On April 2, 2025, business tilted on its axis with the Trump administration’s tariffs on importers. While at the time of writing it’s still unclear whether the tariffs are here to stay or are simply a bargaining chip to negotiate more favorable trade agreements, the decision interjected a level of uncertainty that we have not seen since early in the pandemic.
Small and mid-market businesses may find themselves facing complicated issues including reshoring, supply chain reengineering, reevaluating the impact of changes in the cost of materials on product pricing, managing cash flows, and monitoring covenant compliance. Speed is of the essence not just for growth, but for survival.
For small and middle market companies that typically lean on their finance and accounting departments, with teams that are focused almost entirely on daily accounting tasks, times like these can be especially challenging. In fact, according to a CFO.com article, 83% of CFOs said they’re too busy to deal with anything other than their day-to-day responsibilities. As a result, they often lack the time and/or the depth of expertise needed to address emerging challenges.
At times like these, interim executive support can provide the strategic and financial planning and analysis (FP&A) capacity that management teams need to address critical issues.
Advantage #1: Tariff Expertise and Strategic Planning
The new tariffs will impact material costs, supply chains, and pricing strategies. Many private companies may either lack the bandwidth or the in-house expertise to evaluate the impact of changes in each of these areas, leading to lost profits and cash flows. Interim executives with deep industry and financial expertise can enhance your ability to analyze the impact of these tariffs as well as develop and implement mitigation strategies.
For example, a $50M manufacturing company using imported raw materials may face significant margin erosion. An interim CFO can lead potential initiatives to renegotiate supplier contracts, explore alternative sourcing options, and evaluate nearshoring/onshoring opportunities. An interim FP&A leader can model the "what if" scenarios and proactively adjust pricing, shift production schedules, or delay capital expenditures or hiring.
Advantage #2: Rapid Deployment Enables Rapid Response
The ability to react quickly is critical when markets shift literally overnight. Traditional executive searches can take months, leaving companies exposed during critical periods. Interim executives, however, can be deployed within weeks, providing essential bandwidth in a short timeframe.
An experienced interim CFO can quickly step into a turbulent environment, assess financial vulnerabilities, and implement cash flow preservation strategies. Similarly, an interim FP&A executive can provide the financial modeling and scenario planning capabilities needed to make informed decisions under rapidly changing conditions.
Advantage #3: Cost-Effective Expertise Without Long-Term Commitment
In an uncertain economy, many companies focus on preserving capital. Interim executives offer a cost-effective solution: companies gain top-tier expertise without the long-term financial commitment of a permanent hire. With compensation structures typically based on an hourly rate or a weekly/monthly retainer, businesses can engage exceptional talent as needed.
Advantage #4: Driving Transformation
Another benefit that interim leaders bring is a fresh perspective and the ability to identify inefficiencies or opportunities that internal teams focused on the daily tasks may overlook.
Beyond being an additional layer of management depth in highly uncertain and dynamic times, interim executives can drive broader organizational transformation. They can establish stronger financial planning processes, upgrade reporting capabilities, mentor team members, and improve organizational capabilities.
A Strategic Asset in an Uncertain Future
As markets continue to evolve, with shifting trade policies, continued inflationary pressures, and supply chain disruptions becoming the norm rather than the exception, privately-held companies must stay agile to succeed. Engaging interim CFOs and FP&A executives provides these businesses with immediate access to leadership, expertise, and strategic foresight.
The companies that recognize the strategic advantage of interim talent will not just survive this period of uncertainty—they will position themselves to thrive in whatever market realities emerge next. If you would like to discuss how your company can benefit from engaging interim financial executives, please contact us.