If you’re starting out in a career in accountancy and finance, or looking to climb the career ladder, you may be wondering what different job opportunities are available. If you aren’t after a permanent position, working as an interim contractor or interim manager could work for you.
What is an interim worker?
Essentially, an interim role is what it says on the tin: someone who can step into an organisation for a specific period of time to work on or manage key projects.
It can be an exciting and varied career choice, that offers you the chance to have an impact on businesses whilst experiencing roles in many different organisations. The best interim workers are adaptable individuals who can quickly step into new scenarios and make an impact quickly
High-level interim contracts can be pressurised, as they are driven by a real business need that requires immediate leadership. An organisation will want to see an interim manager deliver positive results quickly and efficiently for their business.
The benefits of interim working.
The key benefits of this kind of roles are:
- Work-life balance
- Experience working with different organisations
- Competitive pay rates
Work-life balance.
Even though an interim role is unlikely to offer the same level of job security as a permanent position, it can be a fantastic choice if you are looking to manage your work-life balance: you can pick and choose contracts that suit your preferences. An interim contract will also enable you to work shifts that fit around your existing schedule if that’s best for you.
Experience working with different organisations.
If you are starting out in accountancy and finance, interim working can be a great way to quickly get experience of working with a variety of different organisations under your belt. Similarly, if you are a manager or looking to step into a management role, working as an interim can help build your leadership skills and experience of working on multiple projects quickly.
Competitive pay rates.
Interim manager roles typically offer competitive salaries, so this could be a good option if salary is one of your key drivers when choosing a new role. You can find out more about accountancy and finance salaries here.
The skills required for being an interim worker.
If this sounds like the job for you, you may be wondering what it takes to be successful. The key attributes employers look for in interim workers are:
- Adaptability
- Working well under pressure
- Communication skills
- Proficient in handing over projects
Adaptability.
The ability to step into new challenges and quickly get up-to-speed with the demands of the role and the organisation is an essential quality. An interim career is not for everyone, as many people find it unsettling to change roles on a regular basis.
Working well under pressure.
It can be stressful dealing with new people and new situations and there will be demands on the interim to demonstrate their value quickly and deliver tangible results – often in a short timeframe. If you thrive in this kind of environment, you’ll find it easy to get stuck in and work with new teams.
Communication skills.
It goes without saying that excellent communication skills are essential when you are working in new roles and new teams regularly. To be really successful, you'll also need to adapt your communication skills to fit the audience and the task.
Proficient in handing over projects.
When working on an interim contract, you may not always be able to see a project through to completion and may have to leave a process/strategy that you initiated while it’s still in flux. With that in mind, you’ll need to be highly proficient in handing-over to others and establishing a robust protocol for their departure.
Think an interim career sounds perfect for you? You can browse our latest roles here.
