Interim Financial Manager leading the finance team: Case Sofigate

When Sofigate's Group Financial Controller decided to seek new pastures, the company needed an expert on short notice to take charge of group reporting and lead a five-person finance team. NIS stepped in to quickly fill the position despite that the summer holiday season was just kicking in.

Effective Collaboration for the Second Time

Sofigate, a leading business technology company in the Nordic region, faced the challenge after the Group Financial Controller transitioned to new duties in the summer of 2024. Annina Kaaja from NIS began her role as Interim Financial Manager at the end of July 2024.

"This was already the second time we entrusted NIS with their interim services. We knew they would provide the right person for our needs once again. Annina quickly took on the critical tasks and seamlessly assumed a key role," commented Sofigate's CFO, Virpi Hentunen.

Hiring an interim consultant allowed Sofigate to swiftly fill the important role, as recruiting a new person couldn’t be done before the departure of the previous person, thus missing an important proper handover. Moreover, Sofigate wanted extra time to carefully plan the job description and role for the permanent hire.

One-to-One Discussions Strengthened the Culture of Open Communication

As Interim Financial Manager, Annina’s key responsibilities included group reporting and leading the five-person external accounting team. In her leadership role, she successfully built an atmosphere of open communication within her team. This was further supported by monthly one-to-one discussions that she introduced.

"Sofigate had a talented team of 'Sofigators,' and trust worked well in both directions. However, I wanted to offer the team a channel for open discussion so everyone had the opportunity to raise issues that might not come up during the normal workday", Annina explains.

In addition to her leadership duties, Annina was involved in a wide variety of duties, such as group reporting, including monthly reporting and preparing financial statements. She was also responsible for cash flow forecasting and management, reporting and monitoring fixed costs, and was involved in merger and VAT projects. Sofigate particularly valued Annina's ability to clarify and simplify complex issues, a skill that was especially evident in the fixed cost development project.

A Skilled Professional for the Finance Team on Short Notice

Sofigate would not have been able to fill the important role before the previous Group Controller's transition to new duties. The collaboration with NIS lasted seven months. When the permanent position was posted publicly at the end of 2024, the right candidate was quickly found. Annina ensured a smooth transition by onboarding the new hire before her departure.

NIS's financial professionals can quickly step into new roles, even in the middle of an ongoing recruitment process. Our experts provide highly specialized expertise tailored to your company's specific requirements, without commitment to a long-term contract. The assignment can continue as long as necessary to meet your company's needs.

Are you considering hiring an interim expert? Find out more and contact us here.