Of course, in the short term, an employed (skilled) economist is often a person who knows more about your specific company and its operations. But an interim solution offers other advantages that the employed economists often cannot match.
1. flexibility: interim economists offer flexibility by being able to adapt to your company’s needs and project periods. The interim solution easily adapts to a specific timeframe, project or during periods of staff shortages, allowing you to quickly adapt to changes in the business.
2. expertise & experience: Interim accountants often have more extensive experience in terms of how others do things. They encounter different clients, systems, companies and challenges on a daily basis and thus acquire a much larger bank of experience than those who work for years in the same company, in the same system, with the same financial manual, etc.
3. cost-effectiveness: hiring an interim economist means that you can gain a lot of experience in a short time. Even if the interim solution is more expensive per hour than the employed economist, an interim economist often has the opportunity to bring a lot more new perspectives, experiences and development suggestions over a period of time.
“Your consultant has done an excellent job and was a better replacement for our regular controller than I had hoped for.”
Örjan Nord Project Director, Billerud AB (publ)
4. Immediate availability: Interim economists are often available much faster than it is possible to hire. In addition, availability can often be adapted to different needs at different times.
5. Objectivity: Interim economists can come in with an objective view and identify areas for improvement or optimisation. They are not tied to the company’s internal politics or relationships in the same way as regular employees.
6. knowledge transfer: interim economists can act as mentors and share their knowledge and experience with existing staff. This can contribute to the development of skills and increase the internal financial competences of regular economists.
7. risk management: by using an interim economist, the company can manage risk and uncertainty more effectively. The interim economist can help steer through changes, crises or particular challenges. Bringing in an interim economist from time to time also creates confidence that more people know parts of the company’s financial processes.