The Challenge
As part of a planned leadership transition, this South East based housing association required an interim Chief Financial Officer following the retirement of their longstanding CFO. The brief was clear: appoint someone who could maintain strategic continuity, embed quickly into a well-functioning team, and uphold high standards of financial governance while the search for a permanent replacement was initiated.
The client had never previously used an interim consultant and needed a trusted partner to provide confidence, capability, and speed. They specifically sought an individual with experience in organisations of a similar size and complexity who could ensure a seamless handover.
Our Impact
Neemar Search responded with pace and precision, leveraging our deep executive finance network to provide three highly regarded candidates, each with proven leadership experience in the housing sector. Within two weeks, an interim CFO was selected and in post.
The appointed individual delivered immediate value - offering continuity in core financial operations while consulting on broader issues such as treasury, refinancing, and leadership performance. This additional strategic input helped to stabilise the team and ensure the incoming permanent CFO would be set up for success.
What began as a short-term engagement evolved into an extended contract, reflecting the client’s high level of satisfaction with both the consultant and the process. The association described the placement as seamless and impactful, and commended Neemar’s role in advising them through their first interim engagement.
The contract was extended beyond the original term, a clear endorsement of both the interim CFO’s performance and the value of Neemar’s tailored approach. The association maintained strong financial leadership through transition, and the executive team reported enhanced confidence in future succession planning. This assignment not only bridged a gap but strengthened the organisation’s strategic finance capability.
