Interim vs Permanent CFO | Which One Should You Hire?
Appointing the right Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is one of the most important decisions a growing business can make. For private equity and venture capital portfolio companies, the question is often not if you should hire a CFO, but whether you need an interim CFO, or a permanent CFO.
This guide explains the differences, the benefits of each option, and how to decide which type of finance leadership is right for your business.
Interim CFO
An interim CFO is a senior finance leader hired on a temporary basis, typically for three to twelve months. Interim CFOs are usually brought in to address specific challenges or transitional phases, quickly.
When to consider hiring an interim CFO:
A sudden CFO departure leaves a leadership gap.
You are preparing for a transaction such as M&A, fundraising or an IPO.
Your business needs turnaround or restructuring expertise.
Rapid growth requires immediate financial leadership.
Key benefits of an interim CFO:
Speed of impact - quickly available and onboarded.
Specialist expertise - deep experience in transformation and PE-backed change.
Flexibility - short term commitment without long term risk.
Independent perspective - a fresh, objective view on challenges.
Permanent CFO
A permanent CFO is a long term strategic partner who plays a critical role in shaping the future of the business. Permanent CFOs are embedded into the organisation, building finance teams, culture, and investor confidence.
When to consider hiring a permanent CFO:
You are building and executing a sustainable growth strategy.
The CEO and board require a long term finance partner.
Your company is transitioning from founder led to professionally managed.
Investors expect continuity and long term leadership.
Key benefits of a permanent CFO:
Stability and continuity - alignment with business vision and strategy.
Investor confidence - builds long term trust with shareholders and stakeholders.
Strategic development - drives systems, processes, and finance teams.
Value creation - focuses on growth, profitability, and scalability.
Which one does your business need?
The decision between hiring an interim CFO and a permanent CFO depends on timing, business needs, and investor expectations.
Interim CFO recruitment is ideal when immediate stability, transformation expertise or transaction support is required.
Permanent CFO recruitment is the best choice when you need a long term strategic finance leader to partner with the CEO, build teams, and deliver sustained growth.
In many cases, companies choose a hybrid approach, appointing an interim CFO to manage urgent priorities, followed by a permanent hire once the business is ready for a long term leader.
How Pearse Professionals can help
At Pearse Professionals, we specialise in CFO and senior finance recruitment across high growth sectors in Europe. Working closely with private equity and venture capital clients, we provide both interim CFOs and permanent CFOs who deliver commercial impact and drive performance.
If you’d like to discuss this further, please get in touch with the team: info@pearseprofessionals.com