Appointing an Interim Director of Infrastructure Budgeting and Accounting to Strengthen Financial Oversight and Operational Excellence in a Public Sector Infrastructure Agency.
The Brief
Future Leadership™ was engaged by a state-wide infrastructure authority to appoint an Interim Director of Infrastructure Budgeting and Accounting during a critical leadership transition.
The departure of a long-serving, highly respected leader necessitated the appointment of an experienced interim executive to oversee a $3-4 billion annual capital budget and manage the operational financial aspects of extensive infrastructure projects.
Key deliverables included:
- Supporting managers and enhancing team performance during a transitional period.
- Developing business cases for state budget submissions.
- Ensuring compliance with the state government financial management frameworks.
- Driving continuous improvement while providing strategic advice across the organisation.
The ideal candidate required strategic insight, expertise in state government finance, and strong stakeholder management skills to position the financial function for continued success.
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!
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!
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.
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™ collaborated closely with the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer to deliver a tailored search strategy:
- Targeted Search: Identified candidates from a specialised talent pool with expertise in public sector and infrastructure finance.
- Thorough Assessment: Evaluated candidates on their ability to manage large-scale capital budgets, drive operational improvements, and deliver strategic outcomes.
- Quick Turnaround: Delivered a shortlist of three highly qualified candidates within one week.
The selected candidate was a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in infrastructure finance, demonstrating:
- Mastery of the state’s public sector financial frameworks.
- Leadership in managing multi-billion-dollar budgets.
- A track record of enhancing team performance and driving operational improvements.
Emerging Capabilities
Governance and Compliance
Establishes, champions, and measures the effectiveness of an organisation’s regulatory and reporting systems.
Adaptability and Resilience
Demonstrates positivity and agility in navigating change, high-pressure environments, and organisational transformation.
Stakeholder Relations
Builds and sustains trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and trust.
Critical Thinking
Gathers and examines diverse data points, presenting well-reasoned insights and reframing challenges to achieve strategic goals.
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategic initiatives, aligning program goals with broader organisational objectives and long-term vision.
The Outcome
The appointed interim executive delivered immediate impact, achieving key results:
- Strategic Contributions: Developed high-impact business cases for state budget submissions, aligning with organisational priorities and ensuring effective resource allocation.
- Operational Improvements: Enhanced financial processes, implemented governance frameworks, and resolved critical team challenges.
- Trusted Adviser: Provided strategic insights that supported the COO and CFO in broader organisational decision-making.
- Team Uplift: Strengthened leadership and improved team morale, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
The interim engagement was extended, with leadership feedback emphasising the executive’s ability to deliver both stability and strategic value during a critical period.
