Interim or fractional CFO? Start with the work.

Two different questions

An interim CFO is often considered when a business needs temporary continuity in a leadership role. Fractional support is often considered when a business needs recurring senior input on a defined schedule. Neither label tells you whether the person has the experience, availability, or operating style your situation requires.

Map the responsibilities

Write down the decisions that need an owner: cash management, forecasts, board reporting, lender communication, team leadership, or a transaction. Then identify which require daily presence and which can work within a planned cadence. If the pressing problem is the close, reconciliations, or accounting operations, a controller profile may be the more useful starting point.

Name the non-negotiables

Define your start date, expected commitment, on-site requirements, reporting line, systems, and relevant industry experience. A technically strong professional can still be a poor match if the engagement requires availability or decision authority that has not been agreed.

Design the transition

Decide who will receive the work when the engagement changes or ends. Specify the documentation, reporting calendar, critical relationships, and knowledge transfer needed. If a permanent hire is part of the plan, discuss the search and any potential conversion terms at the beginning.

Turn the questions into a scope.

If this is on your desk, we can discuss the business need, the experience required, and the appropriate engagement model through Robert Half.