The Impact of Interim Talent: Boosting Finance Teams with Flexibility and Expertise

A new webinar tomorrow from StevenDouglas and supported by Hunt Scanlon Media outlines how interim talent offers the flexibility and specialized knowledge necessary to navigate these changes successfully. The webinar delves into the significant benefits of incorporating interim professionals into finance teams, providing attendees with valuable insights from industry experts.

September 10, 2024 – Business leaders today are finding that hiring the right talent is hard. What people are looking for in their careers is constantly evolving, organizational needs are changing rapidly, and the economy is driving the need for companies to pivot as conditions change, according to Matt Shore, CEO of StevenDouglas. “The traditional employee model, while still effective for some situations, does not always work for all companies and all employees,” he said. “Leveraging interim talent allows companies to get the right people with the skillsets they need for specific points in time. It provides flexibility to adjust the skillsets from what they have to what they need more rapidly than a traditional employment model.”

“Also, as workers desire to have flexibility and control over their work situation and their career development, more of them are gravitating to the interim or gig model to create a custom career experience,” said Craig Lewis, senior vice president – interim resources division at StevenDouglas. “Working through interim providers allows the worker to have consistency in their employment model while realizing the variety and flexibility they are looking for in their work experience. In a recent survey, 38 percent of respondents indicated that flexibility is important in choosing a job – the number one factor cited.”

“Finally, sometimes you just have an urgent and unplanned opening and need someone to get things done right now,” Mr. Lewis said. “Using a highly qualified interim resource that can ramp quickly can make sure that you meet that deadline or get that project done on time and under budget.”

Hunt Scanlon Media asked StevenDouglas how often they see these roles turn into a permanent position? “While this happens occasionally it is not part of our model,” Mr. Shore said. “We look for people who are interested in the interim model as a career choice and they enjoy going into a client or engagement and making a difference and then moving on to the next one. In those situations where a client and associate decide they want to explore a different arrangement we do our best to accommodate that.”

Driving Results

Mr. Shore notes that stakeholders expect leaders to deliver results quickly. “Having the right talent in place when you need it is critical,” he said. “Whether driving continuous improvement initiatives to increase EPS, integrating a critical acquisition, or implementing a new system to enable the organization to scale, having the right skillsets can be the difference between success and failure. Technology and AI are rapidly changing the job environment, and tapping into the interim market can help with specific or niche skillsets, managing peak workloads, and maintaining cost flexibility while driving priority initiatives. Additionally, the outside perspective that interim talent brings to the table is valuable to avoid internal “group-think” and add thought diversity to any initiative.”

StevenDouglas has a group of interim experts with significant industry experience who find and engage people that want the flexibility and variety that the interim model offers. “Understanding the unique needs for each individual and what a specific client needs enables us to match the right person for each engagement,” Mr. Lewis said. “Our internal team consists of more than 150 people with experience and networks in this industry. Tapping into all of their networks and all of the people that we have talked to in our 41 years provides a great source of talent for our opportunities. Our talent management system enables us efficiently find what we need when a client contacts us for support.”

“In many markets, we have associates who have been with us for more than 15 years,” said Mr. Shore. “We match these people to client engagements that leverage their skills and experience and expose them to different environments where they can continue to enhance and expand their skills.”

Upcoming Webinar

Join us tomorrow for an insightful panel discussion where you’ll learn from seasoned leaders about the strategic value of interim talent. Discover how these professionals can seamlessly integrate into your teams to address immediate needs and contribute to long-term success. This event is tailored for business leaders and HR professionals who aim to stay ahead in a competitive market. There will be an opportunity for audience members to put their questions to panel members and join the conversation.

In addition to hearing from Mr. Shore and Mr. Lewis, attendees will hear from industry leaders Haresh Shah, CFO of Club Car, and Jeff Lawrence, CFO of National Spine and Pain Centers. They will share real examples of how they leverage interim resources to support their teams and drive results in their companies.

Free registration … Click here to sign up!

The Speakers

Matt Shore joined StevenDouglas in 2006, playing an integral role in the company’s significant growth with a focus on maintaining the firm’s great culture and boutique approach. As CEO, he has oversight and management of all aspects of company operations. Under his leadership, StevenDouglas has garnered various honors, including Forbes list of America’s Best Recruiting firms, Hunt Scanlon’s Top 25 Executive Search Firms, and five consecutive years on the Inc 5000 list. Mr. Shore has been a catalyst for the firm’s 2000 percent growth since 2005. He originally joined the company as a SVP, brought in to launch the interim resources practice, and soon after was promoted to president to help scale the search business as well. Since then, Mr. Shore has helped StevenDouglas opportunistically grow from 1 office and 15 employees when he joined, into a national firm with over 20 offices and 150 professionals. During his tenure there, the firm also expanded its capabilities and service offerings to include executive search, professional recruiting, technology staffing, and interim resources across an array of industries domestically and internationally.

Craig Lewis joined StevenDouglas as SVP of the interim resources division, and a seasoned business development and general management professional with over 30 years of experience in various roles across manufacturing, supply chain, and professional services. Throughout his career, he has worked with notable companies such as GE, Clorox, Exide, and several professional services firms. He led teams of up to 150 people with P&L responsibilities up to $600 million. Mr. Lewis has a strong focus on client needs and expertise in business development and strategic planning. As an individual sales director he closed more than $25 million in revenue to Fortune 500 clients.

Haresh Shah is the chief financial officer of Club Car, where he orchestrates the financial strategy of a company renowned for its golf, personal, and utility vehicles. With over three decades of expertise, he brings a blend of operational focus and a proven track record of fostering company growth. His career is highlighted by remarkable success in high-growth markets like India, China, and the Philippines. Before taking the helm at Club Car, Mr. Shah served as CFO at Alliance Laundry Systems LLC, a private equity-backed venture, and before that, as CFO at Welbilt Inc., a publicly traded company. The earliest days of his career began with PwC, where he honed his skills as an audit manager.

Jeff Lawrence is chief financial officer of National Spine and Pain Centers. He is an accomplished healthcare executive with extensive experience leading the finance functions of high growth founder-owned and PE-backed companies. Mr. Lawrence is well-regarded for his ability to lead healthcare companies through transformational activities, including acquisitions, national expansion, divestitures, and recapitalizations. Prior to National Spine and Pain Centers, Mr. Lawrence served as CFO of Floridian Health, a provider of value-based health care to primarily Medicare and Medicaid patients. Prior to Floridian, he was CEO of Conviva Physician Group, leading 400+ employed clinicians. Before this, Mr. Lawrence was CFO of MCCI Group, one of the largest value-based primary care physician groups in the Southeast United States that was ultimately sold to Humana.