Looking for a Business Controller – Did You Find the Right Talent?
The CFO resigns. The business is growing faster than the
Sick leave comes without warning. Parental leave is known a year in advance, and yet the replacement is named in the final week. The result is the same: one person’s work is divided among those who already have a full week.
The absence has an end date. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to recruit a permanent hire—instead, bring in someone who knows the role from day one and leaves as agreed when your own person returns.
An external replacement makes sense in three cases: the absence lasts over two months, the role includes accountability to the board or funders, or covering it would mean someone doing two jobs. A short routine absence can be divided internally.
The practical question is this: is there anything in the role that can’t wait until the return date? Month-end close can’t wait. Payroll can’t wait. A customer delivery promise can’t wait.
These four scenarios recur in companies with €10–100 million in revenue, where each function has one person responsible.
The news comes mid-week, and no one knows the return date. The replacement must start quickly and be able to hand the role back just as quickly.
The date is known months in advance. Yet the replacement is often only arranged in the final week, leaving no time for onboarding.
The departing employee is still in the building but already looking ahead. It’s worth deciding what they do with the remaining time and who takes responsibility now.
An agreed break for which you don’t want to hire anyone permanently. The replacement is easiest to handle as a fixed-term assignment.
| Method | Works when | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Work is divided among the team | The absence is short and the work is routine | Two jobs for one person. Mistakes and fatigue only show up later |
| Internal replacement is temporarily promoted | There’s someone in the organization ready for the next role | Their own work goes undone, and returning to the former role is difficult |
| Interim manager as replacement | The absence lasts months and the role involves external responsibility | Costs more per day than an internal arrangement |
Focus: Taking control of the role’s responsibilities, systems, and pending matters. Getting to know the team and key stakeholders.
Result: Nothing is left waiting for the absent person’s return.
Focus: The role’s normal work: reporting, decisions, negotiations, and ongoing projects.
Result: Daily operations run so smoothly that customers or the board don’t notice the absence.
Focus: Documentation and preparation for the return. What changed during the absence and what the returning person needs to know.
Result: Your own person returns to a role that is in order.
“This was our first interim assignment and, all in all, a very positive experience.”
Waiting rarely costs all at once. It costs in delayed reports, drawn-out decisions, and a tired team, and the bill only comes later, when your person has already returned.
We will go through it in about half an hour. The assessment is free of charge and does not commit you to anything.
You'll typically receive 2–4 carefully selected candidates with justifications within 48 hours. Not a long list of "just-okay" names.
You meet the candidates and decide for yourself. A start is possible as early as next week.
You’ll receive a proposal typically within 48 hours: 2–4 carefully selected candidates. You meet them and can decide on a start date as early as next week.
The duration is agreed upon according to the situation and can be extended or shortened. The assignment can be full-time or part-time.
Yes. In Cherry’s Pinterim model, the interim period also serves as a probationary period. Cherry Pinterim →
You only pay for days worked, and billing occurs once a month. The price depends on the complexity of the task and the workload. We will provide this after a free assessment. What does the cost consist of →
The CFO resigns. The business is growing faster than the
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Situations often overlap. See key person replacement, projects and development initiatives, corporate transactions, fractional or part-time, or all situations on one page as needed.
A free assessment takes about half an hour. After that, you will know what kind of expert suits your situation, when they can start, and what it will cost.
In a hurry? Call any of us directly.
Ilari Kallio040 070 5050
Petri Kujala040 076 7767
Samppa Seppälä050 568 0533
Sampo Salmi050 386 6565Are you an interim manager yourself? Apply for the Cherry Pool →