim hire delivers immediate impact and helps move the business forward.
Our Private Equity Interim Finance Network
Our network includes finance leaders with experience across investment stages and challenging operating situations. We assess the task behind the vacancy, including the relationships the interim will inherit and the decisions they will need to make.
Comparable experience matters more than a familiar job title alone. A refinancing mandate calls for different evidence from a post-acquisition integration or a finance-function rebuild. Understanding that distinction helps us focus the search.
What We Look for in an Interim Finance Leader
Effective interims can identify the immediate problem without losing sight of the investment plan. They bring judgement about which issues need action now, which can wait and where limited management time will have the greatest effect.
They must quickly establish credibility with both management and the sponsor. Clear communication, balanced challenge and an understanding of different reporting lines help them keep difficult conversations productive while the assignment moves forward.
We look for evidence of delivery in the relevant situation: cash management, refinancing, integration, restructuring or preparation for exit. The candidate should be clear about their strengths and the outcome they are equipped to deliver.
Share the situation, the priorities and the leadership gap. Our interim team can help define the experience your business needs next.
Track Record
Explore selected work relevant to Interim CFO & Finance Leadership and the needs of private capital businesses.
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Finatal connected Compass Community with Martin Lofnes to lead the transformation of its finance function and support its next phase of growth.
“Finatal stood out because they had immediate access to exceptional CFO talent who had not been previously identified.”
Interim CFO & Finance Leadership
Our UK & EU Team
Jack Lane
Managing Director
UK – London
Dominic Mellett
Senior Partner
UK – London
Neville Talbot
Partner
UK – London
Achim Knobelspies
Principal
EU – Frankfurt
Julian Standish
Principal
UK – London
Reece Baker
Principal
UK – London
Caitlin Keenan
Managing Consultant
UK – London
Andrew Fadera
Executive Consultant
UK – London
Ethan Kessel
Executive Consultant
UK – London
Mallory Hartman
Consultant
UK – London
Marcus Baker
Consultant
UK – London
Sofia Stevens
Consultant
UK – London
Will Snelson
Consultant
UK – London
Christopher Rabis
Senior Associate
UK – London
Konstantin Stubben
Associate
EU – Frankfurt
Max Bland
Associate
UK – London
Musa Siddiqi
Associate
UK – LondonFAQs
Which interim finance roles do you recruit for?
Our remit includes CFOs, Finance Directors, Financial Controllers, Heads of FP&A and commercial finance, alongside transaction and transformation specialists.
When is an interim CFO appropriate?
Typical situations include a leadership gap, a transaction, performance pressure or a defined change programme that needs experienced leadership before a permanent appointment can be made.
Do you work with funds and portfolio companies?
Yes. We support both, tailoring the brief to the financial responsibilities and stakeholders involved.
Is previous sector experience always essential?
It depends on the task. Relevant experience of the problem, operating complexity and stakeholders can be more useful than sector familiarity on its own.
How do you assess an interim for the assignment?
We consider comparable delivery experience, references, stakeholder credibility and the candidate’s ability to address the specific priorities of the role.
Can interims support change during the hold period?
Yes. Interim needs arise throughout ownership, including reporting improvements, integration and finance transformation, as well as at acquisition or exit.