Sample Engagement: Interim Management
Client Business Challenge
One of the country's leading product marketing and retail support firms called M² when it needed an interim controller to keep financial affairs running smoothly after the staff controller took an unexpected three-month leave of absence.
M² Approach
Working with the client, M² determined that the ideal consultant to fill the interim role needed to meet requirements that included:
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Experience as a controller for a mid-sized, private company
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Strong background in budgeting, business planning, and analytics
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Formal accounting experience in either public accounting or corporate finance
The client's culture also was an important consideration. The job required a savvy communicator with the skill set to work with a diverse group of employees, from general managers to account teams to corporate executives.
Tapping our proprietary consultant community, M² identified an interim controller who had previously served as the chief financial officer of several mid-sized companies. The consultant was on the job just 10 days after the client called.
Deliverables
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Perform monthly and quarterly closings and other corporate accounting activities.
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Create monthly profit and loss forecasts.
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Review financial statements.
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Generates reports and analyses, including operational variance reports.
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Oversee and maintain compliance with bank covenants.
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Perform additional duties as required by the vice president of finance.
Results
The M² interim controller ensured seamless management of the department, avoiding disruption in leadership and financial activities. The client was able to quickly overcome the challenges of an unanticipated absence, keeping other team members focused on existing priorities and not overloading them with additional work. When the client filled the staff controller position, the M² consultant helped the new employee get up to speed quickly by transferring his institutional knowledge and providing transitional support.