Interim Executive

Interim Business Director & Chief Financial Officer Independent School

Date Posted:23 January 2025
Consultant:Danielle Walker

Appointing an Interim Business Director & Chief Financial Officer in a Leading Independent School

 

 

Higher Ed

The Brief

One of Australia’s most respected co-educational independent schools, required an Interim Business Director & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a six-month period starting mid-April. This was driven by the retirement of the long-serving CFO, with a permanent search slated for later in the year. The interim appointment was critical to maintain financial oversight and stability during this transitional period while enabling the College to continue its strategic financial initiatives without disruption.

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Increase in General Management Skills

According to the American Management Association, only 14% of businesses consider themselves “well prepared” to handle a sudden loss in senior management. Add to that the fact that it takes at least four months to fill an executive role, and an Interim Executive experienced in operations makes a lot of sense!

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Increase in Customer Experience Skills

These days experience is everything. What truly makes for a good experience? Speed. Convenience. Consistency. Friendliness. And human touch. Our Interim Executives deliver a great experience while improving your customer experience!

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Increase in People & Culture Skills

Organisations are constantly changing as they respond to internal and external pressures. Continual process improvement can enable team engagement and lead to growth. Interim Executives bring fresh eyes and effective industry best practice to the execution.

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Increase in Data Analytics

Complex challenges require critical thinking and in the age of information-overwhelm it is imperative to have analytical minds at the table. These skills range across finance, data science, systems and more. An Interim Executive can be the right person to optimise your inputs to maximise your output.

The Process

Future Leadership™ conducted a comprehensive search for the interim role, leveraging its expertise in executive appointments and its extensive network of interim executives.

The search extended across Victoria, ACT, and New South Wales, ensuring a broad talent pool with both sector-specific and transferable expertise. From an initial pool of 22 candidates, 5 were shortlisted based on technical skills, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit, and 4 candidates were interviewed by key stakeholders, including the Principal and HR Director. This streamlined yet thorough process was completed within 6 days, and the selected candidate commenced within 4 weeks, allowing a smooth transition with the outgoing CFO and meeting the College’s urgent timeline.

Emerging Capabilities

01.

Governance and Compliance

Establishes, champions and measures the effectiveness of an organisation’s regulatory and reporting systems. Identifies and evaluates risks, develops strategies to mitigate risk.

02.

Stakeholder Relations

Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.

03.

Strategy and Purpose

Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.

04.

Critical Thinking

Gathers and examines different data points, testing for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights considering diverse perspectives. Analyses, interprets and objectively evaluates information enabling judgements.

05.

Commercial Acumen

Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade-offs.

The Outcome

Future Leadership™ successfully placed a seasoned Chief Financial Officer in the interim role. The appointed individual’s extensive experience in financial management, strategy, and operations made them an ideal candidate to address immediate needs and support long-term financial planning. Highlights of the interim CFO’s background included:

  • Proven expertise in financial oversight, including funding applications, grant management, and procurement.
  • A strong track record of leading financial functions in not-for-profit and large-scale event organisations, ensuring compliance with governance and regulatory frameworks.
  • Demonstrated commercial acumen and stakeholder engagement skills, honed through roles such as at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where they oversaw complex financial and operational portfolios.
  • During their tenure, the interim CFO made an immediate impact by:
  • Providing leadership continuity and ensuring financial stability during a period of transition.
  • Conducting a comprehensive review of the College’s financial affairs, delivering actionable recommendations to the Principal and the Board.
  • Overseeing critical projects such as the 2024 budget preparation and fee review, aligning them with the College’s strategic goals.

This placement underscored Future Leadership’s™ depth of expertise in executive search for independent schools and its ability to deliver exceptional interim leaders who can seamlessly step into high-stakes roles.

Consultant

Danielle Walker

Associate Partner, Interim Executive View Profile
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